Savory Peach Sauce Recipe (Fresh or Frozen Peaches)
“Wow, yum! This is so delicious. The warm, bite of mustard and chili with the sweet tang Ines of the peach and lemon juice. So good! Thank you for sharing this recipe” SaraJ.
Dijon, lemon, thyme, garlic, and chili flakes give this savory peach sauce recipe a great depth of flavor. It’s a delicious pairing with chicken and pork. Fresh peach sauce screams summer. I can’t get enough of sweet, juicy seasonal peaches in the summer and this is just one more way to use them. Â
What to expect
The peach sauce, similar to a savory peach compote, is sweet and tangy and has a little kick from the red pepper flakes. It’s made in one pot with just a few simple ingredients – and pairs beautifully with chicken, pork, turkey, and fish.
You can use fresh summer peaches at their peak or frozen ones off season. The sauce adds a special touch to a summer lunch or dinner during peach season. Â
Serve it warm, cold, or make ahead for easy entertaining.
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
Sauce ingredients: juicy peaches, Dijon, thyme, lime juice, garlic red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper.
Variations and substitutions
- Add a tablespoon or two of good quality balsamic vinegar or a couple teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
- Replace the thyme with other fresh herbs like rosemary or tarragon.
- Add a bit of red onion, sautéed in a teaspoon olive oil before adding the remaining ingredients.
Step-by-step instructions
What to serve with peach sauce
I often serve it on the side, but you can also spread it over roast chicken and broil it for a few minutes. Or even toss chicken pieces into the sauce, sprinkle it with parsley and serve over rice or quinoa. Here are a few recipes to try with this peach sauce.
- marinated pork chops
- grilled turkey breast
- Mediterranean grilled chicken
- sous vide chicken thighs
- smoked chicken thighs (without a smoker)
- cedar planked chicken
Shortcut
Buy frozen peaches that are already peeled and sliced. Cut into smaller pieces and toss them into the pot. No need to thaw. You will to need to add an extra cup or two and cook them longer to evaporate the juices from the frozen peaches.
Other easy peach recipes you might like
- Peach Marmalade
- Peach and prosciutto appetizers
- Maple-Ginger Salmon with Peach Salsa
- Peach crumble with oats
- Peach Chutney (30 minutes)
- No-cook peach compote
- Maple soy salmon with peach salsa
Or check out this full list of summer peach recipes.
Please leave a 5 star rating ***** with a comment in the recipe card below if you like the recipe, Thank you so much!
Savory Peach Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 fresh ripe peaches, Note 1 for frozen peaches (about 4 cups chopped)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar (about 1/2 large lemon)
- 1/3 cup white sugar (or brown sugar)
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced – about 2 teaspoons (or 2 frozen cubes or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)
- 3 tablespoon green onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more)
- 2 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1/2 teaspoon each, salt and black pepper
Instructions
- PEEL AND CUT THE PEACHES (Note 1): For easy peeling, carefully drop peaches into a medium pot of boiling water. Boil for 1 minute. Lift out peaches with a slotted spoon and slip off the skins. Remove any stubborn spots with a sharp knife. Cut peaches in half around the pit, and remove pits. Chop into small chunks, about 1/2-3/4 inch (1.28-1.9 cm).
- MAKE THE SAUCE: In a medium saucepan (I use the same one as above), put in all ingredients. Heat to Medium-high heat to bring to gentle boil (lower heat to medium heat if boiling too rapidly). Gently boil for about 6-8 minutes uncovered, stirring frequently, or until you reach the desired consistency. The more you cook it, the thicker it will get. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more lemon, sugar, chili flakes, thyme as needed. Serve hot or cold with chicken, turkey, fish, or pork
Recipe Notes
- To use frozen peaches instead: Buy frozen peaches that are already peeled and sliced. Cut into smaller pieces and toss them into the pot. No need to thaw. You will need to add an extra 1-2 cups and cook them longer to evaporate the juices from the frozen peaches.
- Variations and substitutions:
- Add a tablespoon or two of good-quality balsamic vinegar or a couple teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
- Replace the thyme with other fresh herbs like rosemary or tarragon.
- Add a bit of red onion, sautéed in a teaspoon olive oil before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Make Ahead: The savory peach sauce can be made 3-5 days ahead and kept in the fridge in an airtight container. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Serve cold or warm it up in the microwave.
Made this to go with a holiday ham. Delicious!! It’ll be great on leftover ham and shrimp or seafood too.
Thanks Gayle! I love it with ham too 🙂
Can I use Italian seasoning instead of dried thyme? Thanks!
Absolutely you can.
I just made this sauce and the aroma & taste are amazing! I had an abundance of ripe peaches so doubled the recipe, have you ever frozen a portion with success?
It will be wonderful on a roasted chicken breast tonight. Thank you for the savory way to use peaches!
So glad you liked it Mary. Yes, the peach sauce can definitely be frozen for up to 3 months. Cool it first and portion it in sealed freezer bags or airtight containers. Thanks for the shout out!
Loved it.
I made this for dinner tonight and I loved it. It was tasty and not too sweet. I used it with seasoned shrimp I had bought from the deli. I love noodles so I made buttered noodles and placed the shrimp with peach sauce over them. Since my husband died, I got away from making special dishes. I found this easy to make and the seasonings did not overpower the sweet peaches. The only thing I will do next time is add more crushed red pepper because I enjoy spicy food.
Sorry to hear about your husband, Mary. Thank you for the lovely comment. I’m so glad you liked the peach sauce with your shrimp and noodles 🙂