As most of us ramp up for summer grill season, we anxiously await the smell of smoking hickory wood chips, the refreshing taste of ice-cold beer, and of course, dousing our creations in a big bowl of barbecue sauce. Who can resist the sticky, smokey sauce that balances the line between sweet and savory so delicately? It's one of a kind yet comes in all flavors, colors, and styles. And while nobody can resist a classic rack of ribs slathered in the good stuff, there are so many unexpected ways to use barbecue sauce that goes unexplored.

 While most of us know how to pour the sweet sensation called BBQ sauce onto meat, we also understand that the options are nearly endless when adding something to our sauce to enhance a particular flavor.  Anything from pineapple or cherry juice to espresso powder can take it to a whole new level. And just as important as the flavor is what you'll be pouring it over. Luckily, barbecue sauce is quite versatile so that it can adorn a range of flavors beyond simply meat. Here are some unexpected ways to use Bompa Jacks barbecue sauce that you might not have thought of before.

 1. Drizzle over grilled fruit

Perhaps one of the most unique ways to use barbecue sauce is drizzling it over grilled fruit. This may seem out of left field, but hear us out. Fruit makes an incredible addition to homemade barbecue sauce. Just think of pomegranate molasses or plum chipotle barbecue variations. This sweet and smokey combination works exceptionally well on pineapple and stonefruits.

 Consider lightly drizzling your grilled fruit in sauce and pairing it with proteins like in a Hawaiian BBQ burger or on dark cherry and pork grilled skewers. Just follow some essential tips and tricks for grilling fruit to be sure it turns out right before slathering on the sticky sweet sauce. Pair your fruit and sauce wisely, as this risky combo can make or break a dish.

 2. Switch up your pizza

You can expect to find a cheese pizza with tomato sauce at every pizza party. While we love a good margherita pizza, it's worth it to explore the numerous other sauces that pair well with the crusty, cheesy combination. Although your Italian ancestors may be rolling over in their graves, barbecue pizza is worth a try. It's similar enough to a sweet tomato sauce, as barbecue is tomato-based as well, but it does tend to steal the show.

 Consider pairing it with chicken and red onion for a classic BBQ chicken pizza recipe, or try giving your gourmet pizza toppings an upgrade by pairing it with roasted corn, Swiss chard, mushrooms, and garlic. Add barbecue sauce to vegan or gluten-free pizzas to help overpower substitutes that might not quite hit the mark.

 3. Throw together a casserole

Casserole is a weeknight staple in many American households. Bake it once and enjoy it throughout the week. Those with big families would have a hard time imagining life without them but often tend to stick to a few tried-and-true recipes passed down through generations. Let us introduce a spicy-sweet sauce that can give your casserole a little extra kick.

 Barbecue sauce doesn't work on every casserole, but it can certainly bring extra life to those with which it pairs nicely. Consider a veggie-packed barbecue chicken casserole recipe, or a barbecue breakfast bake with eggs, bread, cheddar cheese, ham, and cornflakes. Even a cheesy potato casserole could use a drizzle of the sauce of the gods. Consider adding it to any of your Southern casserole favorites.

 4. Pair with carrots

Although fruit tends to take center stage when it comes to sweetness, there are quite a few vegetables out there that are loaded with natural sugars. These sugars come to the surface when they're cooked, and especially when they're grilled or caramelized. You can't argue that a caramelized onion or grilled red pepper isn't packed with sweet undertones. Root vegetables in particular, can be lovely and pair beautifully with barbecue sauce.

 Try glazing your carrots with barbecue sauce or adding it to your grilled vegetables this summer. Who says grilled meats get to have all the fun when it comes to barbecue sauce? Carrots are especially delicious because of their natural sugars, and because their mellow, earthy flavor shines when slathered with the sticky sauce. They can make for an incredibly powerful side dish.

 5. Spice up sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are famous for strutting their stuff as both a sweet and savory food. In fact, a baked sweet potato loaded with brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter is just as well-loved as one drizzled with tahini and topped with falafel and tabouli. This is why barbecue sauce and the orange root vegetable make such a good combination.

 Consider dicing sweet potatoes and roasting them with spices like chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper, along with barbecue sauce to stuff into tacos or quesadillas. Try easy Hasselback sweet potatoes, drizzled lightly in the sauce as a flavorful side dish. Or even take a shot at drizzling an ultra-sweet barbecue sauce over your sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and butter, topped with toasted marshmallows.

 6. Season your beef, turkey, or veggie burger mix

One of the biggest mistakes people make with homemade burgers is forgetting to season them properly. Yes, it's easy to shape a handful of ground beef into a patty, throw it on the grill, and call it a day. But if you want those burgers to sing, you're going to have to raid your spice cabinet.

 Whether you're making beef, turkey, or veggie burgers, consider adding finely diced raw onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Herbs like dried parsley or even sage or thyme can complement some proteins quite nicely. But don't skimp on the barbecue sauce. Consider adding a few tablespoons of sweet or smokey sauce to your burger mix. This will help the patty caramelize as it comes in contact with heat and give it flavorful undertones.

 7. Mix it with mayo

Folks can't seem to get enough aioli these days. And while aioli technically refers to a garlic-whipped oil, people have been using the word to describe basically any flavored mayonnaise, so we're rolling with the punches. There are many ways to elevate the flavor of mayonnaise with aromatics, spices, herbs, and other sauces, but one of our favorites just so happens to be barbecue sauce.

 While a balance to your liking is best, we recommend starting with a 2-to-1 ratio of mayonnaise to barbecue sauce and adding more barbecue sauce as desired from there. This creamy, smokey, spicy, and sweet dip is perfect for roasted vegetables, french fries, fried fish, and chicken. It even makes an incredible burger topping, especially when pickles are present.

 8. Add it to chili

Chili is famous for housing secret ingredients that range from pickle juice to peanut butter, but we think we've found the perfect ingredient to make it pop. Because chili typically contains a little sweetener, plenty of spices, and smokey undertones, barbecue sauce can be an incredible addition to the tomato broth. Note that because you've added this sauce, you may be able to tone back the sweetener or heat depending on the kind of sauce you're using.

 We recommend springing for a smokey barbecue sauce with peppery undertones to help intensify the campfire-cooked feel. Just a tablespoon or so will do to start as you can always add more along the way. You want to avoid the chili tasting like barbecue sauce, so instead use it to complement and enhance the prominent flavors.

 9. Top your salad

Of all the unexpected ways to use barbecue sauce, drizzling it on top of a salad is likely one of the least considered. However, when paired properly with a particular type of salad, the sweet, smokey, and spicy sauce can really help tie things together. Consider making your very own barbecue sauce vinaigrette using honey, vinegar, citrus, and of course, your favorite barbecue sauce.

 You're safe enjoying it over a Cobb salad loaded with chicken, bacon, cheese, and eggs, or on a mild salad with roasted sweet potato or corn. You'll want to avoid using it in combination with too many other powerful flavors, but barbecue vinaigrette tends to complement a variety of cheeses, proteins, raw sweet onions, and roasted vegetables. Keep the salad simple to allow the dressing to shine.

 10. Drizzle onto breakfast eggs

If you start your day off with an egg dish every morning, then it's likely you enjoy routine or have a plethora of unique variations up your sleeve. Next time you go to make your famous soft and fluffy scrambled eggs recipe or that classic over easy, consider a new condiment. Yes, ketchup and hot sauce often find themselves at the breakfast table next to eggs, but barbecue sauce carries a bit more pizzaz.

 Eggs have a mild flavor and deserve to be dressed up every now and again. Use just a little bit of barbecue sauce right in your cheesy eggs, or drizzle it over the top after they've come off the stove. You can even use barbecue sauce in your breakfast sandwiches or a croissant breakfast casserole recipe.

 11. Mix into mac and cheese

Macaroni and cheese is notorious for inviting a variety of toppings to bring the flavor, which is convenient because it goes with an incredible variety of sauces and seasonings. A good, bare-bones macaroni and cheese should be able to hold its own, but it never hurts to give it an extra flair of flavor. Whether you're loading on blue cheese and buffalo sauce, mascarpone and lobster, or pulled pork and barbecue sauce, it's never a bad idea to consider some of the best additions to mac and cheese around.

Get in touch with us today!

Learn more and shop our Bompa Jacks Barbecue Sauce. To contact us, please click here, call (480) 973-4847, or email ericexum@bompajacks.com.