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Jack Daniel's sauce in a glass jar with a spoon drizzling the glaze

Jack Daniel's Sauce (TGI Friday's Copycat)

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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Description

A sweet, sticky, smoky whiskey glaze that tastes just like the TGI Friday's original. Perfect on wings, ribs, chicken, salmon, burgers, and meatballs — or as a dipping sauce for everything.

Ingredients 

  • 1 head garlic, or 1 tbsp jarred roasted/minced garlic
  • 1 tsp olive oil, for roasting garlic
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup teriyaki sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp white onion, finely minced
  • ¼ cup Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey
  • 2 tbsp crushed pineapple
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Roast the garlic (optional): Cut the top off the garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast at 325°F for 1 hour until soft. Squeeze out about 2 tsp of roasted garlic.
  • Build the base: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, pineapple juice, teriyaki, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  • Add the rest: Reduce to a simmer and stir in the roasted garlic, minced onion, lemon juice, Jack Daniel's, crushed pineapple, and cayenne.
  • Reduce: Simmer gently for 35–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces by about half and turns thick and syrupy. Watch closely near the end so it doesn't boil over.
  • Cool and store: Remove from heat and let cool — it thickens as it sits. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate.

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Whisk

Notes

  • BBQ version: For pulled pork, build on 1 cup ketchup, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire, 1 tbsp Dijon, and ⅓ cup Jack Daniel's; simmer 10–12 minutes.
  • Make ahead: Flavor deepens overnight. Keeps 2–3 weeks refrigerated or 3 months frozen.
  • Grilling tip: Brush on during the last few minutes of cooking — the sugar burns quickly over direct heat.
  • Smoother sauce: Blend with an immersion blender after cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gSodium: 481mgPotassium: 131mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 30IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg