This quick and easy Keto BBQ Sauce will dazzle your taste buds with its rich flavors.
As someone who’s done strict keto dieting before, I can attest to how restrictive it can feel. When you can’t eat much sugar, you suddenly realize just how many products on grocery store shelves contain sugar. When you’re deep into carbohydrate withdrawals, experiencing a rowdy case of keto flu, it can feel like nothing in the grocery store will fit your diet.
Of all the stuff I could no longer eat on keto, nothing was as disappointing to me as having to skip my beloved barbecue sauce. Barbecue sauce is typically loaded with sugar, and my favorite variety has “sweet” in the name, so it was automatically banished from my grocery list for the entire duration of the diet (which only ended up being about three weeks).
The only sure-fire way to have keto-friendly barbecue sauce is to make it yourself, and that’s exactly what I did during my grueling, three-week keto stint. This keto BBQ sauce is pure bliss! This recipe uses monk fruit instead of sugar or molasses to help you stick to your dietary goals, keep you in ketosis, and satisfy your deep, unrelenting need for sticky sweetness on top of your smoked pork ribs.
Is This Keto BBQ Sauce Healthy?
Yes, and especially so for keto dieters! This keto BBQ sauce is surprisingly simple, and our minimalist recipe skips typical sugary ingredients in favor of whole, nutritious options, like tomato purée. It has far fewer calories than most store-bought versions, and you can rest easy knowing there aren’t any excessive preservatives, corn syrups, or other random ingredients in your homemade sauce.
Keep in mind that this sauce is somewhat high in sodium per serving, mostly due to the Worcestershire sauce and added salt. And it’s not entirely carb-free, but it’s low enough that it should be relatively easy to work into your daily keto macros.
What Is Monk Fruit, Anyway?
If you’ve never heard of this stuff, have a seat and prepare to be amazed. Monk fruit (luo han guo in Chinese) is a perennial vine in the gourd family, native to Southern China. Monk fruits are small and yellow-brown, and their extract contains “mogrosides,” which are responsible for the sweetness of monk fruit powder. Mogrosides create a sweetness sensation on the tongue that is said to be approximately 100 to 250 times sweeter than regular sugar (sucrose), but it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels, so it’s safe for folks who are on a low-glycemic diet as well as those practicing keto diets.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Store leftover BBQ sauce in an airtight container, and it will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze this sauce for up to 3 months. I like to freeze it in ice cube trays for a few hours first, until the cubes are frozen through, then transfer them to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag.
Serving Suggestions
This keto BBQ sauce is a perfectly sweet-and-spicy addition to your Juicy Grilled Chicken Breast, Instant-Pot Beef Brisket, or Juicy Boneless Pork Ribs. It pairs beautifully with pulled pork sandwiches and acts as a succulent glaze for lots of oven-baked meat dishes. And if you aren’t eating strict keto, it makes an excellent homemade dipping sauce for all kinds of fries, such as Cottage Fries and Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
Ingredients
- 1 cup tomato purée
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons monk fruit powder
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a medium-sized bowl.
- Use a whisk to mix it all together until smooth.
- Pour the sauce into a sealable jar to store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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