Summary:

Smoky, tangy, and sweet -- this bold BBQ sauce is better than store-bought and pairs well with pulled pork, chicken, and ribs. The key to making this a low carb sauce is using a sugar-free sweetener in place of regular sugar.

BBQ Sauce

5 from 17 votes

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Prep: 5

Cook: 20

Yield: 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

▢ 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce (1 cup)
▢ 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
▢ 1/2 cup powdered erythritol or 1/3 cup confectioners swerve (Note 1)
▢ 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
▢ 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1/2 teaspoon table salt
▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne (Note 2)

INSTRUCTIONS

Make Sauce: Add all ingredients to medium saucepan. Stir together over medium-high heat until combined and starting to simmer. Simmer until sauce reaches desired thickness, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes, gradually reducing heat as needed to maintain simmer.
Cool & Taste: Turn off heat. When cool enough, taste and optionally add sweetener and cayenne as needed to adjust sweetness and spiciness. Sauce can be promptly used in other dishes (Note 3), or cooled and stored in covered container in refrigerator (Note 4).

NUTRITION

Makes 10 Servings

Amount Per Serving (2 tbsp):

Calories 20 (5% from fat)
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 270mg	11%
Net Carb 2.5g
Total Carb 3g	1%
Dietary Fiber 0.5g	3%
Sugars 1g
Protein 1g

Vitamin A 11% · Vitamin C 6% · Calcium 0% · Iron 2%

PHOTOS

bbq sauce cooked in saucepan with wooden spoon

pork ribs with barbecue sauce and onions

NOTES & TIPS

(1) Sweetener. The volumes listed above correspond to 2.8 ounces weight powdered erythritol and 2 ounces weight confectioners Swerve. Either sweetener works, and you won’t taste a “cooling” effect or experience erythritol crystallization. Note that I use a powdered sweetener, so if you are using granulated, you should powder it first using a blender like a Nutribullet before measuring out the amount to use. If you are using a sweetener other than listed and don’t know how much to use, add to taste after the sauce has thickened.

(2) Cayenne. This spice helps bring the heat to your BBQ sauce. Adjust to match your preferences. Use 1/4 teaspoon for a mild to moderately hot bbq sauce. If you’re concerned that it’ll be too spicy, start with only 1/8 teaspoon and add more to taste after the sauce has simmered and reached your desired thickness.

(3) Usage. This BBQ sauce goes great with pulled pork, pork chops, fried chicken, chicken wings, burgers, pizza, ribs, meatballs, meatloaf, or even used as a salad dressing.

(4) Storage. This BBQ sauce is best when used within a week. If you need longer storage, freeze in small amounts and thaw as needed.

(5) Nutrition. The nutrition calculation assumes you are using erythritol or Swerve, which use sugar alcohols whose carbs are non-impact and not included in the nutrition estimate.

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Gayle

This is great tasting bbq sauce. Highly suggest you try it if you haven’t.
I used half of the erythritol and it was really sweet. I suggest you add some taste add more as you like. Glad I didn’t put the whole half cup in.

Karen

Very good. I’ll have to play with the sweetener next time. I used Splenda because it was in my cupboard. I tasted the chemical component of it, which is unusual for me. I used hot paprika and chipotle instead of cayenne (personal preference). Other than that, I stuck to the recipe, which is unusual for me. I would make this with real sugar if I chose to go off low carb rather than buying sauce. That’s how much I liked it.

Erin Patel

This sauce is amazing! Absolutely love it. I like to double or even triple the batch and then I store in small containers in the freezer. I also do this with my homemade red sauce. Just a suggestion so you don’t have to cook as often😉

Kristina

I did not have powdered, but did have swerve brown sugar. Delish!

Nbel

I was just wondering about swerve brown sugar, thanks!

Deborah

Simmering in the pot now! Taste delicious. I’m putting it on ribs yum.

Rose

Thank you! I used this for BBQ Chicken Wings – fantastic!

Sherri

This sauce is amazing! I LOVE it and will make it again!!

Christine

Thank you for the recipe! I made this tonight, and really liked it…and so did my non-Keto husband. I used half the xylitol and thought that was perfect.

Debbie

Is it possible to can the bbq sauce?

I don’t see why not other than I have heard the swerve crystallizes when used in canning, that is just what I’ve read though

Vicki

I made this as directed and it was amazing. Has anyone tried it with Brown Sugar Swerve?

Gwen

I just made this for my barbecue chicken thighs! It is so good, I used honey for my sweetener!

lexie

can I add this in a slow cooker to make pulled pork or will that be a problem? im not familiar with the heat stability of sugar alcohols.

Julia

Not a problem at all, you can definitely do that.

Ron Staiger

I made this without the erythritol using Monk instead because my wife can’t tolerate erythritol. It turned out very good so the next day I started with fresh tomatoes, classic mirpoix w/ Anzac cognac flamebee, deglazed with white wine and veal stock then reduced by 2/3 with a bouquet garni adding some Kerrigold butter at the end for the sheen. I apologize for Frenching a barbecue recipe but French IS Keto- except of course for the bread, pastries, potatoes, flour-based roux, etc., etc

SwampBandit

Thanks! Great recipe – I added a bit more ACV to 1/2 the batch and it made a great Carolina style sauce delicious on some smoked country ribs and pulled pork!

Did you add more erythritol to counter the ACV?

Nalani Teerlink

This is so yummy!! I did not have smoked paprika so I used regular paprika and added some liquid smoke. I am in love!

Mary Pat

This sauce is amazing!!!! Very happy with the results

Steve

I have to thank you for turning me on to Erythritol. I’m diabetic and use a little splenda… But I’m always concerned with the long term health effects. I’m super excited to try experimenting with it in other recipes.

Cedric C Chin

WOW — I’m impressed! Best low carb recipe I’ve had! Easy to make, love the flavor.

RAK

I used a Stevia/Erythritol blend and although I doubled the recipe, I only used 1/2 cup of this blend. I used well rounded teaspoon of garlic powder and extra smoked paprika and cayenne powder as well. Nicely spicy

Shauna

I added a teaspoon of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke and 2 teaspoons of chipotle powder instead of cayenne. I used half homemade ranch and half BBQ sauce to make BBQ Ranch dressing for my BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad. I’m really excited to use it on slow smoked ribs next! Good stuff!

Yum!! Love those substitutions 🙂

lyd fra

I never use any erythritol in any cooking. So I substituted 1 tsp ginger and added 1 Tbs liquid smoke. I only used 1/4 Cup ACV(braggs) and used 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce in place of ground cayenne. It tastes great.

Great!! Thanks for your feedback. It’s very useful to know what other substitutions would work well.

Jenn

Love, love, love this sauce! Thank you for sharing!!!

BBQ Sauce