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Home » Recipes » Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe

Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe

July 9, 2018 by Faith 2 Comments

This Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe has a classic well-rounded flavor profile; it’s the perfect balance between sweet, tart, spicy, smoky, and umami flavors.

Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe on Wooden Table

After I started cutting back on carbs, I realized just how much hidden sugar is in so many of our foods. Like ketchup, for example. Yes, it’s sweet, but it’s not dessert so it really has no business being that sweet, lol! And yet you wouldn’t believe how much sugar it packs, and guess what? A lot of BBQ sauces on the market have even more sugar than ketchup.

This Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe features the same flavors we love in BBQ sauce, but without the sugar. My trick is to start with a really great low-carb ketchup as the base! It helps this BBQ sauce come together in just 20 minutes total. I like to use AlternaSweets ketchup, which is stevia-sweetened and has just one gram net carbs per one-tablespoon serving.

How Much Sugar is in Ketchup and How Much Sugar is in BBQ Sauce

According to The Washington Post, a one tablespoon-sized serving of a popular ketchup brand has four grams of sugar, which is more than a typical chocolate chip cookie! And I don’t know about you, but if I’m having ketchup, it’s not going to be just one tablespoon.

Let’s look at BBQ sauce; according to the USDA food database, a two-tablespoon serving of BBQ sauce has a whopping 12 grams of sugar!

The Difference Between Low Carb and Regular BBQ Sauce

The flavor between this homemade BBQ sauce and a  store-bought sauce is quite similar; they both have a balance of sweetness and tang, with notes of smoky flavor.

The biggest difference isn’t the flavor, it’s the texture. Because of its high amount of sugar (or honey, or maple syrup, etc.), regular BBQ sauce has a syrupy glaze-like consistency. This recipe yields a sauce that is more sauce-like with the syrupy quality.

Top View of Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe

How to Make This Homemade Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce

Ingredients for This Recipe

I start with my favorite low-carb ketchup as the base, and then I add:

  • Garlic and onion lend depth of flavor and body to the sauce
  • Apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard give tang
  • Worcestershire adds umami flavor
  • Chili-garlic sauce and black pepper give this BBQ sauce a very faint heat
  • Cumin and smoked paprika add a smoky quality
  • A hint of molasses adds depth (it’s not being used as a sweetener)

Cooking Method

Sauté garlic and onion in olive oil and once softened, add everything else and simmer a bit! Enjoy!

What to Use This Sauce For:

  • Keto BBQ Chicken Salad Bowls from An Edible Mosaic
  • Instant Pot Ribs from Lara Clevenger
  • Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs from Sally’s Baking Addiction
  • BBQ Chicken with Bacon and Cheddar from Add a Pinch
  • Western BBQ Burgers from Spicy Southern Kitchen
  • BBQ Pepper Jack Chicken and Brown Rice Casserole from An Edible Mosaic

Close Up of Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe

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Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe
Author: Faith Gorsky
Recipe type: Condiments
Cuisine: American
Prep time:  5 mins
Cook time:  15 mins
Total time:  20 mins
Yield: 2¼ cups
 
This BBQ sauce recipe has a classic well-rounded flavor profile; it’s the perfect balance between sweet, tart, spicy, smoky, and umami flavors.
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (13.5 oz/382 g) bottle keto-friendly ketchup (I use AlternaSweets)
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
  • 1 teaspoon chili-garlic sauce (sambal oelek)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
Instructions
  1. Add the olive oil to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and cook until softened, but not browned, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Mix in the ketchup, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, molasses, chili-garlic sauce, cumin, black pepper, and paprika.
  2. Bring to a boil, and then turn the heat down to simmer; cook (uncovered) 5 minutes.
  3. Cool slightly, and then puree until smooth (I find a high-speed blender works best for this if you want a silky-smooth sauce).
  4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
3.5.3251

Easy Low Carb BBQ Sauce Recipe with Description

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items, which helps me keep this site alive – thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged: BBQ Sauce, Condiments, Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce, Grilling, Low-Carb, Recipes, Sauces

Trackbacks

  1. Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken | Low Carb & Gluten Free - Keto Carnage says:
    November 9, 2019 at 3:34 am

    […] In a large glass container add chopped lettuce, diced red onion, sliced jalapeños, a few whole cherry tomatoes, and shredded cheese of choice. In separate glass container add desired amount of pulled BBQ chicken. This way you can heat it up. Pack an avocado on the side for added fat! Sauce it up with extra low carb BBQ sauce. […]

    Reply
  2. Keto Honey Mustard Dressing - Keto Carnage says:
    July 24, 2019 at 4:09 am

    […] Low Carb BBQ Sauce […]

    Reply

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Hello! I’m Faith and I write An Edible Mosaic. This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics, with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. I focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home. Welcome to my mosaic of recipes.

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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In honor of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, I'm s In honor of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, I'm sharing this Red Lentil Soup. I first posted the recipe on my blog years ago (it's been over a decade now!) after I learned how to make it while living in the Middle East. My Syrian ex-mother-in-law is an absolutely incredible cook. Not only does she enjoy feeding the people she loves, but cooking is truly an art form to her. She graciously took me into her kitchen and taught me so many traditional recipes like this one. 💛

Not long ago, I re-photographed the dish and updated the post on my blog. You can find it on @anediblemosaic --> https://www.anediblemosaic.com/ramadan-red-lentil-soup/

And if you're interested, you can also check out that post to read more about my experience with Ramadan, and what foods are traditional. 🌙

Ramadan Kareem to all who celebrate. 😘

#redlentilsoup #souplover #souplove #soupofinstagram #instasoup #glutenfree #foodstyling #foodphotography #photography #middleeasternfood #arabicfood #ramadanfood #ramadan2021 #ramadanmubarak #ramadankareem
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More than just wanting to get back into posting regularly there, I wanted to give that space a fresh new look! I'm pretty thrilled that today it's done (with just a couple very minor decorative tweaks I still want to make). 💗

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Take a peek at the redesign and let me know what you think! 😘 Find this recipe on my other blog Healthy Sweet Eats (the direct link is in my link tree in my profile) --> https://www.healthysweeteats.com/sugar-free-berry-sorbet-recipe/

#foodphotography #foodstyling #foodstylist #photography #lightandshadow #moodygrams #dslr #f52grams @thefeedfeed #feedfeed #beautifulcuisines #eeeeeats #sorbet #berries #berrylove #instaberries #berriesofinstagram
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When we first met in real life last year before the pandemic hit, it was an instant connection. It was lots of laughs, local exploration, good food, great conversation, and she even brought me bagels from her hometown! She's a kindred soul. 🥰❤️ Since then we've stayed connected and have spent a few afternoons cooking together. We've made Russian dumplings called Pelmeni and we had a holiday cake-off where I made a Gingerbread Roll Cake and Eve made a Pumpkin Roll Cake.

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