Slow-Cooker Sauce: Best EVER Zevia BBQ Sauce

With summer coming up quickly, you're going to want a tasty signature BBQ sauce on hand.  Yes, there are hundreds on the market--but nothing is better than homemade, right?  Plus, who knows what goes into those sauces from the store.  Homemade sauces let you cater to your taste buds: go sweet, spicy or tangy.  Whatever you want!

I'm not a huge pop drinker, but when I'm looking for one to use as a mixer or to drink, I turn to Zevia. Have you tried it yet?  It's made with Stevia (a natural sugar alternative) and it comes in 15 different varieties. I'm partial to the Dr.Z or the Lemon-Lime (stay tuned for a new drink recipe!).  When you look at the ingredients on the can, you actually know all of them!  I knew stevia was healthy, but I wasn't sure the difference difference between Stevia and Aspartame, but I found a handy infographic on the Zevia website.  No more headaches from pop, like you get with aspartame! I will admit, it is a bit more expensive than a regular pop ($3 for a 6-pack)--but it's always on sale and the website offers $1 off coupons.

For this slow-cooker BBQ sauce, I decided to make a cola based sauce with a kick.  The Zevia adds a touch of sweetness, but the chipotle peppers give it a kick of smokey flavor and spice.  It's not a "OMG, GRAB ME SOME MILK" kinda spicy sauce, it has a subtle kick in the aftertaste.  Since it's slow cooked, it couldn't be easier.  This batch makes almost a whole summer's worth of BBQ sauce.
It would even make a great gift if you throw it in a mason jar!

Ready to BBQ?  

Slow-Cooker Zevia Chipotle BBQ Sauce
{Makes about Five 8 oz Portions)

Here's What You Need:

• 2 Cans of Zevia Cola (I used original, but Dr. Z or Cherry Cola would be great, too!)
• 2- 15 oz cans of tomato sauce (salt free, if possible)
• 6 oz tomato paste (salt free)
• 1 large onion, chopped 
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Chipotles in Adobo Sauce (use 1-2 whole peppers) 
• Found in the ethnic aisle
• 1/4 cup Molasses
• 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Barbeque Spices (I like McCormick's)
• 2 teaspoons each: Yellow Mustard, Worcestershire and Soy Sauce (low sodium)
• 1 teaspoon Liquid Hickory Smoke
• Found in the condiment aisle
• Peel from one orange, sliced
• Salt to Taste
• For extra sweetness, add an optional 1/4 cup honey

1. Set the slow-cooker to LOW for 6 hours. It can't really over cook--you can go up to 12 hours if it's on LOW.
2. Add all of the ingredients into the slow-cooker.  I would hold off on the optional honey until the end--you may not even want it!
3. Enjoy your day while the BBQ sauce is cooking.  Your house will smell AMAZING.
4. If you find the sauce isn't thickening up to your likeness, turn it on HIGH for the last 2 hours. My slow-cooker runs a bit hot, so it was bubbling on low heat. 
5. To store: it will be perfect in the fridge (in an air-tight container) for up to two weeks.  You can also freeze it in baggies for up to 6 months. 

Now what will you make with your BBQ sauce?  We've tried grilled chicken and pork chops so far and they were ah-mazing.  You can also use it for a BBQ Chicken Pizza...the possibilities are endless!

What's your go-to meat you throw on the BBQ?

Disclaimer: I received free product coupons to create this recipe, but all opinions and ideas are my own.