My Low Carb Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce is a total game-changer if you are following a keto or low carb lifestyle. It’s full of tangy, delicious barbecue flavor without all the carbs plus the ingredients are simple, and it’s easy to make.
Low Carb Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce
I think I have missed homemade BBQ more than I realized. Growing up, my parents made homemade BBQ sauce all the time. I can even remember my Daddy standing over a hot pot of BBQ sauce, tasting it by the spoonful until it was just right. I’m pretty sure BBQ sauce was a food group all it’s own in my family since we ate it so often.
Although I have found store-bought sugar-free bbq sauce that tasted okay, nothing compares to homemade. A while back, I started experimenting with my family’s BBQ Sauce recipe as I knew there had to be a way to make a low carb sugar free BBQ sauce version. It was a bit little tricky since BBQ is very sweet and is usually made with quite a bit of ketchup and brown sugar, which I avoid due to the high carb count. In this recipe, I used regular tomato sauce then sweetened the low carb BBQ sauce with MonkFruit Golden Sweetener (a sugar-free brown sugar substitute). It tastes just like my family’s homemade sauce.
If you are making something with BBQ, you need to serve it alongside this easy keto coleslaw!
Will BBQ Sauce Kick You Out of Ketosis?
Regular BBQ sauce generally has approx 15 carbs in two tablespoons. It wouldn’t take much to go over your daily carb allowance. Since it is made with pure sugar, it would likely kick you out of ketosis that is why I made this fantastic sugar-free bbq sauce keto-friendly.
Specialty Ingredients Used in this Recipe:
As I had mentioned before, regular BBQ Sauce is loaded with sugar. When making a keto-friendly version, an excellent sugar-free substitute is an essential ingredient. In creating this recipe, I found that Lakanto Monkfruit Golden Sweetener yielded the best results. It is a fabulous sugar-free substitute for brown sugar that works perfectly in keto recipes. An alternative sweetener is Swerve Brown. Lakanto Monkfruit Golden and Swerve Brown measure the same and are interchangeable.
Step One: Use a whisk and stir vigorously to make sure the tomato sauce and mustard are thoroughly combined before adding the rest of the ingredients to ensure that the sauce is smooth.
Tip: You’ll find the canned tomato sauce in the canned food aisle at your local grocery store. It is usually stocked with all of the other varieties of canned tomatoes, such as diced, whole, tomato paste, etc.
Step 2: Dump the rest of the ingredients in the pot and give it a stir. Don’t be afraid of spices. Spices like chili powder and garlic powder can add much depth and flavor to recipes. Together with the water, vinegar, and Monkfruit Golden, they blend to create a rich, bold, and tangy sugar-free BBQ sauce that is perfect for a low carb diet.
Variations to this Recipe:
While I used regular white vinegar in this recipe, you could substitute with apple cider vinegar. Additional ingredients that can be added to this great recipe for sugar-free bbq sauce include liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and chopped onions.
Can I Make This Recipe in a Slow Cooker?
I don’t think it would work as sauces don’t typically cook down and reduce in a slow cooker. You need to boil the sauce down without a lid on for it to thicken properly.
How to Thicken Keto BBQ Sauce
Step 3: As you simmer the sauce, it will begin to reduce and thicken. All of the flavors infuse together, which makes it incredibly bold and tangy. With only one net carb per serving, you’ll want to keep a batch of this keto bbq sauce recipe handy in the fridge at all times.
Is this BBQ Sauce Gluten-Free?
All of the ingredients used to make this sugar-free bbq sauce are gluten-free. Although, I would suggest checking the labels on the brands you use.
Braggs Aminos is a healthier version of soy sauce is naturally gluten-free, and it does not contain wheat, additives, or preservatives.
More Keto Recipes that use Low Carb BBQ Sauce
- Bacon-Wrapped Onion Rings
- Smoked Sausage & Cabbage
- BBQ Meatloaf
- Pulled Pork
- BBQ Chicken with Bacon & Cheese
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Crockpot Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce
If you aren’t already following my Easy Keto/Low Carb Recipe Page on Facebook, where I post all my new recipes, you can join here and follow me on Pinterest here.
How to Make Homemade Keto and Low Carb BBQ Sauce
Low Carb Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 8oz cans tomato sauce
- 3 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2/3 cup Monkfruit Golden Sweetener
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp Braggs Aminos (Can also use coconut aminos if avoiding soy)
- 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Mix tomato sauce and yellow mustard with a whisk until thoroughly combined in a saucepan.
- Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and allow the bbq sauce to cook down until it begins to thicken, and all of the flavors are thoroughly combined (approx 20-30 minutes).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Dorothy M Dickerson says
can I can in jars?
Mary Trenum says
Sure
Shelley says
Is the vinegar distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
Kasey says
I use white vinegar.
Tiffinie says
I am now making this for the third time. I am making a quadruple batch lol we love bbq sauce and I hate having to make it every week or so. This time I did a few things different. First I didn’t have enough of my brown sugar substitute so I used a good squeeze of sugar free syrup. Also I wanted to try using apple cider vinegar but didn’t have enough so I used half cup apple cider vinegar and half cup regular. I didn’t add the full amount of vinegar as I sometimes feel it’s a bit overwhelming. One last thing I didn’t have chili powder so I used cayenne pepper powder and halved the amount. Started out sweet then BAM u get the heat . So yummy
Mary Trenum says
Great way to substitute when you don’t have your needed ingredients. Glad you liked it!
Jeanne says
This is so easy and yummy. I also add dried minced onion
.Kasey says
I’m sure the onions were good in it. I’m glad you liked it.
Mike manus says
It says 7kcal surely it’s not 7000 cals per serving is it
.Kasey says
Ummmm.no. That would be an awful lot of calories.
Carol says
What are Braggs aminos and where do you get it? Thank you.
Amber says
Can you use monk or swerve granulated? Not ready to run out for$10 bag of monk brown for bbq sauce right now, but I want to try your Monterrey chicken recipe.
Cinnamon Flowers says
Could you use honey to sweeten it if your needing sugar free due to a allergy not a diet? And if so how much honey would you use?
Brewster says
Folks here are looking for sugar and carbohydrate free food and honey ,even though marginally better than sugar is still sugar, which is causing the other pandemic… diabetes.
Tracy says
I messed up and used regular lakanto sweetener. Is there a way to “fix” this? Can I add something and re-heat it?
.Kasey says
I don’t know. I’ve only made them as is.
Stephanie says
Did it taste bad?
Dee says
How do you store & how long does it last?
Kasey says
I store in the fridge for approx 2 weeks.
Hope says
What substitution would you suggest for brags aminos or coconut amino when allergic to coconut and soy?
Regan says
I used liquid smoke in place of the Bragg’s aminos
Amanda Lynch says
Yet another delicious and spot on recipe, Kasey!! What would I do without your fabulous work!! Thank you.
.Kasey says
You’re so welcome, Amanda. Thank you for your kind words. It really means a lot to me.
Ariana says
It says 2 8oz cans of tomato sauce- you dont mean tomato paste?
Kasey says
No, it is canned tomato sauce and not tomato paste.
Sandra says
Made as instructed. Tastes wonderful and easy to make.
.Kasey says
Fantastic! I’m so glad you liked it.
Judy says
What does the aminos do/add?
Jackie Flinchum says
Easy to make & very good!
.Kasey says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Tamara says
Would tomato passata be ok? We don’t have canned tomato sauce in Australia that I know about.
.Kasey says
I’ve never used tomato passata before so I’m not sure how it would work but it’s certainly worth a try.
Jeannie Cole says
I use tomato passata instead of tomato sauce for everything calling for sauce. Works just fine. If you want it completely smooth with no texture at all, you can blend it. I live in Italy so completely understand the tomato differences.
Debbie Fites says
I also could NOT find the aminos at the store today and forgot and am in the middle of making this. DO I just leave it out. other people have asked about the Aminos and you haven’t answered that I can find. help!
Tamara says
Just made this with diced tomatoes as tomato sauce in cans could not be found.. tastes delicious 👌🏻 I also added less sugar substitute but probably a tad too much chilli
Amanda Lynch says
Debbie,
Aminos are similar to a soy sauce. It usually beside them in the store or near international food sauces. Based on soy I’d say its a salt and liquid component. If you can’t find it you could use soy sauce, go without, or maybe add a pinch more salt and add a couple extra tbsp of water.
Kim Baumgart says
Just so you know – a regular can of tomato sauce does have sugar in it – 10 grams. not completely sugar-free
Kasey says
Hi! Sugar-free is referring to added sugars not naturally occurring sugars. There is no sugar added to the cans of tomato sauce. That number only reflects what is natural in tomatos. It also means no sugar is added to the bbq sauce. Instead, a sugar-free sweetener is used.
Sandra says
This makes a terrific BBQ Sauce. I’ve made it before, but this time I changed it up a bit. After pre-cooking my seasoned ribs, I used the juices from the pan instead of water, and used some of the left over rib rub seasonings I had – In addition to what’s in the recipe. I also doubled the recipe and let it simmer on low for about 2 1/2 hours. It reduced down by about 1/2 in volume and was a perfectly thick sauce, just right for basting the ribs and serving along side them. This was THE BEST sauce I’ve made so far and will use this process again for my BBQ pork ribs!
Thanks for the basic recipe!
Kasey says
Yum! Your ribs sound amazing! So glad you enjoyed the sauce.
Karen says
I made a double batch for my son and his college friends – easy to make and great flavor.
I added a dash of liquid smoke – thanks for the recipe!
Kasey says
Awesome! So glad you all loved it.
Laura says
So 2 tablespoons of this bbq sauce is only 1 carb??
Kasey says
Yes, it is.
Anne Gardner says
Easy and a nice blend of tang and tomato flavors
Kasey says
Fantastic! So glad you enjoyed it!