Easy keto BBQ sauce requires no cooking and contains just a few simple ingredients and no sugar. Drop the ingredients into a bowl, whisk for two minutes and it's ready!
This super easy sauce is delicious! It's made with just a few simple ingredients and the best part? It has no added sugar.
I love that it requires no cooking and that it tastes just as good as a sugar-laden store-bought sauce. It's been a long time since I bought BBQ sauce at the store! I almost always make this one.
The ingredients you'll need
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty keto BBQ sauce. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Tomato paste: It's easiest to use one of those 7-oz glass jars. After you empty out the tomato paste, you can fill it with the vinegar.
Balsamic vinegar: You definitely want to use balsamic vinegar in this recipe. Other vinegars will be too harsh and acidic, especially distilled white vinegar.
Sea salt and black pepper: if you use kosher salt, you can increase the amount you use.
Spices: Garlic powder and smoked paprika. Make sure they're fresh! A stale spice can easily ruin a recipe.
Sweetener: I use stevia. You can use a sugar-free liquid sweetener instead.
How to make sugar-free keto BBQ sauce
It's so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
1. Simply add all the ingredients to a medium bowl.
2. Whisk them until thoroughly blended. That's it! I simply use a hand whisk - yes, it's that easy.
How to use this sauce
This sauce is excellent for brushing on meats, then slow cooking or grilling. This caramelizes the natural sugars in the sauce and brings out its natural sweetness.
Without cooking, it's a bit acidic. So I wouldn't use it as a dipping sauce. I use it most often when making oven-baked ribs or pulled chicken.
Last night, for example, I used it with my pulled chicken recipe and it was amazing: very flavorful, with just the right balance of tangy and sweet.
Why is this better than store-bought?
Obviously, you can simply buy barbecue sauce. But most are very sugary. I actually like making this homemade recipe. It's easy and delicious and I love that its main ingredients are tomato paste and balsamic vinegar.
What makes it keto
Tomatoes and balsamic vinegar are definitely a challenge on the keto diet. But as long as we use a sugar-free sweetener and use the sauce sparingly, it can work.
Another excellent alternative is this recipe for North Carolina BBQ sauce, which is more vinegary than sweet and VERY tasty.
How long can I store sugar-free keto BBQ sauce?
I usually make it, then use it right away in a recipe. If you need to store it, I suggest keeping it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Remember to stir it again before using it.
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Keto BBQ Sauce
INGREDIENTS
- 1 (7 oz jar) tomato paste (¾ cup)
- ¾ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons liquid sweetener or the equivalent in stevia
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika and sweetener in a medium bowl.
- Use a hand whisk to whisk everything together until well-blended.
- Use in your favorite recipe. This recipe makes about 1.5 cups of keto bbq sauce.
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 