Keto BBQ Sauce Recipe (Low-Carb, Paleo)

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This easy homemade low-carb keto BBQ Sauce brings that wonderful, smoky flavor to your favorite BBQ recipes. But it’s made without the added sugar or fillers you’ll find in the store-bought versions!

Add a little flavor to your weeknight dinners or weekend grilling with keto BBQ sauce!

This savory, sweet, smoky sauce is perfect for so many dishes. Use it to glaze your grilled meats or to dip chicken fingers and other appetizers. You can even throw it in the crock pot to make BBQ pulled meats!

I love this keto BBQ sauce recipe because it’s so easy to make. You only need four main ingredients plus the sweeteners, spices, and optional liquid smoke. 

You likely already have everything you need!

Why Make a Keto BBQ Sauce Recipe?

BBQ sauce is great to have all year long, but it’s basically a requirement for summer along with my keto chicken marinade. Both are essential for grilling season.

I prefer the taste of this homemade sauce when compared to store bought versions. Plus the recipe doesn’t have any added sugar or fillers. 

The other advantage is that you can adjust your low carb BBQ sauce to your own taste. Barbecue sauce is one of those things that is very personal to some people.

So whether you prefer Texas style, Carolina style, or something totally different, you can make this sauce exactly how you like it!

Why most BBQ sauces are not keto

You may be wondering why you can’t just buy BBQ sauce from the grocery store.

The problem is that many brands add a good amount of sugar, corn syrup, and fillers. This translates to high carb counts as well.

For example, Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce has 8 grams of carbs and 7 grams of sugar per tablespoon. That adds up quickly!

This recipe, on the other hand, only has 2 net carbs and 1 gram of sugar per tablespoon. So you can enjoy your keto barbecue sauce guilt free.

Where to buy low carb sauces

If you simply don’t have time to make your own, there are a few brands that make keto friendly BBQ sauces.

One option is G Hughes sugar free sauces, which you can find online or in many grocery stores. They have a variety of flavors like mesquite, hickory, and carolina sweet heat. They are gluten free, sugar free, and low carb.

Another option is the Primal Kitchen brand which is also unsweetened, gluten free, and low carb. You can find them online or in some grocery stores.

How to make keto friendly BBQ sauce

This sauce is incredibly simple to make. If you ask me, I think it’s even easier than running to the store!

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a small sauce pan.
2. Bring everything to a boil.
3. Reduce to low and simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

That’s all it takes! Your low carb barbeque sauce is now ready to enjoy.

Cook’s Tips

When you’re making this recipe, I recommend adding the sweetener gradually. If you like less sweet BBQ sauce, start with half the amount listed in this recipe and then adjust to taste.

If you want to make a large batch for future use, this sauce can be stored in the refrigerator. The salt and vinegar will help preserve the ingredients. Just make sure to use it within several weeks.

Want to make BBQ pulled meat in your crock pot or Instant Pot? You don’t even have to make the sauce first! 

Just combine the ingredients with the raw meat in your slow cooker or Instant Pot and cook as usual. The result will be delicious, tender meat with amazing barbecue flavor.

What to eat with the sauce

Wondering what to eat with your delicious, homemade low carb BBQ sauce?

I love the flavor it adds to my Instant Pot BBQ pulled chicken and Instant Pot BBQ pork chops. You can make this one in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot. It’s perfect for summer picnics!

BBQ sauce is also great for dipping flour chicken tenders or keto french fries. You’ll feel like you’re eating fast food, but with way better ingredients and no guilt! It’s great for dipping dry rub wings too.

You can also top my almond flour pizza crust with the sauce to create a delicious BBQ chicken pizza.

And of course, barbecue sauce is always an excellent topping for your grilled burgers. Combine it with some melted cheddar and smoky bacon for some amazing flavor.

What do you like to eat with BBQ sauce? Let us know in the comments below!

Other recipes to try

Looking for more low carb sauces and dressings to make at home? Check out a few of these favorites:

• Keto Ketchup is so easy to make and perfect for burgers, keto fries, and more!
• Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing is great for salads, plus it’s dairy free and paleo friendly.
• Keto Blue Cheese Dressing has plenty of cheese and just a touch of sweetness. It’s great for hot wings, salads, and more!
• Keto Cream Sauce adds tons of flavor to any meat dish and can be modified to fit a paleo diet.
• Easy Hollandaise Sauce only requires 3 main ingredients and is so delicious over seafood, veggie dishes, or low carb eggs Benedict!

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Low Carb BBQ Sauce

Author: Lisa MarcAurele

4.5 from 20 votes

It’s tough to find a good barbecue sauce in the stores without added sugar. But, it’s so simple to make your own from common ingredients you likely have in your kitchen.

Recipe Video (Click on Image to Play)

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

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Servings 12 people

Calories 13

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 ounces canned tomato sauce
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon onion powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce with no added sugar
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons mustard dijon or regular
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon stevia concentrated powder or ¼ teaspoon liquid (see note)
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon monk fruit concentrated powder or ½ teaspoon liquid (see note)
• ▢ 2 teaspoons liquid smoke optional for smokey flavor
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients together in small sauce pan.
• Bring to a boil, reduce to low and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If desired, cook boneless skinless meat in the sauce and shred for BBQ pulled pork or chicken.

Notes

You can sub out the stevia and monk fruit with any low carb sweetener. The entire recipe needs about ⅓ cup of sugar equivalent.

All ingredients can be combined in a slow cooker with raw meat for BBQ pulled pork or chicken or for slow cooked BBQ seasoned meat.

Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tbsp | Calories: 13 | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 362mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 280IU | Vitamin C: 1.8mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Additional Info

Net Carbs: 2 g | % Carbs: 100 % | % Protein: 0 % | % Fat: 0 % | SmartPoints: 1

Values

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    [fat] => 0
    [saturated_fat] => 0
    [cholesterol] => 0
    [sodium] => 362
    [potassium] => 107
    [fiber] => 0
    [sugar] => 1
    [vitamin_a] => 280
    [vitamin_c] => 1.8
    [calcium] => 11
    [iron] => 0.5
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Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

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Unauthorized use of this material without written permission from Lisa MarcAurele is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes.
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First Published: July 3, 2017… Last Updated: May 14, 2020