This Paleo BBQ Sauce is free of refined sugars and junky oils, and features 4 different renditions to customize to your tastes!

Here we are! Officially smack in the middle of spring and officially daydreaming of pool parties, fresh, homemade margaritas, and BBQ. Are you with me?

I can see it now…it’s a leisurely, sunny Saturday afternoon. The weather is warm, the grill is hot, and the pool is inviting. Well, it’s inviting right up to the point where you dip your toe in for a temperature test and remember how you’re not 13 anymore and have no “just jump in the cold water” bravery to prove. You shake your toe off and rejoin your friends on the back patio to instead sip skinny margaritas from sweaty glasses.

The conversation drifts from the latest Costco finds, to whether Stitch Fix actually worked out for you, finding a consensus on favorite new books, and finally to everyone’s thoughts on all-natural skincare.

Eventually, a late lunch/early dinner of grilled goodies, kale and pomegranate salad, veggies with Paleo ranch dressing, and sweet potato fries is laid out on a big “come help yourself” buffet.

You wonder over to the counter, fill your plate up with all kinds of colorful vegetables, grab your favorite cuts of meat, and then stop to carefully analyze which of the 5 different bottles of open BBQ sauce you will choose.

Sound familiar?

mason jar full of paleo barbecue sauce on a marble table with ribs blurred in the background

Paleo Barbecue Sauce

For as long as I can remember, there has never been a shortage of options or opinions when it comes to BBQ sauce. Having grown up in Texas, I was raised to prefer sauce that’s a little tangy, just a little bit sweet, and with deep rich, slightly spicy flavors that really highlight our prized smoky cuts of meats.

I have tasted, tested, and agonized over what makes up the perfect Paleo BBQ sauce. It’s taken years. Years, I say! This is not something to rush.

overhead view of glass mason jar filled with red paleo barbecue sauce on a marble tabletop

BBQ sauce from a bottle is, typically, loaded with refined oils and unnecessary sugars or other sweeteners. So, those are out.

Next, we turn to homemade renditions! I’ve seen some BBQ sauce recipes that take hours and more ingredients than I have letters in my name. Those are out, too. I don’t like complicated.

I put my recipe development hat on and got to work. It took a few batches, but what we have here is a Paleo BBQ sauce template that I’m really, really proud of. It’s got the perfect combination of tangy, sweet, smoky, and spicy. It’ll stand up to your steaks, pork chops, grill, oven, and toddlers.

That being said, I do have an appreciation for individual taste. Do you like your BBQ sauce on the tangier side? I’ve got you covered. How about with a noticeable sweetness? I’ve got directions for you, too! You like it with a kick? Good for you! Just make the adjustments I outlined below.

mason jar full of paleo barbecue sauce on a marble table with ribs blurred in the background

How to Make Paleo BBQ Sauce

I hope you love this sauce as much as I do and have fun making it your own.

Now, let’s get cookin’!

Like so many good things in this world, our recipe starts with butter. I prefer this grass-fed Kerrygold’s butter.

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  1. Measure out about 2 Tbl of the tasty deliciousness. Add it to a hot sauce pan.
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2. Grab a bottle or a few cans of strained tomatoes. You’ll need about 24 ounces total. After the butter is melted and bubbly, add the tomatoes and turn the heat down to medium.

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3. Next, let’s grab about 7 ounces of tomato paste. Add it to the strained tomatoes in the pan.

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4. Pour in ½ cup of apple cider vinegar if you’re making the REGULAR sauce. If you want a TANGY sauce, add 1 cup.

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5. Add 1/3 cup of coconut aminos.

Coconut aminos taste similar to soy sauce but they’re minus all the hormone-disrupting negative affects of soy! At least, that’s just one benefit they present over soy sauce. I could go on …but you’re probably hungry and just want some BBQ. We’ll save that discussion for another day!

6. Add in 1/3 cup of blackstrap molasses if you’re making the REGULAR sauce. If you want a SWEET sauce, add 1/3 honey cup in addition to the molasses. If you want a REALLY SWEET sauce, add 2/3 cup honey.

7. Now add 1 Tbl of garlic powder. And then add 1 Tbl of onion powder.

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8. Chili powder is what turns this sauce from a “strangely tangy marinara” into BBQ sauce! While normal “chili powder” will work perfectly fine, if you can find Ancho powder, grab it. It will make your BBQ sauce sing! Add 1 Tbl to the sauce pan. Next, add 1 tsp of salt.

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9. Then add 1 tsp of black pepper for REGULAR. Add 2 tsp for SPICY or 3 tsp for REALLY SPICY. Give it a thorough whisk and then let it come to a slight simmer for just a couple minutes.

10. Take it off the heat, let it cool, then pour into jars!

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mason jar full of paleo barbecue sauce on a marble table with ribs blurred in the background

This recipe makes about 4 cups of sauce. I like to pour them into two mason jars – one for immediate use and one for the freezer.

Enjoy!

Paleo BBQ Sauce Recipe

4.59 — Votes 12 votes
By Cassy
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
This Paleo BBQ Sauce is free of refined sugars and junky oils, and features 4 different renditions to customize to your tastes!

Ingredients  

REGULAR:

  • 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
  • 24 ounces strained tomatoes
  • 7 ounces tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
  • 1/3 cup coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoononion powder
  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder may substitute regular chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

TANGY:

  • 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
  • 24 ounces strained tomatoes
  • 7 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 cup apple cider vinega
  • 1/3 cup blackstrap molasse
  • 1/3 cup coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powde may substitute regular chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

SWEET:

  • 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
  • 24 ounces strained tomatoes
  • 7 ounces tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
  • 1/3 cup hone 2/3 cup honey if you like it really sweet
  • 1/3 cup coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder (may substitute regular chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

SPICY:

  • 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
  • 24 ounces strained tomatoes
  • 7 ounces tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
  • 1/3 cup coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder may substitute regular chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon pepper 3 teaspoon if you like it really spicy

Instructions 

  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients and whisk together.
  • Let it simmer on low for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove from heat and either use immediately or can to store.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition is for Regular variation.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 435mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 473IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

Additional Info

Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 67
Keyword: BBQ sauce, paleo bbq sauce

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About the Author

Cassy Joy Garcia, NC

Cassy Joy Garcia, a New York Times best-selling author, of Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed and Fit as well as the creative force behind the popular food blog Fed & Fit.


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73 Comments

    1. You can swap it with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 2 teaspoons of honey (coconut aminos are salty and sweet). The consistency may be slightly off, so you may need to add water the the sauce at the end to thin it out a bit!