Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It NowCreating the perfect keto ketchup recipe was no different than developing sugar free BBQ sauce and keto pizza sauce. After much trial and error, I perfected a sugar free ketchup that tastes just like the real deal and stays low carb enough for a keto diet. You can cross this one off your list of favorite foods you miss!
The official start of summer may be a few weeks away, but grilling season is definitely here — and, you’re going to need this low carb sugar free ketchup recipe for all your cookouts this summer. Your guests (or your kids) won’t guess it has no added sugar and is keto friendly. You might even forget it yourself. 😉
Is Ketchup Keto?
Traditional store bought ketchup is not keto. It’s made with added sugar, or even worse, high fructose corn syrup. There are some sugar free ketchup brands, but most of them use artificial sweeteners like sucralose.
Fortunately, there is still a way to enjoy ketchup on a low carb diet and avoid sugar. Just use my homemade sugar free ketchup recipe instead!
The key to making low carb ketchup or keto ketchup is really just the sweetener. Instead of sugar, or syrup, I used Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend, which dissolves easily and ensures that the ketchup is smooth, not grainy.
In fact, it tastes so much like the real deal that I included it in my Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook, along with several other delectable sauces and spreads.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for the best sugar free ketchup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Tomato Paste – Adds classic tomato ketchup flavor. If you don’t have any on hand, you can simmer tomato sauce until it reduces to a paste consistency.
- Water
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Some sugar substitutes work better than others, and this one is my top recommendation. Other sweeteners can crystallize or not fully dissolve, leading to a gritty texture. You can use a concentrated liquid sweetener if you prefer, such as liquid monk fruit extract or stevia, but keep in mind that these can create an aftertaste and you’ll need to use much less.
- White Vinegar – Use apple cider vinegar to make this homemade ketchup paleo friendly.
- Spices – To make this tomato ketchup taste similar to Heinz, you will need sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, ground cloves, and mustard powder.
How To Make Sugar Free Ketchup
This section shows how to make keto ketchup, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Combine. Whisk all ingredients in a small saucepan, until smooth.
- Simmer. Gently bubble over low heat, with a cover, until the sugar free ketchup thickens (reduces) to your desired consistency. Stir occasionally while simmering. Taste, and adjust salt and sweetener if needed.
- Blend. For the best keto ketchup that’s silky smooth, transfer the mixture to a high-powdered blender (this one is my favorite) and puree. 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.
TIP: Simmering time will vary.
The time can vary widely depending on the size of your pan and your stove temperature. Larger pans will need less time.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep keto ketchup in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. If separation occurs, give it a stir and it will return to normal.
- Freeze: Pour into an airtight container or freezer bag, then store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Ways To Use Keto Ketchup
Fries — which are not low carb — are probably the food that comes to mind when you think of ketchup. But don’t worry, there are alternatives and other tasty ways to enjoy keto ketchup in your favorite meals:
- Burgers – Use it to top your burgers sandwiched between low carb hamburger buns. Add some homemade mayo on them while you’re at it! If you’re making burgers for a cookout, serve your burgers with grilled cabbage steaks or a creamy cauliflower potato salad.
- Chicken – Dip keto chicken nuggets (pictured above) or crispy keto chicken tenders into sugar free ketchup. They just aren’t the same without the right condiment!
- Fries – Try my favorite keto french fries or even low carb cauliflower tots. You can also serve it with garlic parmesan fries for family members who aren’t keto.
- Meatloaf – Slather a layer on a classic meatloaf or for a low carb option, make my keto meatloaf.
More Homemade Sugar Free Condiments
Need a healthier alternative to store-bought condiments? Try your hand at these easy homemade condiments — all sugar free!
Recommended Tools
- Whisk – The ergonomic design and soft handle make it a breeze to use for just about any kitchen task.
- Saucepan – The pour spouts on this saucepan make it easy to pour the hot ketchup into the blender.
- Blender – With its high-powered motor, this blender can easily blend and break down any ingredients into a smooth puree.
Sugar Free Ketchup (Keto)
This easy keto sugar free ketchup tastes just like the regular kind, with simple ingredients and just 2 grams net carbs. Everyone loves it!
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.)
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 tablespoon
- 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.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
172 Comments
Lisa
0I made this today as a base for cocktail sauce. This is an excellent recipe!
Pam
0What’d did you add to the ketchup to make cocktail sauce?
Linda
0I add lemon juice and horseradish. Simple but awesome!
Lori M
0I 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
0If I refrigerate this Homemade Ketchup for several weeks to a few months, will I get sick?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi 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.
Nancy
0I canned my single batch in 2, 1-cup mason jars. Just used a 20 minute water-bath method.
Karen
0Delicious – almost filled my pint jar!
Rebecca N.
0Waaayyyy too sweet for me, but I think it’s still a good recipe. Will try again with much less sweetener.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Rebecca, You can adjust the sweetener to taste. Enjoy!
Nancy
0I replaced the erythritol with 4 dates. They cooked up and blended in perfectly.
Jucel Riley
0Wow! 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
0This stuff is AWESOME!!!!! 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
0It’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
0This is a very good ketchup recipe. I only used a scant 2 tablespoons of sweetner which made it about perfect.
Jocelyn
0Literally tastes just like ketchup, I was surprised when I tried it. Absolutely love it, thank you so much.
Susan
0Thanks, 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
0Hi Susan, Yes, that should work out just fine.
cecilia osborn
0I 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
0How long can this stay in the refrigerator?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jamie, Homemade ketchup will last in the fridge for a week or more.
Jeanie
0Not 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
0Made 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
0Would 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
0Hi Tess, Yes, I’m sure you can!
Ann
0Have you tried canning this ketchup? How did it go? I was wanting to do this myself.
Kearby
0This is so good and so easy!
Eileen Shanley
0This was easy and tastes great! Don’t feel like I’m missing out at all and much better than many store bought!
Sonya Erdene
0I 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
0Hi 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
0Seriously, 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
0Hi Karen, feel free to plug this recipe into your favorite macro calculator to get the correct sodium count.
Christine
0This 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
0Hi Christine, use my sweetener conversion calculator for guidance. Your ketchup might end up a little less thick if you use a liquid sweetener.
Diane
0First 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
0I 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
0Hi 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
0I 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
0Hi Carolyn, You can reduce the vinegar next time if you’d like. For the current batch, sometimes more salt helps cut the vinegar.
Barbara
0Perfect! 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
0Awesome. I wont buy ketchup again. I only use half the monkfruit.
Barbara
0Contadina Tomate Paste has “4 gr sugar in 2 tbsp” – how can your ketchup have 1 gr in 1 tbsp?
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Barbara, we calculate our macros based on information from the USDA food database. Individual brands and varieties may still differ.
Mayna
0I 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
0Hi 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
0Hi 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
0Hi 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
0HOLY COW THIS IS AMAZING….love the hint of cloves. Why would I ever buy packaged ketchup anyone. Super easy to make.
Kristine
0I 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
0Hi Kristine, This info is in the post above. It will keep for at least a week.
Kim Krueger
0Delicious! I’ve been missing ketchup and here it is!
Tina
0I made this and it’s absolutely delicious. Thank you.
Sandra
0Maya: 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
0Hi 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
0Catsup wasn’t always made with tomatoes. There are recipes for catsup made with peaches…Although that may be an issue with keto.
Summer
0I 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
0I am happy you liked it, Summer! Have a nice day!
Jaweriya
0This is a brilliant recipe – I am definitely going to try it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Jaweriya! Hope you like it!
Dani
0Hey 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
0Hi Dani, The nutrition info listed is not 0g net carbs, it’s 2g net carbs per serving. Thanks!
Maria
0I 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
0Thank you so much, Maria! I’m glad you liked it.
Diana
0Hi I already get your emails. I love them but I also would love the recipe ebook.
Thank you
Diana
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank 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
0Love 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
0I am so glad to hear that, Diane! Thank you!
Lily
0Thanks 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
0Hi Lily, Yes, you can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for at least a week, possibly longer.
Angela
0I made this for dinner tonight to go with my keto meatloaf. Absolutly delicious! Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy you liked the ketchup, Angela! Thanks for stopping by!
Erika D
0How much liquid stevia should I use instead of the powdered? I’m afraid 1/4 would probably be too much!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Erika, You’d definitely need a lot less if using liquid stevia. Check the conversion chart here.
Debbie Angell
0I’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
0I am so happy to hear that, Debbie! Thanks for stopping by!
Shauna
0This is FABULOUS as are all your recipes I’ve tried! We will be making this on a regular basis!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Shauna! Please come back again soon! Have a nice day!
Andrea
0How long does it stay good? Can you make a bigger batch and put it in the fridge or freezer?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Andrea, It’s good in the fridge for at least a week, maybe even a couple weeks.
Laura
0I just made this and it is delicious! No more store bought for me.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Laura! Please come back again soon!
Michele
0Maya, 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
0Hi 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
0This 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
0Hi 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
0Oh, 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
0I am so happy you liked the ketchup, Christine! Thanks for stopping by!
Roberta
0Super-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
0Thank 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!