Guava BBQ Sauce From Scratch

If you live in Miami or have ever visited Miami, I’m sure you know we’re all kind of obsessed with guava here. I especially love making recipes with guava all the time!

We’ll enjoy it as a fruit, as a dessert, or we’ll make guava and cheese pastries for breakfast. But today, we’re going savory and making this deliciously easy guava BBQ sauce from scratch!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy To Make. This versatile recipe is made with common ingredients you can find in any grocery store.

• Scalable Recipe. You can easily double the recipe and make a big batch of this delicious bbq sauce. It will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge in an airtight container!

• Authentic flavor. I am not a fan of using ketchup or bbq sauce in a bbq sauce recipe. We’re using all “from scratch” ingredients along with guava paste which gives this barbeque sauce such a sweet and tangy flavor. YUM!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Guava paste. All bbq sauces are sweet but instead of using brown sugar or molasses for this recipe, we’re going to use guava paste, of course! This is my favorite brand of guava paste. Not only does it provide a sweet, tangy taste, but it also provides the perfect thick consistency that we all know and love about classic barbeque sauce.

Have leftover guava paste? Make one of my other homemade recipes using guava!

• Apple cider vinegar & fresh lime juice. A good bbq sauce needs a hint of something sharp, and acidic to balance all that richness. We’re using apple cider vinegar and fresh lime juice for this recipe. You can use white vinegar in a pinch.

• Spiced rum. Provides a warm spiced flavor. If you don’t have any on hand or would like to omit it entirely, you absolutely can.

• Tomato paste. No ketchup or bbq sauce here! When I say “from scratch”, I mean it! I didn’t want any high fructose corn syrup or any shortcuts to mess with the flavor of this guava bbq sauce. The tomato paste provides the perfect concentrated tomato flavor and the right texture and consistency.

• Soy sauce & Worcestershire sauce. The salty elements for our bbq sauce recipe.

• Liquid smoke. Gives this tangy, sweet bbq sauce a subtle smoky flavor. If you don’t have liquid smoke, you can sub for 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika.

• Garlic. Because duh!

• Water. To gently thin out the thick sauce.

• Salt and pepper to taste. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper. Taste and adjust from there.

Looking for sweet recipes made with guava? Make my guava jam thumbprint cookies!

Recommended For This Recipe

Step-By-Step Instructions

• Add all the ingredients. In a small saucepan, add the guava paste, vinegar, rum, tomato paste, lime juice, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic, water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.

• Simmer. Once boiling, turn the heat down to a simmer. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally until reduced, about 10-15 minutes.

• Cool completely before using. The sauce should be thick yet pourable by this point. Transfer the sauce to a jar and allow it to cool completely.

You can brush this sauce on chicken wings, bbq ribs in the oven, Cuban grilled chicken thighs, meatloaf, and pulled pork!

It’s the perfect blend of tangy, sweet, and STICKY. The good kind of sticky. You won’t get enough!

Once you’re done with this recipe, make my oven-baked BBQ baby back ribs with this guava bbq sauce!

Can you make Guava BBQ Sauce ahead of time?

Yes! Guava BBQ sauce can absolutely be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Can’t wait for you to make it!