Best Keto-Friendly Bbq Sauces To Buy

If you're on a keto diet, you might be wondering if you can still enjoy a tasty barbecue sauce. The good news is that there are plenty of store-bought keto-friendly options available that will add a burst of flavour to your meals without kicking you out of ketosis. In this article, we'll explore the world of keto barbecue sauces, recommending some of the best products on the market and discussing the benefits of these sauces for those following a low-carb lifestyle. We'll also provide a recipe for those who want to make their own keto barbecue sauce at home. So, get ready to fire up the grill and enjoy some delicious keto-friendly flavours!

Store-bought keto BBQ sauces

Barbecue sauce is a must-have for summer grilling, but most store-bought options are loaded with added sugar, making them unsuitable for a keto diet. Luckily, there are an increasing number of keto-friendly BBQ sauces available that are low in carbs and sugar-free, so you don't have to miss out on flavour. Here are some of the best options:

Primal Kitchen

Primal Kitchen is a well-known brand in the healthy living space, and their classic barbecue sauce is a cult favourite. It has a bold flavour thanks to cumin and chipotle powder, and it can be used as a marinade, dipping sauce, or brushed on ribs and chicken wings. They also have a Golden barbecue sauce that mimics South Carolina barbecue sauce with a sweet and tangy flavour, perfect for pulled pork and veggies.

G Hughes Smokehouse Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce

This classic BBQ sauce is a popular choice and is now available in a sugar-free version. It comes in a variety of flavours, including hickory, honey, and maple brown. It has 2g of carbs per tablespoon and is sweetened with a small amount of sucralose. It has a thick and rich texture similar to traditional BBQ sauce.

Simple Girl Organic Carolina Kick BBQ Sauce

This BBQ sauce is sweetened with stevia, a natural sweetener that is keto-friendly. It comes in three flavours: hot, sweet 'n' spicy, and Carolina kick, offering a blend of spice, sweetness, and tang. It has a thinner consistency than some other sauces, but it also has fewer additives, with only 1g of carbs per 2 tablespoons.

Walden Farms Original Barbecue Sauce

This popular brand offers a wide range of calorie-free products, including salad dressings, dessert toppings, and BBQ sauces. Their Original BBQ sauce has a thin texture but is tasty and has zero carbs per 2-tablespoon serving.

Rays No Sugar Added BBQ Sauce

With only 3 grams of net carbs per 2 tablespoons, Rays No Sugar Added BBQ Sauce is a great keto-friendly option.

Tessemae’s Natural Mild Buffalo BBQ Sauce

This vinegar-based BBQ sauce has a beautifully spicy flavour without being overpowering. It contains 2g of carbs per tablespoon and is sweetened with sucralose. It comes in a range of flavours, including hot, smokey garlic, and smokey bacon.

AlternaSweets Sweet & Smokey BBQ Sauce

This BBQ sauce is sweetened with stevia and erythritol, both of which are zero-calorie and carb sweeteners. It has a strong smoky flavour and 2g of carbs per tablespoon.

Keto Primo Oh So Sweet Super BBQ Sauce

This BBQ sauce stands out for its monk fruit ingredient, which gives it a beautiful level of sweetness despite the absence of sugar. It also contains apple cider vinegar, pink Himalayan sea salt, and butter, creating a fully rounded, addictive BBQ sauce taste. It has 2 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon, making it perfect for a low-carb or low-glycemic diet.

Homemade keto BBQ sauce recipes

A keto diet typically involves a very low-carb way of eating, usually between 20-50 grams of carbs per day. BBQ sauce is a must-have for summer grilling, but most store-bought options are loaded with added sugar, making them unsuitable for a keto diet. However, there are some great homemade keto BBQ sauce recipes that you can try. Here are four options to choose from:

Recipe 1:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups no sugar-added ketchup
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 4 teaspoons liquid smoke
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan and stir until combined. Bring the sauce to a low boil over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the sauce has reduced, thickened, and turned a dark maroon colour, remove it from the heat and transfer it to a bowl for serving. You can store any leftover sauce in the refrigerator.

Recipe 2:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar-free ketchup (the author recommends Primal Kitchen)
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar substitute (the author recommends Brown Sugar Swerve)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional but recommended)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together until the brown sugar substitute dissolves, which should take about 2 minutes. You can then slather this sauce on your favourite grilled meats!

Recipe 3:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar-free ketchup or tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup yellow American mustard
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, gluten-free tamari, or coconut aminos
• 1/2 cup brown sweetener
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Instructions:

Heat the avocado oil in a small saucepan and add the onion and garlic. Sauté for one to two minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent. Next, add the remaining ingredients and turn down the heat. Simmer until the sauce has thickened. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

Recipe 4:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup no sugar-added ketchup (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar substitute (the author prefers Lakanto Golden)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional, to thicken)

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and whisk together. Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Carb counts in BBQ sauces

BBQ sauce is an essential part of summer grilling, adding a burst of flavor to chicken, ribs, and burgers. However, traditional BBQ sauces are often loaded with added sugar, making them unsuitable for keto diets. The good news is that there are now several store-bought keto-friendly BBQ sauce options available with low carb counts.

When following a keto diet, it is recommended to consume between 20-50 grams of carbs per day. Most store-bought BBQ sauces have a high carb count due to their sugar content. For example, here are the carb counts per 2 tablespoons for some popular BBQ sauce brands:

• Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce - 18 grams of carbs
• Famous Dave's Rich & Sassy BBQ Sauce - 14 grams of carbs
• King's Hawaiian Sweet Pineapple BBQ Sauce - 15 grams of carbs
• Kraft Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce - 13 grams of carbs

However, there are several keto-friendly BBQ sauce options available in stores that have significantly lower carb counts:

• Rays No Sugar Added BBQ Sauce - 3 grams of net carbs per 2 tablespoons
• G Hughes Sugar Free BBQ Sauce - 2 grams of net carbs per 2 tablespoons
• Ken Davis Sassy 2 Carb BBQ Sauce - 2 grams of net carbs per 2 tablespoons
• Keto Primo Oh So Sweet Super BBQ Sauce - 2 grams of carbs per tablespoon
• Stevia Sweet BBQ Sauce - 2 grams of carbs per serving
• Tessemae’s Natural Mild Buffalo BBQ Sauce - 2 grams of carbs per tablespoon
• Simple Girl Organic Carolina Kick BBQ Sauce - 1 gram of carb per 2 tablespoons
• AlternaSweets Sweet & Smokey BBQ Sauce - 2 grams of carbs per tablespoon
• Lynchburg Tennessee Whiskey Sweet & Mild - 1 gram of carb per serving

So, if you're on a keto diet and craving some BBQ sauce, these store-bought options can be a great way to satisfy your taste buds without compromising your dietary restrictions.

Sweeteners in keto BBQ sauces

When it comes to keto-friendly BBQ sauces, there are a few different sweeteners that are commonly used. These include:

• Monk fruit: This sweetener is known for its ability to dissolve completely, which helps to create a smooth and grit-free sauce. It also has zero calories and carbs, making it a popular choice for keto BBQ sauces.
• Stevia: Another natural sweetener that is used in some keto BBQ sauces is stevia. It has a lovely sweetness that goes well with the core BBQ ingredients.
• Erythritol: This sweetener is often used in combination with stevia to create a well-rounded sweet taste. Like stevia, it also contains zero calories and carbs.
• Sucralose: Some keto BBQ sauces, such as G Hughes Smokehouse Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce, use sucralose as a sweetener. However, it is important to note that some people may prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners like sucralose.
• Allulose: The Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend is a popular choice for keto BBQ sauces as it dissolves easily and does not recrystallize or make the sauce gritty.
• Honey: While honey is not commonly used in store-bought keto BBQ sauces, it can be used as a natural sweetener for those making their own keto BBQ sauce at home.

When choosing a keto BBQ sauce, it is important to read the ingredient list carefully to ensure that the sweetener used aligns with your dietary preferences and restrictions. Additionally, some keto BBQ sauces may use a combination of sweeteners to create a unique flavour profile.

Thickening keto BBQ sauces

The first step is to combine all your ingredients in a medium saucepan. For a basic keto BBQ sauce, you'll need:

• Low-sugar ketchup
• Worcestershire sauce
• Liquid smoke
• Apple cider vinegar
• Ground mustard powder
• Cayenne powder (optional)

You can also add other spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to taste. Some recipes also include sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit.

Once you've added all your ingredients to the saucepan, stir until combined. Then, bring the sauce to a low boil over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Finally, reduce the heat to a simmer (medium-low) and cook for an additional 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce is ready when it has reduced, thickened, and turned a dark maroon color.

Remember, you can always add more water if your sauce becomes too thick. And if you want an extra-smooth sauce, you can puree it in a high-power blender or food processor after it has cooled.

Now you have a thick and tasty keto BBQ sauce to enjoy!

Frequently asked questions