Pass on the extra carbs found in BBQ sauces made with added sugar and try this easy to make keto BBQ sauce recipe.
This homemade keto BBQ sauces is lower in carbs compared to store bought types. This smokey traditional tomato based sauce is so easy to make. Plus extra sauce can be stored in the freezer until needed!
Easy Keto BBQ Sauce Recipe
Why homemade and not something out of a bottle?
Have you actually checked out the nutrition label for most of the store bought varieties? The vast majority are loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and salt for a small 2 tablespoon serving size.
Let’s face it. If you love BBQ sauce then the chances are pretty good that you will use more than 2 tablespoons. Most store bought BBQ sauces don’t fit easily into a keto diet especially if you love to use BBQ sauce as a topping or dipping sauce for your favorite foods. This sugar-free BBQ sauce will soon be your favorite homemade barbecue sauce recipe.
Check out the freezer tips below to learn how to best make and freeze this sauce so you’ll always have some on hand.
Most of the ingredients for this keto BBQ sauce are easy to find and you may already have them in your kitchen.
The one ingredient that really makes the sauce is the liquid smoke. Liquid smoke can usually be found in the same section of the grocery store where you would find other BBQ sauces. It might also be found in the canned or jarred gravy or gravy mix section. Most major grocery stores carry it.
If you don’t find it in your local grocery store it’s easy enough to order online. You will want to have a bottle of this. Maybe even more than one bottle so you can add it’s smokey good flavor to chili, soups and other recipes.
It makes a quick substitute for the smokey flavor of bacon when I don’t have any available. Of course nothing is a perfect substitute for bacon but this does add great smokey flavor to a dish when I don’t have any.
Main Ingredients for Keto BBQ Sauce
- Diet / Sugar-free cola – use your choice of diet or sugar-free cola drink. I usually use a store brand of soda.
- Tomato Paste – this adds the tomato base to your BBQ sauce.
- Yellow Mustard – you’ll want to use yellow mustard for this recipe as it adds a tangy flavor that other types of mustard don’t seem to have.
- Liquid Smoke – adds delicious smokey flavor to your BBQ sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce – adds a savory flavor to this sauce. You can swap this out for coconut aminos if desired.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – adds the tang to the BBQ sauce.
- Garlic Clove – you will want to mince this up finely. Don’t have a fresh garlic clove? You can swap it out for ¼ teaspoon garlic powder OR 1 teaspoon dried garlic in place of a fresh garlic clove.
- Onion Powder – use onion powder to add flavor yet control the carb count. Don’t use onion salt for this recipe.
How to make Keto BBQ Sauce
This recipe is so easy you’ll wonder why you haven’t made your own BBQ sauce before.
In a large sauce pan add the onion powder, garlic, tomato paste, diet cola, water, mustard, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar.
Simmer on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and the sauce to thicken.
If you want a less thick sauce as water, a tablespoon at a time, to thin out the sauce.
The serving size is 1/4 cup which is enough to top your favorite foods or be used as a dipping sauce.
Keto BBQ Sauce Variations:
Want a slightly sweeter sauce?
While the diet soda adds sweetness to the sauce sometimes you just want it a bit sweeter. You can add a small amount of your favorite brown sugar substitute, such as Swerve Brown Sugar, Sukrin Gold or even Golden Monk Fruit, into this sauce.
Try adding a teaspoon or two and then checking to see if has reached your desired level of sweetness. Don’t forget to count any additional carbs that might come from the added sweetener into the total net carbs.
Like it a bit spicy? Add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper if you want this to be a slightly spicy keto barbeque sauce recipe.
Want to bump up the smoky flavor? Add another teaspoon or two of the liquid smoke into your homemade sauce.
How to store Keto BBQ Sauce:
This recipe easily stores for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. Place the cooled sauce in a covered airtight container or even a mason jar so it’s easy to scoop or pour the sauce out.
Can you freeze this Keto BBQ Sauce Recipe?
Yes! This sauce freezes easily. I like to double the batch and then pull a bag out to thaw whenever I break out my grill.
To save extra sauce you can ladle it out into plastic containers or freezer bags. If using freezer bags seal them well and then lay them down on a baking sheet so they can freeze flat. It makes them easier to stack and store.
I like to put a serving or two in each bag. This allows me to thaw enough to use without having a lot of extra sauce in the refrigerator.
Once frozen I make sure the bags are completely sealed and then store all the smaller bags into one large freezer bag.
Don’t forget to mark the bag with the contents and date. I usually write on an index card and stick it into the larger bag. It makes it easier to read and I don’t have to worry about the writing on the plastic bag rubbing off.
What can I use this homemade keto sauce on?
What can’t you use it on? It’s delicious on everything! Burgers, steak, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, pulled pork or any other favorite keto recipes.
Besides using the sauce on barbecue foods I have also used it to create delicious BBQ pizza. Try replacing your pizza sauce with this one. Top the pizza with shredded beef, pork or chicken. We love shredded chicken, diced tomatoes, sweet red pepper slices and cheddar cheese on our BBQ pizza.
Don’t forget that it can double as a dipping sauce for your chicken tenders, chicken nuggets and more.
Enjoy this tangy keto BBQ sauce in these recipes:
Use as a dipping sauce for Keto Little Smokies Pigs In A Blanket
Try this recipe and love it? Review it by clicking the star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on the recipe card! This helps other readers to find this recipe since the recipe rating will encourage search engines, such as Google, to suggest it to others. This helps support Remake My Plate as we are a reader supported publication.
Keto BBQ Sauce Recipe (Low Carb)
Equipment
- Large sauce pan
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 clove Garlic minced OR ¼ teaspoon garlic powder OR 1 teaspoon dried garlic
- 6 ounce tomato paste
- 12 ounce Sugarfree Cola
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan add the onion, garlic, tomato paste, diet cola, water, mustard, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar.
- Simmer on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and the sauce to thicken. If you want a less thick sauce as water, a tablespoon at a time, to thin out the sauce.
Notes
- Add a dash or two of hot sauce if you want your BBQ sauce to have a little kick
- Add in a strip or two of finely chopped bacon
- Want a sweeter BBQ sauce? Add a small amount of your choice of keto friendly sweetener. Start with 1/2 a teaspoon and work up from there.
Nutrition
If you like this recipe then you may also enjoy these recipes:
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken and Sausage
Want to get new recipes sent directly to your inbox? Then subscribe to our newsletter (see below) and be the first to know when we post a new recipe as well as get weekly shopping, cooking and meal planning tips. Follow me on Pinterest where you can find links to our recipes as well as other recipes you and your family will enjoy.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy. If you click on the banner below you will be taken directly to my Etsy shop to see the digital items currently listed.
