Mango BBQ Sauce Recipe: Make a Mango Habanero Sauce

Mango barbecue sauce (or mango BBQ sauce) is a sweet and spicy condiment that uses fresh mango purée or diced mango. Mangoes add a fruity sweetness that differs from the sweetness brown sugar gives traditional barbecue sauce, while habanero, chipotle, or jalapeño peppers add heat.

Storebought barbecue sauce contains preservatives to keep it fresh, whereas homemade mango barbecue sauce has a shorter shelf life. Store homemade sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Sweet and tangy mango barbecue sauce is a versatile condiment that can enhance the flavor of your savory dishes. Here are three ways you can use mango barbecue sauce while cooking:

1. 1. As a dipping sauce: Dip chicken fingers, roasted vegetables, or sweet potato fries into a mango barbecue sauce. The thick sauce sticks to the food and adds a sweet flavor.
2. 2. As a marinade: Submerge meat or fish in a plastic bag or bowl with mango barbecue sauce. To impart more flavor, cut a few slits into the meat ahead of time so the barbecue sauce can seep into the meat. Marinate the food overnight, then grill, sauté, or bake the food, basting it with additional sauce as it cooks.
3. 3. Over meat: Brush mango barbecue sauce over steak, pork, or chicken as the meat cooks. The sauce flavors the meat and creates a sticky crust on the outside. Alternatively, top a fried chicken sandwich with a mango barbecue sauce. Try Chef Thomas Keller’s best fried chicken recipe for an elevated take on fast food fried chicken.