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The official start of summer may be a few weeks away, but in my book, June means it’s officially summer. That means, grilling season! And, you’re going to need this low carb sugar-free ketchup recipe for all your cookouts this summer.
Keto ketchup pairs perfectly with some juicy burgers on top of low carb hamburger buns. And if you like mayo on your burgers along with the sugar-free ketchup, check out my homemade avocado mayo recipe. Use this ketchup to dip keto chicken nuggets or low carb french fries.
I think a refreshing salad makes a great side for summertime. But, I also want to do more grilling this year. Admittedly I’m relatively new to it, but am definitely enjoying the learning process. Not to mention convincing my husband to do more of it. 😉
We tested a new recipe for grilled cabbage steaks over Memorial Day weekend, so go add those to your list to try!
For now, let’s talk about why I created this sugar-free ketchup recipe…
Is Ketchup Low Carb?
There are various reasons that you could be looking for sugar-free ketchup. Some people just want to reduce their sugar intake (which is great!), while others may be eating low carb or keto.
So, can you eat ketchup on a low carb diet? The answer is, it depends, but usually no.
Traditional store bought ketchup is not low carb or keto. It’s made with added sugar, or even worse, corn syrup. The nutrition info varies by brand, but it’s roughly 4 to 5 grams of sugar per tablespoon of ketchup. That may not sound like much, but it can really add up! And because it’s mostly simple, added sugar, it definitely spikes insulin.
There are some sugar-free ketchup brands, but most of them use artificial sweeteners, which I prefer to avoid.
Fortunately, there is still a way to enjoy ketchup on a low carb diet and avoid sugar. Just use my sugar-free ketchup recipe instead! It has only 1 gram of sugar per serving, which comes only from the tomatoes.
The Key To Low Carb Ketchup or Keto Ketchup
The key to making low carb ketchup or keto ketchup is really just the sweetener. Instead of sugar, or syrup, we use Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend, which dissolves easily and ensures that the ketchup is smooth, not grainy. While powdered erythritol can work okay, it can crystallize or not fully dissolve, leading a gritty texture.
You can also use a concentrated liquid sweetener if you prefer. Liquid monk fruit extract is my favorite. Otherwise, you can also make this sugar-free ketchup with stevia. Make sure it’s the liquid or concentrated powdered form, not a granulated blend.
Ingredients for a Sugar-free Ketchup Recipe
To figure out the ingredients for a homemade sugar-free ketchup recipe, I simply looked at the bottles of several popular brands of regular ketchup.
Of course they didn’t specify amounts, and some of the listings for spices were nondescript. But, it was a good starting point.
Here are the ingredients I ended up with in my low carb ketchup recipe:
- Tomato paste
- Water
- Powdered sweetener (see notes about sweeteners above!)
- White vinegar (or use apple cider vinegar for paleo)
- Sea salt
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Ground cloves
- Mustard powder
How To Make Sugar-free Ketchup from Scratch
The process for how to make sugar-free ketchup is super simple! It’s actually somewhat similar to my favorite low carb sugar-free BBQ sauce.
Start by whisking all the ingredients together in a small saucepan. Then, simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. The mixture will reduce, meaning some of the water evaporates, the flavors will combine, and the sugar-free ketchup will thicken.
The amount of time needed for the keto ketchup to reduce and thicken will vary widely. It will depend on the size of your pan and the temperature of your stove. Just continue simmering gently, stirring occasionally, until it’s as thick as you want it.
Finally, puree the sugar-free ketchup in a blender. (A high-power blender works best.) This step is not required, but I highly recommend it for the smoothest texture that is most similar to the ketchup you’re probably used to.
How To Store Homemade Sugar-free Ketchup
Homemade sugar-free ketchup stores very well in the fridge. It will keep for at least a week, maybe even longer. The vinegar really helps to preserve it.
Sometimes, this low carb ketchup can separate a bit if it sits for a while. Give it a stir and it will return to normal.
If you’re wondering what that is in the picture below, they’re paleo low carb chicken nuggets. You totally have to try them with this homemade sugar-free ketchup!
Keto Low Carb Sugar-free Ketchup Recipe
This reader favorite recipe is included in The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook! Inside this beautiful hard cover keto recipe book, you’ll find 100 delectable, EASY keto recipes to replace all your favorite carbs: bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, desserts, and more… each with 10 ingredients or less! Plus, a photo, macros, & tips for every recipe.
Keto Sugar-free Ketchup
With just 2 minutes prep and simple ingredients, this keto sugar-free ketchup tastes just like the regular kind!
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Whisk all ingredients in a small saucepan, until smooth.
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Simmer for about 30 minutes over low heat, with a cover, until the ketchup thickens (reduces) to your desired thickness. (Time will vary widely depending on the size of your pan.) Stir occasionally while simmering. Taste, and adjust salt and sweetener if needed.
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For the best consistency, puree the ketchup in a high-power blender for at least 30 seconds, until smooth. (This step is optional, but recommended for texture.)
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 tbsp
Entire recipe makes 3/4 cup, or 12 tablespoons.
Recipe from The Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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156 Comments
jojobe
0I’m not a ketchup fan as a rule but am using this recipe as part of the Shrimp Cocktail recipe. I added smoked paprika and ginger instead of plain paprika and cloves. I like the deeper complication of the smoke and I just didn’t have any cloves. The ginger works well.
Newscarver
0I don’t like monkfruit nor any of the alternative “sugars”. I bought Primal Kitchen Organic and Unsweetened Ketchup and it tastes great. It’s very expensive though. Tomato paste, however, is cheap. I think I will tweak this recipe and just omit the sweetener. I may need to add some water if the result is too acidic.
Judy
0Hi! Thank you for the recipe. I will be making it today. Can you tell me how long it lasts in the fridge? Thanks again! Judy
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Judy, This should last about a week.
Janet
0This is the best ketchup recipe. I will never buy a prepared ketchup ever again. I have made this time and time again, always comes out perfectly. I love to use a brown sugar as well. Thank you so much for all your amazing suggestions and information. It certainly helps making eating healthy even more delicious!!
G G
0I used Rotel tomatoes instead of tomato paste, because we love spicy! I used Stevia for sweetener.
Delicious for meatloaf sauce!
Bryan
0Erythritol has zero nets carbs. Because erythritol is a sugar alcohol, the carbs aren’t able to be processed by the body.
Tris
0Some people, such as myself, cannot handle the erythritol. Allulose is also 0 n net carbs. There are natural sugars in the tomato paste.
jojobe
0Erythritol is not recommended to those of us with heart conditions or high blood pressure.
Sally
0The cloves killed it. I will make again but leave the cloves out then I think it will be my favorite ketchup recipe.
Tris Elftman
0Cloves are what makes ketchup taste like ketchup but I definitely understand having any aversions. I hope it worked out!
Susan
0I think the carbs might be miscalculated.According to carb manager 1/4 cup of Besti Powdered Erythritol is 36 total carbs. That ingredient alone would make it 3 total carbs per the 1 tablespoon serving. With the carbs in the spices, it adds 3.1 more total carbs. For a total of 39.1 total carbs or 3.3 per 1 tablespoon serving. Please advise.
Recipe tastes very good.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Susan, Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. If you have questions about calculations or why you got a different result please see our nutrition policy.
jojobe
0I used monk fruit sweetened honey and it added no sugar alcohol and no carbs. The flavor is sweeter than sugar so I was careful and there is no obvious sweetness just a balanced flavor.
Susan
0I loved this recipe! I’ve already written it down and put it in my family recipe box. I plan on mixing the dry ingredients to keep on hand so I can make a quick batch when needed. The ground cloves added a nice dimension to this recipe; it was the perfect amount.
Mi
0Love it. So glad I found this. I also made the meatloaf that went along with it. Loved it also.
Sharon
0Just wondering how long it keeps in the fridge, please 😀 If its not used straight away, what is the best way to store it?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sharon, There is a whole section in the article on how to store the sugar free ketchup.
Heather Collins
0Love this recipe and your BBQ sauce is to die for. Can I freeze these? We don’t use a lot of either sauce but I hate wasting anything.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Heather, I have never tried to freeze this because I am not sure if it would be good after thawing due to the vinegar.
Haleigh
0Very excited to make this thanks!
Brian
0LOVE this ketchup. It’s all we use now… and my stepson even said he was “giving up H***z,” which used to be the only brand he’d eat.
Just finished up a batch scaled up for a #10 can (6 lb 15 oz) of tomato paste. Made just over 6 quarts, 5 of which I put in a water bath for 15 minutes. I’m no expert, so don’t quote me on it, but as the pH was around 3.5, I figure it should be fine.
Nancy
0Love this recipe. I replaced erythritol with 4 dates (they cooked down and blended in perfectly). Plus, I added 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper to add a bit of a kick.
sam
0This is truly the best keto ketchup recipe, it far exceeds anything you can buy in the store. Thank you for sharing!
Beverly Brooks
0Can you make this salt free or there’s something else to substitute for salt?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Beverly, There are several salt-free products you can use in place of salt. Potassium chloride is commonly used as a salt substitute.
Nifrey Tero
0If using liquid monkfruit, what quantities do we use for this same recipe?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Nifrey, Sorry, I have not tested that. Let me know how it goes if you do.
Sharla
0So good! I made this the first tine when I was out of Primal Kitchen ketchup. Making it again today. Taste is great!
Yayra Gunu
0Tried this for the first time and it’s really YUM
Keto_Creed
0Thanks for the recipe. Where do I get the tomato paste from? Do I need to buy it or make it myself?
Wholesome Yum M
0If you are in the US, you can find tomato paste in any grocery store. It’s with the canned goods, but can be found in a tube as well. If you are located outside of the US, then you will want to look for a concentrated tomato product. It should have a thicker consistency than a tomato soup or tomato sauce products. I hope this helps to clarify what you are looking for!
Stacey
0This ketchup is my go to, and we love it in our house. What is the shelf life for this recipe when refrigerated? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Stacey, This recipe is good for a week+ in the fridge. Enjoy!
Maureen
0I’m a little bit of a ketchup snob and this is bar none the BEST homemade ketchup I’ve ever made
Nancy Blanchard
0Love, love this ketchup…tastes amazing and I always make a double batch!
Thank you so much,
Nancy
Tonya Courchesne
0This ketchup is perfect. I prefer to any store bought brand which seem bitter. Thank you for creating this!
James
0I didn’t see any comments about making with stevia. What would the proper amount be? Thanks for posting this, can’t wait to try it.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi James, You definitely can make this recipe using liquid stevia. Check this sweetener calculator here to figure out the correct amount.
Mary
0I would give this ketchup recipe 10 stars if it were available. Excellent taste and texture. The apple cider vinegar gives it a boost in flavor.
Billie
0We make a quadruple batch of this once a month for our teenagers so they can use it with keto chicken tenders, burgers, hotdogs and what ever else they think task better with ketchup.
It is super easy to make we did reduce the vinager to 3tbs for the whole thing insted of the 12tbs. it would normally want for that much because the kids said it was to vinagery.
This is so much more cost effective than the store bought suger free ones!
Edie
0your recipes are easy & delicious. You make keto foolproof, thank you!
Tina Horner
0This is the best ketchup I’ve ever had!!!
Paddy Jonas
0The cloves were cloying. So have omitted
Nelda R Owens
0This tasted wonderful right after I mixed it up. After it cooked! Wow! Delicious!! Thank you for sharing this recipe. Makes Keto even easier with people like you coming up with great recipes.
Nancy
0I have granulated Monk Fruit sweetener that came in a large amount and since there is only me, I need to know if there is some way to use this in place of the powdered. Doesn’t it melt when heated like sugar does? I really don’t want to buy another large container in the powdered form if I can somehow substitute the granulated.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Nancy, It doesn’t dissolve the way sugar does, the gritty texture will remain. If you have a blender, you can try powdering it yourself, but it may still result in a gritty texture.
Gerald
0If you have a coffee grinder it powders it great that’s what we do. “The monk fruit”
shanila
0A real Keto life saver. Have made this a few times now. I add a little more vinegar as we like our ketchup tangy.
Caril
0I liked the flavor and instead of using tomato paste I used tomato sauce and omitted adding the water.
I was out of paste but it still turned out great.
Linda
0This recipe was amazing – way better than store-bought and low carb to boot! I live in the coastal south and would really love it if you would create a cocktail sauce recipe using this ketchup as a base or starting point.
LInda
0I’m not sure if she made a cocktail sauce recipe yet but I make my own using the above and ground prepared horseradish, it adds a tiny bit of extra carbs but it’s so good. The brand I buy is Silver Spring Fresh Ground Prepared Horseradish at Walmart and it has 1g carb in 1sp. I’m sure you could purchase fresh horseradish and grind it yourself but I haven’t tried it.
Sarah williams
0Fantastic, easy and very very tasty
Betsy
0Easy to make and we like it better then Heinz. Will never go back to store bought again! Excellent ketchup and so simple to make. Thank you!
Lalala
0How is this Keto?! Tomato Paste has TONS of sugar! 🙁
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Lalala, This ketchup only has 1 gram of sugar per serving. As long as you enjoy it in moderation, it can fit nicely into a keto diet.
John
0Just as good as the “real” thing, I use this as the base for Sloppy Joes.
Delight Schwartz
0I’m trying this today and am a!so going to try what I also do when making my homemade salad dressings and mayonnaise last , I mix the contents of one probiotics capsule into the finished mixture right when I’m storing them, it acts as a natural preservative. Since I make 1 quart of mayo each month, it stays good up to and over 30 days in the frig, provided I pasteurized my eggs beforehand. I bet it might work with this recipe too. It’s discouraging to just see all the sugar content in American processed foods, especially since I was raised on Best Foods and love that brand, until I read the label. So much bad sugar and hydrogenated oils which we keto dieters cannot tolerate. I think we can do better than that and make our own. Thanks for posting.
Adrian Mendoza
0We lover this recipe! It tastes just like Whataburger ketchup!
Claudia
0Delicious! I didn’t have all the ingredients so I had to make small changes like using whole cloves, yellow mustard, different sweetener and a little more vinegar.
Mel
0Wow. This tastes like real tomato ketchup. I didn’t have mustard powder so I used Dijon mustard. Easy to make and delicious.
Ralph
0Loved this recipe! Great flavor!
Brenda
0Just one of many recipes I have borrowed from you. I have not found one that I would not use again.
Thank you.
Connie
0I made this ketchup yesterday and it was delicious. The only thing I did different was to heat up the tomato paste to almost boiling prior to adding the remaining ingredients. It took all the bitter taste out of the paste, was so easy to whisk smooth. Then I continued as directed, Thank you so much for this recipe
Becca
0Thanks for the great recipe. I’ve not been able to find a sugar free ketchup and I’m happy to have this in my recipe book.
Julie
0Hi, Maya! I was wondering if all of the ingredients could be put in the blender BEFORE heating it on the stove. In so doing I could see if I needed additional (for example) sweetener, or other ingredient. I also think it would also be easier than pouring the ketchup into the blender after it’s simmered on the stove. Just my 2 cents. Thanks so much for all of the great recipes!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Julie, I think that could work. Please report back and let us know how it went!