Sugar Free BBQ Sauce

This quick and easy sugar-free barbecue sauce recipe is naturally sweet and tangy, and you can make it in about 15 minutes! It's low carb, paleo, keto and Whole30 friendly.

I am a huge fan of barbecue sauce, but I'll admit I haven't had much of it lately. I avoid bottled sauces since they generally have a lot of processed food ingredients like high fructose corn syrup. And most homemade barbecue sauce recipes start with ketchup, have a lot of added sugar, or have to cook for hours.

I wanted to come up with one that was quick and easy, with just a few real food ingredients (bonus, they are all simple ingredients I keep in my pantry!). My healthy barbecue sauce recipe has no ketchup and no added sugar or sweeteners. It takes just 5 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of cook time!

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How to make sugar free BBQ sauce

Barbecue sauce has to have some sweetness, a tangy kick, a little smokiness and a little heat. This sauce gets its sweetness from peaches. I used frozen peaches because that's all I had. But I think it would be even better with fresh peaches.

The sauce's tanginess comes from apple cider vinegar. I used bacon fat (from sugar-free bacon) to cook the shallots, so that adds a little smokiness and rich flavor. And the chipotle pepper flakes add a little smoky heat.

With just a quick sauté, a little simmering and blending it all together, you've got a delicious barbecue sauce.

Recipe Features

• Contains clean ingredients, meaning it's free of refined sugars and preservatives
• It's dairy-free, gluten-free, keto, low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 with an easy vegan option
• You control the natural sweetness and spiciness
• It can be made in about 15 minutes
• No special cooking skills required
• Versatile

Ingredients Needed

• Bacon fat (from sugar-free bacon) or coconut oil (for vegan/vegetarian) - used to sauté the shallots and adds a little smokiness and rich flavor
• Shallot, chopped - for seasoning and flavor
• Peaches, peeled and sliced - fresh or thawed from frozen. The peaches add texture and natural sweetness to the sauce
• Organic tomato paste - provides the base of the sauce and an acidic taste and texture
• Apple cider vinegar - adds an acidic tang that compliments the fruity sweetness
• Water - for thinning out the sauce
• Coconut aminos - adds depth of flavor
• Chipotle pepper flakes - add a little smoky heat
• Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper - seasonings

Instructions

1. Add bacon fat or coconut oil to a skillet and sauté the chopped shallots until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, stirring frequently for about 5-10 minutes.
3. Transfer the sauce to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
4. Note: for vegan/vegetarian, use coconut oil for the cooking fat.

Variations and Substitutions

The basic anatomy of barbecue sauce generally contains a tomato base, an acid, a smokiness, a spice, and a sweetener. In my fruit sweetened BBQ sauce recipe, tomato paste is the base, apple cider vinegar is the acid, coconut aminos provide the smokiness, chipotle pepper flakes bring the heat and peaches add natural sweetness.

• Fruit - peaches can be swapped out for another fruit. Yes, the flavor will change a bit, but that's the fun of experimenting in the kitchen. Here are a few to try: mango, blueberry, raspberry, apple or pineapple.
• Tomato paste - the only substitution I would suggest would be a thick organic tomato sauce, and omit any additional water in the recipe.
• Add garlic - if you like the robustness and spiciness of garlic, sauté chopped garlic along with the shallots. You could also add a little garlic powder.
• Swap out the shallots for sweet onions like Vidalia or Maui. In a pinch, you could also substitute onion powder.
• Swap out the apple cider vinegar for white vinegar.
• Additional sweetener - if you like a sweeter sauce add a dash of molasses or maple syrup. Or for a low-carb BBQ sauce use stevia or monkfruit.
• Spices and smokiness - If you're looking for a boost of heat or spiciness, try cayenne pepper, smoked paprika or ancho chili powder. Or add a touch of liquid smoke for more smoky flavor. Be sure to add sparingly and taste as you go.
• Mustard - a dash of mustard will add an extra tangy kick.

Do I Have To Blend The BBQ Sauce?

Yes, you'll need to blend this sauce. Because it contains chunks of peaches, you'll want a smoother texture. A high-speed blender will do the trick.

You could also use an immersion blender and smooth it out right in your saucepan.

How to use homemade peach BBQ sauce

Once you taste this delicious sugar-free BBQ sauce, you'll be looking for things to pair it with!

This barbecue sauce is amazing on pulled pork (I've got a great trick for making pulled pork in the slow cooker). And I love it on burgers, ribs, or grilled chicken.

You can also paint it on grilled shrimp, or use it on grilled chicken (just use it instead of the chimichurri sauce in both recipes)

Use it when you air fry your chicken breasts or chicken wings. Serve extra as a dipping sauce.

Use it on burgers, ribs or even as a topping for meatloaf.

But I've got some turkey thighs in the fridge that are calling out for this yummy peach barbecue sauce. So that's what's for dinner tonight.

How Do I Store Leftovers?

Store BBQ sauce leftovers in a glass container, or mason jar, with a tight-fitting lid. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.

You can also freeze leftovers for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.

More sugar-free sauces and condiments

• Chimichurri Sauce
• Sugar Free Cocktail Sauce
• Dairy Free Ranch Dressing
• How To Make Mayonnaise
• Italian Dressing Recipe