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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.
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 powdered monk fruit or powdered erythritol.
Why powdered and not granulated? Because this ensures that the ketchup is smooth, and not grainy.
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!
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Keto Low Carb Sugar-free Ketchup Recipe
Everyone will love this homemade sugar-free ketchup recipe! If you want to reduce sugar, or are looking for keto low carb ketchup, this is for you. Just a few minutes prep with simple ingredients, and it tastes just like the regular kind!
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Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
Whisk all ingredients in a small saucepan, until smooth.
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.
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.
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Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Net carb count excludes fiber, erythritol, and allulose, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. (Learn about net carbs here.) We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
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112 Comments
Tina Horner
This is the best ketchup I’ve ever had!!!
Paddy Jonas
The cloves were cloying. So have omitted
Nelda R Owens
This 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
I 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
Hi 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
If you have a coffee grinder it powders it great that’s what we do. “The monk fruit”
shanila
A real Keto life saver. Have made this a few times now. I add a little more vinegar as we like our ketchup tangy.
Caril
I 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
This 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
I’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
Fantastic, easy and very very tasty
Betsy
Easy 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
How is this Keto?! Tomato Paste has TONS of sugar! 🙁
Wholesome Yum M
Hi 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
Just as good as the “real” thing, I use this as the base for Sloppy Joes.
Delight Schwartz
I’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
We lover this recipe! It tastes just like Whataburger ketchup!
Claudia
Delicious! 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
Wow. This tastes like real tomato ketchup. I didn’t have mustard powder so I used Dijon mustard. Easy to make and delicious.
Ralph
Loved this recipe! Great flavor!
Brenda
Just one of many recipes I have borrowed from you. I have not found one that I would not use again.
Thank you.
Connie
I 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
Thanks 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
Hi, 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
Hi Julie, I think that could work. Please report back and let us know how it went!
Lisa
I made this today as a base for cocktail sauce. This is an excellent recipe!
Pam
What’d did you add to the ketchup to make cocktail sauce?
Linda
I add lemon juice and horseradish. Simple but awesome!
Lori M
I made a double batch this week for the first time ever. It came out wonderfully! I wanted to avoid the Sucralose in Heinz SF and some awful watery options. I also thought to avoid the high cost of some paleo options along with slightly sneaky sweetening in the form of carrot juice or balsamic vinegar. Due to the mess and the simmer, I would recommend that folks make a double batch and freeze the second. I learned to take the pot off the burner, wait until the plop-popping stops, before lifting the lid to stir. I tasted it along the way and found that the raw-tomato-in-a-can taste dissipated the longer it simmered and the flavors married. I simmered for 45 minutes. I found I needed no blender. This was so very easy to make with so little expense, I’ll only ever buy commercial products for a shelf-stable backup. Thank you for the careful label reading and recipe development!
Pamela
If I refrigerate this Homemade Ketchup for several weeks to a few months, will I get sick?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Pamela, There aren’t any preservatives in this ketchup recipe so it definitely won’t last that long in your fridge. I would guess that this recipe is at it’s best for 2 weeks in the fridge. If you won’t use this much ketchup in that amount of time, you can half the recipe.
Karen
Delicious – almost filled my pint jar!
Rebecca N.
Waaayyyy too sweet for me, but I think it’s still a good recipe. Will try again with much less sweetener.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Rebecca, You can adjust the sweetener to taste. Enjoy!
Jucel Riley
Wow! Made this 2x , it is so good! No more supermarket sugar free ketchup. I’ve use this also to make bbq sauce. Thank you, thank you
Pat
This stuff is the BOMB!!!!! I absolutely love it. I started on the Keto diet and was looking for Sugar Free Cocktail Sauce. I normally make my own cocktail sauce with ketchup and horseradish. So not having much luck finding sugar free cocktail sauce locally, I decided to look up sugar free ketchup….and found your recipe. WOW. I can’t say enough about the flavor. Thanks SO MUCH!!
Lin Armstrong
It’s better than regular catsup. Had some on some roast. So good. I had some I bought from the store that was too sweet.
I will make my own from now on.
Judy
This is a very good ketchup recipe. I only used a scant 2 tablespoons of sweetner which made it about perfect.
Jocelyn
Literally tastes just like ketchup, I was surprised when I tried it. Absolutely love it, thank you so much.
Susan
Thanks, Maya, for this recipe! Do you think it would be possible to used canned plain tomato sauce/purée with just a tablespoon or so of paste & delete some of the water? It’s just a question of convenience since I keep tomato paste in a tube & cans of crushed/sauce in the pantry & use those to make “pasta” sauce.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Susan, Yes, that should work out just fine.
cecilia osborn
I made your ketchup, and absolutely loved it! It’s so much better than any other recipe that I have tried.
Thank you so much, for doing all the work. I appreciate it.
Jamie Winter
How long can this stay in the refrigerator?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Jamie, Homemade ketchup will last in the fridge for a week or more.
Jeanie
Not sure about ketchup but I add a little sauerkraut juice to my homemade mayonnaise and let it sit on the counter for 5-8 hours BEFORE refrigerating. It will last about 8 weeks refrigerated after that. Without the sauerkraut juice my mayonnaise will last barely a week. Maybe ketchup will work that way also.,
Nancy Wolfe
Made this ketchup recipe and it was absolutely outstanding. My husband just couldn’t believe that it wasn’t the real stuff. One of the most successful Keto recipes that I have made.
Tess Fjeldheim
Would it be possible to can this ketchup? I’ve been looking for a good sugar free recipe that I can can in either a hot water bath or a pressure canner. Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Tess, Yes, I’m sure you can!
Ann
Have you tried canning this ketchup? How did it go? I was wanting to do this myself.
Kearby
This is so good and so easy!
Eileen Shanley
This was easy and tastes great! Don’t feel like I’m missing out at all and much better than many store bought!
Sonya Erdene
I LOVE your recipes! Which nutrition calculator do you use? I live in Asia and use local ingredients so most brands mentioned in recipes are not available. How could I calculate the nutrition in this case?
Thank you!
Wholesome Yum
Hi Sonya, we use the USDA Food Database to calculate macros. You can also use your favorite online macro calculator, but you might get different results.
Karen Teeling
Seriously, why do all low-carb/keto cooks NOT list the sodium count in the nutritional values of their recipes? Low-carb is great, but some of us also have to watch our sodium intake!
Wholesome Yum
Hi Karen, feel free to plug this recipe into your favorite macro calculator to get the correct sodium count.
Christine
This sounds really good. I would like to use monk fruit drops/ liquid monk fruit. Any idea on how much I should use to replace the powdered you have listed in the recipe? Thank you so much!
Wholesome Yum
Hi Christine, use my sweetener conversion calculator for guidance. Your ketchup might end up a little less thick if you use a liquid sweetener.
Diane
First atempt making this ketchup. Wow am I impressed on the outcome. I love ketchup and not having it as a part as my diet was driving me nuts. This will make me enjoy my meals again. Thank you.
Pam Andrews
I was wondering how your nutrition facts come up with 1 g sugar when the tomato paste (everyone I have looked at) contains at least 4-5 grams of sugar.
Wholesome Yum
Hi Pam, we calculate our nutrition facts using the USDA Food Database. Individual brands and calculators will vary, but you’re welcome to calculate your own macros based on the ingredients you use.
Carolyn Fox
I made this and find it very vinegary. Love the tomato taste though. What can I add to cut down on the vinegar taste? Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Carolyn, You can reduce the vinegar next time if you’d like. For the current batch, sometimes more salt helps cut the vinegar.
Barbara
Perfect! You’ve changed my Keto life! Ketchup is a necessity and before this recipe I was struggling- now I can enjoy my food. Thank you!!!
Donna
Awesome. I wont buy ketchup again. I only use half the monkfruit.
Barbara
Contadina Tomate Paste has “4 gr sugar in 2 tbsp” – how can your ketchup have 1 gr in 1 tbsp?
Wholesome Yum A
Hi Barbara, we calculate our macros based on information from the USDA food database. Individual brands and varieties may still differ.
Mayna
I love your recipes I’m never dissappointed! However, I was concerned about the sugar serving I see you list on 1 gram per serving. The tomato paste one has 21 grams for a 6 ounce can. Is this accurate? I’m just afraid of kicking out of keto. I look forward to your response.
Wholesome Yum
Hi Mayna, with the brand linked in the recipe it would be about 1.6 grams of sugar. However, we calculate macros using the USDA Food Database to get fair and accurate numbers. Food brands and macro calculators may vary.
Lauren
Hi there, I’m just wondering how long this keeps in the fridge and have you tried to freeze the leftovers? Tastes great! Cheers, Lauren
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lauren, The storage info is in the post above. It keeps for at least a week in the fridge, sometimes even longer. The vinegar preserves it well. You can freeze it, too!
RLB
HOLY COW THIS IS AMAZING….love the hint of cloves. Why would I ever buy packaged ketchup anyone. Super easy to make.
Kristine
I can’t wait to try this… I didn’t see asked and apologize if it’s a dupe question… how long will this keep in the fridge once assembled?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kristine, This info is in the post above. It will keep for at least a week.
Kim Krueger
Delicious! I’ve been missing ketchup and here it is!
Tina
I made this and it’s absolutely delicious. Thank you.
Sandra
Maya: Our son has a physical issue with some tomato products; I was wondering how to use something else for a topping. So, I thought about using 2 or three slices of bacon on top, just around the perimeter of the loaf instead. Yes, these will add extra counts to all of the nutrition facts. We also could try this w/o anything on top as well.
Your thoughts, please. Also, if there’s anyone out there w/suggestions, feel free to comment. Thank You to Maya & commenters.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sandra, You left the comment for a ketchup recipe. 🙂 Are you asking about topping for a meatloaf? If so, I’m sure you could do it with bacon or even omit the topping altogether.
Rita
Catsup wasn’t always made with tomatoes. There are recipes for catsup made with peaches…Although that may be an issue with keto.
Summer
I love this homemade recipe because it has so much less salt than store bought ketchup!
This recipe is so creative! Thank you for sharing.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am happy you liked it, Summer! Have a nice day!
Jaweriya
This is a brilliant recipe – I am definitely going to try it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Jaweriya! Hope you like it!
Dani
Hey Maya, I just wanted to let you know your nutrition info is pretty off. 6oz of tomato paste has roughly 25 net carbs (even the one you linked to has 24 net carbs), so theres no possible way that 1/12th of the resulting ketchup has 0 net carbs.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Dani, The nutrition info listed is not 0g net carbs, it’s 2g net carbs per serving. Thanks!
Maria
I made this tonight for burgers and fries. it doesn’t really taste like storebought ketchup, but it is really good! Much stronger flavor, and the tomato really shines through. I liked it a lot, especially how quick it was to make.nice sharing. thanks for the recipe. good one.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Maria! I’m glad you liked it.
Diana
Hi I already get your emails. I love them but I also would love the recipe ebook.
Thank you
Diana
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Diana! The free e-book is found in the members area – there’s a link to it at the bottom of every newsletter email. 🙂
Diane
Love this keto ketchup. So good. Used a Monk/erythritol blend from Bulk Barn, and did blemd for smoothness. A keeper! Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so glad to hear that, Diane! Thank you!
Lily
Thanks for sharing the secret recipe with us. The tomato ketchup recipe looks thick and flavorful with those lovely ingredients. It sounds wonderful. As usual, the pictures look stunning. Thanks a lot! I love simple recipes so much. How long does this last? Can it be made ahead?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lily, Yes, you can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for at least a week, possibly longer.
Angela
I made this for dinner tonight to go with my keto meatloaf. Absolutly delicious! Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the ketchup, Angela! Thanks for stopping by!
Erika D
How much liquid stevia should I use instead of the powdered? I’m afraid 1/4 would probably be too much!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Erika, You’d definitely need a lot less if using liquid stevia. Check the conversion chart here.
Debbie Angell
I’m so happy to find this recipe! Using regular ketchup is not good for me on Keto; store bought sugar free ones either contain bad ingredients or cost an astronomical amount of money. This is great! I love the flavor and the amount produced from the recipe is perfect for my household. Thank you so much! 5 star rating!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Debbie! Thanks for stopping by!
Shauna
This is FABULOUS as are all your recipes I’ve tried! We will be making this on a regular basis!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Shauna! Please come back again soon! Have a nice day!
Andrea
How long does it stay good? Can you make a bigger batch and put it in the fridge or freezer?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Andrea, It’s good in the fridge for at least a week, maybe even a couple weeks.
Laura
I just made this and it is delicious! No more store bought for me.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Laura! Please come back again soon!
Michele
Maya, I was concerned about the tomato paste. I have a can in my pantry that has 6g of carbs in 1 Tbsp (total). Is that OK to use in this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Michele, Yes, it’s ok to use (assuming there is no added sugar in the ingredient list). Tomato paste is just very concentrated tomatoes, hence the relatively high carb count, but by the time you add water and other ingredients, it turns out fine. You can see the nutrition info for the actual ketchup on the recipe card above.
Eric D. Meehan
This really taste great, thanks for posting this recipe. When I made mine I ended up with way more than 3/4 of a cup though, more like 1 1/4 cup not sure why. I am thinking that this will also change the nutrition value as well? Less calories, less sugar, and less carbs per serving/Tbsp?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Eric, I’m so glad you liked it! The amount can vary depending on how much the ketchup thickens / how much water evaporates during cooking. If you ended up with more servings than I did, then yes, the amount of calories/carbs/sugar/etc per serving would be less.
Christine Hughes
Oh, my!!! This was exactly what I was hoping for. I’ve been on the Keto diet for 5 1/2 weeks and, even though I don’t usually eat much ketchup, I was really craving some with my homemade hamburger patties. Your recipe is perfect! I even had my hubby try it and he gave it a thumbs up! Thank you SO MUCH!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the ketchup, Christine! Thanks for stopping by!
Roberta
Super-easy! Do you think that it could be an option (to avoid heating and using stove) to thicken the sauce maintaining the same recipe, but instead of making it become more concentrated by evaporation, simply adding a tiny amount of xanthan gum? I usually use this method for some other sauces, blending them with my immersion blender to avoid having to clean my professional blender, and it works quite well…
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Roberta! I haven’t tried that, it might work. Not sure if it would affect the texture a little, though, and heating does help the flavors develop a bit. Please let me know how it goes if you try your method with this one!