The Best Keto Friendly BBQ Sauce

Keto but craving BBQ sauce? We’ve got you! This homemade keto BBQ sauce is easy to make and tastes just like the real thing!

Keto Friendly BBQ Sauce Recipe

Here’s the deal: EVERYONE should be able to enjoy *good* BBQ sauce. And we don’t mean a BBQ sauce that sort of tastes like the real thing, we mean a real-deal BBQ sauce that was created with your lifestyle AND tasty BBQ sauce in mind. This recipe is exactly that: a BBQ sauce that won’t make you miss your old favorite AND made with a sweetener that checks all of the keto boxes.  

Is all BBQ Sauce keto friendly?

No, in fact, low-carb BBQ sauces are fairly hard to find (and really delicious ones, even harder). BBQ sauce is almost always sweetened, so unless it’s sweetened with a zero-sugar sweetener, it probably won’t fit into the keto lifestyle.

Are there store bought versions of Keto BBQ Sauce? Why is homemade better?

Yes, there are store-bought versions of keto BBQ sauce! In fact, we live in a time where no matter what your dietary restrictions are, you’re almost guaranteed to find delicious replacements for all of the foods you love. The problem is that these sauces (or any specialty food item like this) can be really pricey, and just because it’s labeled as “keto” doesn’t mean it’s made with good-for-you ingredients. Making your own BBQ sauce is cost-effective, easy, and allows you to control every single thing that goes into it!

Ingredients for Easy Keto BBQ Sauce

Nothing super obscure on this ingredient list — here’s everything you’ll need: 

• Tomato Paste – to start, you’ll  need 1 (6-ounce) can of tomato paste. This will be the base of our BBQ sauce.
• Monk Fruit Sweetener – the star of the keto show: a ⅓ cup of monk fruit sweetener. Monk fruit sweetener has virtually no aftertaste, and is a really great, natural zero-sugar option.  
• Apple Cider Vinegar – a ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar gives a punch of acidity to help counter the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
• Tamari (or Soy Sauce) – a ¼ cup of tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) or soy sauce adds a saltiness, depth, and umami to the sauce that can’t be replaced!
• Ancho Chili Powder – 1 tablespoon of ancho chili powder adds a deep smokiness to the sauce (don’t worry — it’s very mild spicewise). 
• Sea Salt + Ground Black Pepper – a ¼ teaspoon of salt and a ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper really round everything out!

How to make Homemade Keto BBQ Sauce

The process is really easy, and doesn’t even require cooking! Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Whisk together ingredients – first, add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Add water – once all ingredients are completely combined, slowly whisk in ¾ cup of water until the sauce is smooth.
3. Serve or store – serve the sauce immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions for Keto BBQ Sauce Recipes

1. Use your favorite keto sweetener. We used a granulated monk fruit blend here, but erythritol or brown sugar swerve would also work great.
2. If you can’t find ancho chili powder, regular chili powder will work. We love ancho chili powder because it has a deeper, smokier flavor and a bit more spice than a regular chili powder blend, but if you can’t find it, feel free to substitute regular chili powder!
3. Add garlic + onion. We left the garlic and onion powder you’d typically find in a BBQ sauce recipe out of this one to prevent it from being too grainy, but about ½ a teaspoon of each can add some great flavor!

Is this Keto BBQ Sauce a low sugar recipe?

It is! Though the tomato paste does have some naturally occurring carbohydrate + sugar content to it, the amount is very low (especially when you consider that there’s only one can of paste per batch of  BBQ sauce), and there isn’t any added sugar in the recipe.

What does this Easy Keto BBQ Sauce go best with?

This low carb BBQ sauce is good on anything that you’d typically enjoy BBQ sauce with! A few of our favorite uses include:

• Brisket – whether you’re enjoying brisket alongside sides or stuffed into a baked potato (though, if you’re keto, that probably isn’t the case), there’s no denying that BBQ sauce and brisket are a match made in foodie heaven!
• BBQ Chicken Tacos – mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce to jazz up the otherwise humble protein. Enjoy as tacos (in your favorite low-carb tortilla replacement) or on top of a veggie-loaded salad.
• Baked BBQ Turkey Legs – easy and totally keto-friendly, these turkey legs are juicy and delicious!
• Smothered BBQ Chicken Breasts – grilled BBQ chicken topped with caramelized onions — need we say more?

How to store Keto BBQ Sauce

You’ll want to store your sauce in an airtight container (we used a mason jar!) in the fridge. 

How long does homemade Keto BBQ Sauce keep?

One of the very best things about this recipe is how long it lasts! If stored in the refrigerator, homemade keto BBQ sauce will last for up to 2 weeks (but we bet you’ll finish it before then!).