Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It NowA sugar free BBQ sauce is exactly what you need to take your dinner from bland to outstanding. But where on earth do you find one? Getting high quality, low carb keto BBQ sauce on the shelf at your local grocery market isn’t easy… and when you do, “sugar free barbecue sauce” is usually code for flavor-free and full of artificial ingredients. No, thanks.
Before developing this recipe, I thought store-bought sauces with sucralose were the only way to enjoy that sweet and smoky flavor — but there’s a better way! This rich, tangy, smoky sugar free BBQ sauce has been popular every summer for years, and for good reason. It packs a flavorful punch with no added sugar, and will take your chicken, easy grilling recipes, or whatever else you’re cooking up to the next level. Readers have even told me it won awards in contests. Fire up that grill and get cooking!
Why You’ll Love This Sugar Free BBQ Sauce Recipe
- Sweet, smoky and tangy taste
- Thick and smooth texture
- Ready in less than 30 minutes
- No artificial preservatives, thickeners, colors, or sweeteners
- Just 3.5g net carbs per serving
- Healthy, gluten free, sugar free BBQ sauce for tons of flavor
- Award winning in reader contests!
Since BBQ sauce is a bit sweet, we’re swapping out the sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners with Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend. This blend gives super smooth texture to sauces, all with 0g net carbs and just-like-sugar sweetness. I use it to make sugar free ketchup, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best sugar free barbecue sauce ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Tomato Paste – Gives BBQ sauce a thick, rich texture and natural sweetness. If you don’t have any, you can use triple the amount of tomato sauce instead and just simmer for longer to thicken.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Adds tang. If you don’t have any, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice for a similar tart alternative.
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – I exclusively use and recommend this one because it dissolves completely, unlike other sugar substitutes that can leave your keto BBQ sauce recipe gritty or crystallize when you store it. If you still want to use something else, make sure it’s powdered and use my sweetener conversion chart to get the correct quantity.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Adds umami flavor and slight sweetness. I like this one, which is gluten-free. Technically it contains a trivial amount of sugar, but with 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce used for the entire recipe, each serving would contain only 1/20 tablespoon of it (like a drop). If you prefer, you could omit it or use a dash of blackstrap molasses with a little water instead.
- Liquid Hickory Smoke – For true barbecue flavor, this ingredient makes the biggest difference — don’t skip it! Many grocery stores carry liquid smoke near other seasonings or condiments, or you can find the one I use online here.
- Spices – Like many store bought brands, this sauce uses a combination of smoked paprika, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper (more or less depending how spicy you like it), and chili powder to give the perfect flavor.
VARIATION: Want brown sugar flavor?
Replace half of the Besti powdered sweetener with Besti Brown Sugar Substitute! It dissolves just as easily and tastes just like brown sugar, with zero net carbs.
How To Make Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
This section shows how to make keto BBQ sauce, 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.
TIP: Water quantity will vary.
Start with a cup of water, then whisk in a bit more at a time, until it reaches a consistency slightly thinner than barbecue sauce. I ended up using about 1 1/2 cups of water, but it will vary depending on how thick your tomato paste is.
- Cook to reduce. Bring to a gentle boil at medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low. Simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened to your liking.
- Adjust sweetness and heat. Taste and add more Besti or cayenne pepper, if desired.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep homemade sugar free BBQ sauce in a mason jar, airtight container, or condiment bottle in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze: Keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also freeze in an ice cube tray, then transfer to a freezer bag, to have individual portions on hand for your favorite recipes.
Best Keto BBQ Sauce Uses
You just can’t beat the sweet, smoky, tangy flavors in this sugar free BBQ sauce recipe. It can add a kick of flavor to so many dishes! Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
- Chicken – Make a BBQ chicken pizza on cauliflower crust, baste crispy oven baked chicken thighs with sauce, or use as a dipping sauce for keto chicken nuggets or keto chicken tenders. You can also toss your shredded chicken in it! My favorite way to use it though is slathered on grilled BBQ chicken legs.
- Beef – Slather sirloin steak, ribs, or chuck eye steak with keto BBQ sauce before throwing them on the grill. Or, use it to top keto meatloaf instead of ketchup.
- Pork – Make pulled pork sandwiches or slather sauce on air fryer pork chops.
- Salad – I always use this to make my BBQ chicken salad.
More Low Carb Sauce Recipes
Keep sugar and fillers out of your sauces with these recipes. If you like this low carb BBQ sauce, you’ll love these other keto sauces to pair with your favorite low carb mains:
Sugar Free BBQ Sauce (Keto)
Satisfy your craving for barbecue with this sweet, smoky, and tangy keto sugar free BBQ sauce. It's so easy to make and has won awards!
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Whisk all ingredients together in a saucepan, adding the water last. Start with a cup of water, then whisk in a bit more at a time, until it reaches a consistency *slightly thinner* than barbecue sauce. I ended up using about 1 1/2 cups of water, but it will vary depending on how thick your tomato paste is.
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Bring to a gentle boil at medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low. Simmer, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
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Taste and adjust sweetener or cayenne pepper if you prefer the sauce to be sweeter or spicier. If it’s still thicker than you like, you can stir in additional water, a tablespoon at a time, until reaching desired consistency.
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: 2 tbsp
- Entire recipe makes 2 1/2 cups.
- The Worcestershire sauce linked in the ingredients list is gluten-free. Technically it contains a little sugar, but with 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce used for the entire recipe, each serving would contain only 1/20 tablespoon of it (like a drop). This is factored into the nutrition info and net carbs below. If you prefer, you could even omit it or use a dash of molasses with a little water instead, but it would affect the flavor.
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. 🙂
293 Comments
Sharon
0This was awesome. I didn’t have 2 1/2 cans of tomato paste so I used one 6 oz can of tomato paste and one 6 oz can of tomato sauce. Cut back on the sweetener and water a little, but otherwise made it as the recipe called for. I simmered the sauce for 45 minutes (as I was on the phone) and I think it helped meld the flavors. My tomato sauce said it had 3.5 servings at 3 carbs per serving, that’s 10.5 carbs. My tomato paste said it had 5 servings at 6 carbs per serving, that’s equal to 30 carbs. A total of 40.5 carbs for the whole recipe. My recipe made 4 1/2 cups, that’s 72 Tablespoons at less than 1 gram of carbs per Tablespoon. What am I missing?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Sharon, Your version of the recipe made almost twice the volume mine does (2.5 cups), I suspect that will make a big difference in the final carb count for the recipe. I am thrilled that you enjoyed it!
Jann
04.5 carbs for 1 T of sauce is A LOT! What makes this sauce so high in carbs?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jan, Tomatoes are higher in carbs and greatly contributes to the carb count of this recipe.
Carol Burba
0How long does this sauce last in the fridge$
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Carol, Your sauce will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.
Philip T.
0I wanted to let everyone know that I just made this recipe. I only made two subs, one out of necessity and one out of personal taste. I didn’t have any tomato paste on hand so instead I used a 14 oz can of Diced Tomatoes, that I pureed in my blender. I also added a tsp of fresh ground black pepper as I think all BBQ sauce needs black pepper in it. The result was great, I will be trying these on some baby back ribs tonight, but I have already tasted the sauce and it is amazing.
Jillian Stewart
0Personally, I despise liquid smoke. So much so, that I searched how to cook without it, but still get the smoky flavor. You smoke an onion. I’m not sure based on the size of your recipe how much it would increase the carb count, but trust me when I tell you, it’s lip smacking good in BBQ.
Sue
0I added some Worcestershire sauce to it and a bit more salt….it was delicious, will definetly make it again
LadyJ1225
0Oh yeah I can have BBQ sauce! When I made some pulled pork I was feeling sad because I used to eat a side of BBQ sauce with my pork – yes I LOVE LOVE LOVE BBQ sauce. So when I found this keto recipe I had to try it and I was not disappointed. It is so easy to throw this together and I love that it can be customized easily depending on taste. This is a really good sauce and I will be making this often. Now I’m thinking of other ways I can use this. Thank you = )
Drew
0Very very sour! I’ve never experienced BBQ sauce with any hint of sourness before so this was not palatable for me at all sorry.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Drew, That’s very unusual, it should not be sour. Did you add the sweetener? Did you change any of the other ingredients?
Desirae
0Tastes mostly like tomato paste…and I only used one can as others had recommended. 🙁
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Desirae, Most likely adding more water was necessary. Did you add more at the end?
David F.
0This will be my second time making this BBQ sauce. My wife and I loved it and I was easy to make. Thank you for this recipe.
Beverly
0How long does it last? Expiration date?
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Beverly, see my storage tips in the post above.
John L
0A definite keeper. Followed the recipe exactly and would not change a thing. Very easy prep with common ingredients. Just have a glass of your favorite wine while stirring. Keep the burner temp low enough while simmering and no splatter. Made Slow Cooker Beer Pulled Pork available on allrecipes.com with excellent results. This sauce make the pulled pork low carb. Feeds a crowd. Thanks for posting this excellent sauce recipe.
Leigh
0Not a big fan. This was completely bland. Too much vinegar and acid, it tasted like tomato paste with vinegar. I dressed it up, added brown sweetener, and a TON more seasonings, cocoa powder AND baking soda to remove some of the acidity before it finally became palatable. Not sure I would try this again, I’ll look for another recipe with a better base.
Having said all this- I’m from the South, and picky about my BBQ!!!
D. Wanberb
0This barbecue sauce is delicious! So glad I doubled the recipe.
Michelle Olson
0Great recipe. Tastes even better when cumin and dry mustard are added!
Rebecca
0This title of sugar free BBQ sauce is misleading. Worcestershire sauce has molasses, corn syrup and sugar in it. And liquid smoke has molasses. Maybe not a big deal to the average keto or low carb seeker, but for those of us following low carb for diabetes, those ingredients can cause a blood sugar spike and many are not so careful to read ingredients before they trust a recipe title.
P Thomas
0This is not true, Worcestershire sauce does have those ingredients but there is only 1.7 gram of sugar per tablespoon. This recipe calls for 2 tablespoons which means a total of 3.4 grams in the batch. This makes 20 servings so therefore the total sugar would be 0.17 per serving. The term SUGAR-FREE can be used to describe anything that contains less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. Therefore this is Sugar-Free.
Source – https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.60
(i) The food contains less than 0.5 g of sugars, as defined in 101.9(c)(6)(ii), per reference amount customarily consumed and per labeled serving or, in the case of a meal product or main dish product, less than 0.5 g of sugars per labeled serving
Judy
0Good BBQ sauce flavor. I used monk fruit sweetener and added 1 Tbsp of cocoa powder to help cut the tomato paste flavor and added 1 Tbsp of liquid smoke. Very good sauce and will use the remainder for sloppy joes. I am not following a low carb diet but trying to cut out sugars when I can. Thanks for the recipe!
Callie
0This recipe looks like the one I have been looking for. I can’t wait to use it on my chicken and pork steaks.
Thank you so very much for your recipe.
Laura
0I loved it! As other reviewers suggested I added unsweetened cocoa powder and baking soda to neutralize the acidity and it was perfect! Added 1 tbsp more of liquid smoke too. Thank you!
Cynthia Caldwell
0Has anybody tried canning this in pint jars to extend the shelf life?? Thinking of trying a small batch to see how it holds up ☺
Gwen
0I was wondering the same thing?
Sara
0Since I’m doing Whole30, and have been trying to avoid added sugar or sweetener altogether, I subbed the erythritol for 6 dates, put it through the food processor first and then cooked it – it turned out great! thanks so much.
Tater
0If you’re eating sugar free, replacing non glycemic sweeteners with dried fruit wil add a lot of natural sugar to this recipe. If it ends with “…ose” it’s sugar. #fructose
Connie
0Love this sauce
Sylviane Teter-Manning
0Great recipe even my husband gives it a thumbs up. The taste is amazing planning a few tweaks on this recipe to give it a little something extra.
Jeanette M
0I made this recipe and love it. It was exactly what I was looking for. A bbq sauce low in sugar and salt and still taste great. Thank you so much.
Bob
0Great recipe thank you!
I do have a cooking question as I am no master chef. I couldn’t get it to a simmer it popped too much before I could get it there. I tried a splatter screen but it came through that so I had to put a lid on it and all I could get was popping. Since I couldn’t stir it I shook it around like Jiffy Pop then later reduced the heat but it still just popped no simmer.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Bob, You could thin it out a bit more to simmer (and it will thicken again as it simmers) or you can cover as it simmers.
antbeebee
0This is great thanks for the recipe. always avoided bbq sauce because of the sugar. So glad I tried this, made sloppy joes– yum yum 🙂
Betty Avery
0Trying this on the grill with chicken breast. Will let you know how it flavored the meat!
Kelly
0This sauce is amazing! Thank you!
Darcy
0Where does the * for the worcestershire sauce refer to?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Darcy, The note about it is in the Recipe Notes section on the recipe card.
Gwendolyn W Mathews
0Can this sauce be canned?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Gwendolyn, I’m not a canning expert, but it should work for canning.
Laurel
0How long will the left over sauce be good if kept refrigerated?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Laurel, At least a week, but I’ve kept it for a few weeks with no problem.
Stephanie
0Just cooked BBQ chicken with this and it was amazing! Thanks for sharing. I added a bit of oregano and it was a hit with the family.
Steph
0I wish I could have rated this a zero and still left a comment. This tastes nothing like bbq sauce. It tastes like tomato paste and that’s it. I tried doctoring it up a ton and nothing helped.
Selina
0I just made this sauce. And I have to say. It really wasnt to my liking. In fact I had to throw it away it was that bad. I dont usually give my opinion and would rather be encouraging. But I cant be on this one. I guess though there would be people out there that would like it.
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Selina, I’m sorry to hear that. I linked all the ingredients I used in the recipe card — did you make any substitutions? I hope you give this one another try soon!
Jules Shepard
0Always up for nudging sugar out of my diet! Great recipe!
Deb
0I’ve used sugar free maple extract instead of Worcestershire sauce too.
Sam Kay
0Play this by ear a little bit, so didn’t follow the recipe exactly. I used a combination of swerve confectioner’s sweetener and Lakanto maple flavored syrup as my sweeteners. Unfortunately, I found the acidity of the tomato paste a little too strong. I added about 3 tablespoons of cacao powder (chili makers trick, cacao powder processed with alkali is, as you might guess, alkaline) and then ended up adding some baking soda to further neutralize some acid. I also skip the liquid smoke and use chipotle chili pepper powder (smoked jalapenos) instead. I’m pretty happy with it, and glad to have a big batch of BBQ sauce to put on stuff. :-).
Angie
0So How do I make it less tomato tasting? Use less tomato paste? Otherwise, loved the sweet and spice to it.
Maggie Ryan
0Thanks Sam, I too thought it was very acidic so added the cacao powder and baking soda. Made a huge difference. I’ll have to try the cacao in chilli. Thanks again for the tips.
Sherry
0This is really nice. I added some DaVinci sugar free cherry syrup and it really took it to the next level for me. Can’t wait to try it on some ribs I picked up this week. It does have a strong tomato flavor which I love but it might not be for everyone.
Sherry
0I also wanted to mention that I added Sukrin Gold Brown Sugar Substitute when I made it. I have since tried this bbq sauce on chicken thighs, ribs, franks, and dabbed a little on some homemade cheese chips. All turned out great, even my husband likes this sauce and he is hardcore sugar/carb obsessed.
Gritty lil Fremont
0My sister and I put together all the ingredients and did a quick taste test before heating up the sauce. The recipe calls for 1/3 cup sweetener (we used Stevia), and it was way to much. We had to throw it all away. We recommend starting with a teaspoon and adjusting it from there.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0The recipe calls for 1/3 cup powdered erythritol, not stevia. 🙂 I definitely don’t recommend using anywhere near that much stevia, which is way more concentrated. Please check the sweetener conversion calculator to see how much to use if you’re changing the sweetener.
Joanne M Pinette
0I made the BBQ sauce tonight and it was great! Used 15 oz can of tomato sauce and followed the recipe after that. Used about 1 cup of water and it was perfect. The comments helped a lot.
Dave
0Easy to make, and super delicious! I’m a bbq sauce fanatic, it’s my favorite condiment. Which makes low carb bbq tough. This sauce on its own feels light without the syrupy thickness, but on meat, it’s just delicious. Thank you!
Suzie Danielson
0I made the recipe. I used only 1/4 cup Xylitol as the sweetener. I doubled the liquid smoke and smoked paprika. It was great!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Mart
0Could you freeze this sauce? Or how long would it last in the fridge thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Mart, Yes, you can freeze it. But, it keeps a really long time anyway. I’ve stored it for weeks without a problem.
Chris
0I love your BBQ sauce, is there any ways to keep it from splattering out on every thing. You call for it to simmer uncovered.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Chris, A splatter screen should work.
Bernadette
0I sub’d the sweetener for sugar-free maple syrup – it’s a Canadian thing 😉 Also, added extra hickory smoke, and more smoked paprika. Got some in the slow cooker right now with pork back ribs – something I thought I’d have to give up on Keto. Thx for the awesome recipes!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Bernadette! Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica
0Should we be using sugar free tomato paste?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jessica, I’m not aware of any tomato paste that has sugar added, but yes, make sure it has no sugar added. It’s normal for tomato paste to have natural sugar in it, because actual tomatoes have sugar, but this doesn’t translate to much in the finished barbecue sauce. The nutrition info is on the recipe card above.
Dale C Meech
0Great recipe a little sweet a little tangy a little spicy. My new favorite. Don’t like hot sauces can’t taste the meat flavor. Thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am happy you liked it, Dale! Thanks for stopping by!
Braden McGuire
0Soooooo good! I subbed erythritol for stevia leaf powder and it was absolutely incredible! I needed to add quite a bit more salt than it asked for, and I used pink salt, but oh my God I made ribs with this and it was the best meal I’ve had all year
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Braden! Thank you!
Vanessa
0Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Vanessa, Yes, it keeps for a while, up to a couple weeks.
Chad
0Hello there. Made a batch today and it came out more like marinara than Bbq sauce. What should I change to correct this?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Chad, Sorry to hear that – it was likely too thick? You can thin it out with more water if needed. Many people also enjoy adding more of the hickory smoke.