Why This Homemade Bbq Sauce Is Best
If you love BBQ, you know the importance of a good sauce. The right BBQ sauce elevates the flavor of your meat, while a subpar sauce can wreck what would be a delicious meal.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of BBQ sauce recipes are loaded with sugar, corn syrup and other ingredients you might rather avoid if youre limiting your carb intake .
Heres the good news: its super easy to make sugar free BBQ sauce at home. It tastes a million times better than the no-sugar sauces that come in a bottle and you can enjoy it so many ways.
Brush it on grilled chicken tenders, toss it with pulled pork or use as a dipping sauce.
- Sweet and tangy with a peppery kick
- More cost effective than store bought
I know this is going to become your new go-to BBQ sauce recipe! We feature this sauce on our smoked bbq chicken thighs!
Simple Girl Variety Organic Bbq Sauces
This BBQ sauce variety pack from Simple Girl includes three delicious flavors.
These include Carolina Kick, Southern Blend, and their Original Country Sweet BBQ sauce.
All of the ingredients used are organic and of the highest quality.
The Carolina Kick will add some smokiness, spiciness, and a touch of sweetness to your meals.
It makes a fantastic gluten-free dipping sauce but can also be used in other ways.
The Organic Southern Blend is a great all-around sauce that can be used to flavor chicken, beef, virtually any vegetable, and even vegan ingredients like tofu.
It is a well-balanced tomato-based BBQ sauce and it has the perfect balance of spice and sweetness.
And finally, the Organic Country Sweet sauce is just the sauce for those not wanting to sacrifice sweetness. It goes great with beef, chicken, pork, and much more!
Can You Modify The Flavor Of Your Sugar
You can definitely modify the flavor of your BBQ sauce, and its actually pretty easy! The most important thing to take into consideration is whether or not the additional ingredients will pair well with the rest of the recipe.
You dont want to make your sauce spicier if you are going to use it in a spicy dish. There are hundreds of tips and tricks on the internet to help you easily adapt store-bought BBQ sauces.
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Simple Girl Organic Southern Blend Bbq Sauce
Simple Girl has a sugar free sauce with only 5 calories per serving, making it the lowest calorie option in this list.
Simple Girl Southern Blend BBQ Sauce is for you if you like a well-rounded bbq sauce with a southern flair! This bbq sauce is a vinegar-based sauce with a smooth taste rather than a tomato-based sauce. As it adds the perfect amount of flavor to chicken, beef, tofu and more, it is not-too-spicy and not-too-sweet.
If you look at the ingredients in most regular bbq sauces, youll see things like high fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, sugar and caramel color The most popular regular bbq sauces have an average of 58 calories, 15 carbs and 13 sugars in just 2 tablespoons with ingredients like these! So what about the markets diet bbq sauces? They are made with things such as sucralose, aspartame, caramel color, and different preservatives, while they are low in calories, carbs and sugar.
Organic, kosher, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened with stevia.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 5 per 2 Tbsp
Add to FavouritesWhy Youll Love It
SKUIngredients
Vine-ripened Crushed Tomatoes , Cider Vinegar, Distilled Vinegar, Modified Cornstarch, Contains less than 2% of Caramel Color, Dehydrated Onion, Garlic Powder, Spices, Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Natural Flavor, Hickory Smoke, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose.
Contains sulphites.
How Do I Make Homemade Sugar Free Bbq Sauce
Low Carb BBQ sauce will last in the fridge for 3 weeks, and gets even tastier the second day.
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How To Store Homemade Keto Bbq Sauce
If you have prepared this sauce as a make-ahead recipe to use for meal prep, you can allow it to cool slightly and then pour it into a mason jar. Seal it with a tight-fitting lid and store it in the refrigerator to use for quick and easy meals throughout the week!
This sauce should last about 2 weeks if stored properly.
Where To Use This Sauce
BEEF. It’s a condiment I like to use in beef recipes, for example when marinating steaks or for ground beef. The tangy/sweet notes of the tamarind in the sauce works really well in this recipe.
PORK: We have used this homemade sugar free bbq sauce recipe in place of ketchup with sausages and I’ve marinated pork belly with it.
I grilled the pork belly strips for 30 minutes, then added the barbecue sauce and returned them to the oven for another 25 minutes. Delicious.
SPARE RIBS: I bet it would also be good for bbq ribs and as a topping for burgers .
DIPPING: Use it as a dipping sauce for these awesomely crispy keto chicken wings or my Low Carb Keto Chicken Nuggets!
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How To Use Keto Bbq Sauce
BBQ sauce is one of the most versatile condiments there is. Most of us think of barbecue sauce as an accompaniment to meat cooked over hot coals or on a grill, but there are so many delicious ways to enjoy this flavorful sugar free sauce too.
- Chicken thighs: My all time favorite wayto use Keto BBQ sauce is to make BBQ Chicken Thighs!
- On a burger: Make your own BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers with a few beef patties, crispy oven baked bacon, Keto Hamburger Buns and this sauce recipe!
- As a dip: Serve the sauce with a plate of Grilled Chicken Tenders or roasted radishes for dipping.
- Pulled pork: Keto BBQ sauce is begging to be tossed with some slow-cooked shredded pork!
Best Keto Bbq Sauces To Buy On Amazon Right Now
Is BBQ sauce keto-friendly?
It is! And there are at least 13 amazing keto bbq sauces, going by my count. Now you can enjoy your sweet smokey BBQ sauce guilt-free and sugar-free.
Keep reading and discover the 13 best keto bbq sauces to buy on Amazon.
If youre looking for a bbq sauce to fill that Sweet Baby Rays-sized hole in your heart, youre in luck all of these bbq sauces are sugar free, dairy-free, and perfect for a low carb, low sugar, keto, or just a low-calorie diet.
Yee-haw, were cookin now boy-o!
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Is Regular Barbecue Sauce Sugar Free
No! Buying condiments in the supermarket and staying sugar free is a tricky business. Ready-made sauces are usually laden with added sugar, as well as large amounts of additives straight out of the chemistry textbook.
Sugar acts as a preservative. It extends the shelf life of products. It is cheap. It enhances taste. People love sugar because it triggers the release of dopamine in the reward centre of the brain. Eating sugar makes us want to eat more sugar.
All of this is GREAT for business – and bad for our health.
I don’t want to bang on about how evil food manufacturers are. They’re in it for the profit, not for charity. What we can do is read labels and make informed decisions about what we put into our bodies.
4 grams of sugar is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of table sugar. When you read that 100g of Heinz Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Sauce contains 34g of sugar, for example, you know what you’re in for.
Main Ingredients And Calories
As youâve seen just above, the main ingredients of BBQ sauces determine their flavors. The most common ingredients, are tomato paste, vinegar, and spices such as black pepper or mustard. Some BBQ sauces are made from artificial ingredients but the best sauces are made from healthy ingredients . Walden Farms BBQ sauce and Jack Danielâs Old No. 7 Original BBQ sauce are examples of formulas without unhealthy ingredients.
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Keep In Mind Common Sugar Alternatives
Sugar-free BBQ sauces are usually made with artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. Read on to learn more about these sugar substitutes.
Artificial Sweeteners Are the Sweetest
Artificial sweeteners are synthetically made and are many times sweeter than sugar. Since they aren’t found in nature, they can impact your gut health. But there’s yet to be any conclusive evidence showing that artificial sweeteners lead to any digestive problems.
Another concern about artificial sweeteners is that they might cause cancer. However, the National Cancer Institute says that there’s no sound proof that artificial sweeteners approved by the Food and Drug Administration lead to cancer.
On another note, artificial sweeteners have no glycemic impact and are generally safe for those who have diabetes. They also have zero to a few calories and are a great option if you’re trying to manage your weight.
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener used frequently in many sugar-free BBQ sauces. It’s recognized as generally safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Plus, it doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste like many other artificial sweeteners.
Natural Sweeteners Are Easier to Digest
Some BBQ sauces might contain stevia or monk fruit extract. While stevia is made from the leaves of the stevia plant, monk fruit extract is derived from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii, a subtropical melon in Asia. Both of them contain virtually no calories and are much sweeter than sugar.
Recipe Ideas Using This Sauce
Use this barbecue sauce as you would the traditional kind. Here are just a couple of ideas to get you started:
- BBQ chicken pizza. Prepare a keto pizza but omit the original sauce. Spread a generous layer of bbq sauce and top with cooked chicken breast, onions, and cheese and bake until cheese has melted.
- Breakfast wraps. Spread bbq sauce inside a keto tortilla and fill with scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese.
- Veggie dipper. The perfect pairing with some buffalo baked cauliflower bites or even some twice cooked brussels sprouts.
- Salmon marinade. Add some of the sauce with some sweet chili salmon or pan seared salmon, for a smokey, sweet flavor.
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Lillies Q Zero Sugar Carolina Barbeque Sauce 2 For $2074 From Amazon
Lillies Q
Love North Carolina-style barbecue? Lillies Q created as close a match as possible to the real thing, except this one has no sugar added. Dubbed Western Carolina Tomato, the sauce has a slight tang to it, just like vinegary Carolina BBQ sauce should. The brand recommends using this on pulled pork, brisket, and smoked chicken.Buy Now
Cooking And Serving Tips
Here are a few other things to know about making your own BBQ sauce like a pro:
- Make sure to stir frequently, about once every 10 to 15 minutes, while the BBQ sauce is cooking. This will help better incorporate the flavors and ensure that the sauce is evenly cooked throughout.
- Let the sauce cool before transferring to a storage container. A mason jar is a good option. Whatever you use, make sure it’s airtight. You can store your sauce in the refrigerator for up to a week.
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Gourmet Warehouse Sugar Free Bbq Sauce
Gourmet Warehouse is a sugar-free sauce for home and commercial grilling. This sauce comes in a 16oz bottle, and there are two bottles per pack. With Gourmet Warehouse, what you get is a Low carb bbq sauce that is keto-friendly. You can enjoy using this sauce even if you are on a keto diet and watching your weight. It is free from artificial flavors and coloring. You should also know that there are no fructose or corn syrup elements in this bbq sauce.
What you have is a tomato sauce that is spiced with a collection of organic sources and flavors that will transform your bbq from bland to great. In addition, you can use Gourmet Warehouse for your burgers, poultry, bbq, chicken wings, and grilled food in general.
One bottle also contains sufficient sauce to prepare a considerable portion of BBQ. After use, make sure you close the cap tightly to prevent air entry.
Why do we like it?
- Handcrafted with the best ingredients
- Organic content
Using Different Ingredient Brands
The nutritional information provided for this recipe was calculated using our specific ingredients. If you use another brand, be aware that the changes may alter the nutritional information.
Sweeteners
Some sweeteners contain sugar alcohols. Some people find that sugar alcohols have no impact on their blood sugar while others notice a spike in blood sugars after eating it . Alcohol sugars can also cause stomach upset, gas and bloating in some people as well.
I used Splenda granulated sweetener in this recipe. If you choose to use a different sweetener, I recommend a powdered or granulated sweetener.
Sugar-Free Ketchup
In this recipe, I used Heinz Sugar-Free Ketchup, Not all Sugar-Free Ketchup has the same nutritional information. The Walden Farms brand has 0 calories and zero carbs. I did not use Walden Farms ketchup in this recipe, even though I am a fan of their products, because I find that the consistency is a bit too watery for my liking in this recipe. I like my barbecue sauce to stick to the meat and not run off.
If you use a different brand of sugar-free ketchup, and you find the recipe too runny, add 1/4 teaspoon of Xanthum Gum as a thickener.
Liquid Smoke
This is a fantastic product. It is actually made from smoke. The smoke is captured from burning woods, such as hickory, and processed into a liquid. It is an easy way to add a smokey flavour to our best Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce recipe and is a great addition to your Diabetic Friendly kitchen
Recommended Reading: Sweet Baby Ray’s Bbq Sauce Nutrition
Head Country Sugar Free Bbq Sauce
This is a mild, homestyle sauce made with a rich blend of flavors, perfect if youre looking for a sweeter sauce without any heat.
For Head Country BBQ, everything started with the sauce. A simple concept one that for generations has earned them a place at the many a dinner table. Not too tangy, smokey, or strong. Nothing really fancy about it. Just a bold, rich, perfectly balanced, sweet and savory blend born from the finest Bar-B-Q traditions in the heartland. It tastes like home, folks say. Zero sugar and keto-friendly!
This sauce is sweetened with sucralose.
Nutrition Facts
Keto Bbq Sauce Ingredients
The ingredients for this sugar free bbq sauce are all keto-friendly. You are more than likely to have all of them at home right now. Here is just a little about some of the key ingredients, what I use, brand and why.
I use Grove Avocado Oil for flavour. Any extra virgin olive oil can be used if preferred.
There is a link to my sugar free ketchup that is used in the recipe however, any sugar free or reduced sugar shop-bought ketchup/tomato sauce can be used.
The yellow mustardis the American-type you use on a hotdog not powdered mustard.
I use 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in this recipe it does add a good amount of tanginess to the sauce and helps to cut the sweetness and fat when used on ribs etc. You can reduce the amount if preferred, but this sauce is perfectly balanced to me.
Sugar-free Worcerstershire is available in specialty stores. Honestly, it is there for more of a traditional flavour in barbecue sauce. I have used gluten-free tamari many times and love the sauce as is, so choose what you would prefer. To be honest though, if you use the tamari, coconut aminos or even gluten free soy sauce with the ingredients in this keto bbq sauce you will not notice any difference.
I use Sukrin Gold granular sweetener in this recipe. To me it is important to use a gold/brown sweetener to get a more caramel brown barbecue sauce flavour. Other brands that would suit are Natvia or SoNourished.
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Rufus Teague Sugar Bbq Sauce
This is another sweet barbeque sauce that gets its sugar from alternative, more healthy sources.
This sauce contains Tamari soy sauce that does contain small amounts of sugar. The other source of sweetness is Stevia, a natural sweetener obtained from plants.
Other flavors you will find in this sauce include tomato paste, spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, and then some spiciness from added dried chipotle and chili peppers.
We would highly recommend using this sauce as a marinade with poultry, pork, fish, and of course beef, but it can also be used in other ways.
Bbq Sauce Without Added Sugars
QUESTION: How can I get that big sweet and spicy barbecue sauce taste without any sugar?
ANSWER: Use a natural low carb sweetener like erythritol, xylitol, stevia, monk fruit or a combination of any of the above. Many commercial barbecue sauces use liquid Sucralose to sweeten their products. If thats okay with you, look for EZ-Sweetz liquid drops, but avoid aspartame which changes chemical composition when it heats up and loses sweetness.
I use a low carb erythritol/stevia based sweetener. Erythritol has zero calories. The body doesnt process it so it leaves the body in the same chemical composition as it arrived. This means it contributes zero carbs to your dietary intake.
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