Keto Barbecue Sauce
Make homemade low carb Keto Barbecue Sauce three different ways in just 5 minutes! All of these are delicious spooned over your favorite meat, used as a dip, or grilled on chicken, steak, or pork. There is no wrong way to serve these incredible keto bbq sauce recipes. They are all gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free too!
Plain chicken or other meats with a little bit of salt and pepper are typically pretty good. However, instead of being “pretty good,” let’s make them extraordinary with these keto barbecue sauce recipes!
When walking the aisles of your local grocery store, you may find one or two keto-friendly barbecue sauces. (And plenty of store bought regular sauces with high fructose corn syrup). However, I’ve tried bottled low carb sauce, and while they are “okay,” they just lack that extra pizzazz and flavor. Many also have questionable ingredients added like sucralose. Making homemade low carb bbq sauce is seriously easy, and I could go on and on about how great they taste.
Whether you like a Kansas City style sauce, a South Carolina gold bbq, or an Alabama white sauce I have you covered with my trio of keto bbq sauce recipes.
Ingredients Needed
As you will see, each easy keto barbecue sauce option requires different ingredients. So, you can make all three or just stick with one or two. All of the ingredients are basic, and I’m guessing you have most of them already. You only need 9 ingredients to be able to make all 3 sauces!
Keto White BBQ Sauce:
- mayonnaise – The mayo makes the sauce super creamy and delicious. If you’ve never had a white barbecue sauce you are in for a treat!
- apple cider vinegar – Red wine vinegar is an ok substitute.
- garlic
- sweetener – I use my low carb sweetener blend of xylitol, erythritol, and stevia but offer substitutions in the recipe carb for other sweeteners.
- lemon juice – Using both lemon juice and apple cider vinegar ties together all of the flavors and gives you a tangy sauce.
- mustard
- salt and pepper
Keto Mustard BBQ Sauce:
- yellow mustard – This is a mustard-based sauce so make sure you use mustard you enjoy. My photos show spicy brown mustard but I do prefer this with yellow mustard. The only mustard that really isn’t keto friendly is honey mustard.
- sweetener
- garlic – No matter which keto bbq sauce you make, minced garlic takes it to a whole new level!
- lemon juice
- salt and pepper
Classic Low Carb Barbecue Sauce:
- sugar free ketchup – It’s important to only use sugar free ketchup or it’s going to be filled with carbs. I like the unsweetened ketchup from Primal Kitchen. If you prefer to make your own low carb ketchup from tomato paste try this recipe.
- sweetener – I did use a white sweetener in this but if you like brown sugar bbq sauce just use a brown sugar substitute instead.
- mustard
- garlic
- lemon juice
- salt and pepper
How To Make Keto Barbecue Sauce
No cooking is required for this homemade keto low carb sugar free barbecue sauce! You literally pick the recipe or recipes you are making and add all the ingredients together. Then enjoy this keto BBQ sauce recipe with your favorite low carb diet dishes.
Step One: Choose the variety you want to make. Add the ingredients to a bowl.
Step Two: Stir the ingredients together until well combined. Use with your favorite keto recipes!
Variations
Love smoky flavored sauce? Add in a dash of liquid smoke to any of the sauces for a fun flavor. Just keep in mind a little bit goes a long way, so a small amount is all that’s needed. Smoked paprika is another good addition for a smokey flavor.
If you are in the mood for some spice, add in some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. They are both great for adding some subtle heat. Just taste test it and add a little at a time to your keto bbq sauce. Another great option is a chipotle puree made by blending a can of chipotles in adobo.
For some extra tanginess, add in a little bit more apple cider vinegar. It tastes good, and it’s healthy for you. Or add some worcestershire sauce.
Add a teaspoon or two of water to thin the sauce out if you like it really thin. Or you can even thin it with a little bourbon whiskey or a keto maple syrup for a maple flavor.
No matter which sauce you decide to make, taste test it before serving. This way, you know that it’s just right. Plus, you can make any adjustments you want.
Common Questions
Is Regular BBQ Sauce Keto?
No, unless it’s sugar free, it’s not going to be keto. When you are shopping for things like condiments and sauces, it’s vital that you look at the labels. Check the carbs and sugar. So many sauces are LOADED with sugars and carbs. Both of which you don’t want when eating keto. That’s what I like about making my own sugar-free bbq sauce because then I know what’s in it, and there is no question.
What Do I Serve With Keto Barbecue Sauce?
Oh my goodness! The options are endless. Let’s look at just a few keto diet ideas to use up gluten free bbq sauce:
Barbecue Chicken Pizza – Make my coconut flour pizza crust and top it with sauce, shredded chicken, and red onions for a special treat. This is one of our favorite pizza combinations! I normally make this one with the ketchup-based red keto bbq sauce.
Burgers – Good old-fashioned burgers are incredible with a little bit of barbecue sauce. Try it on my juicy keto turkey burgers.
Chicken – Whether you are cooking chicken breasts, chicken tenders, or are grilling some keto barbecue chicken, adding this barbecue sauce is delicious. Make keto bbq chicken by brushing it on about 2/3 through the cooking time.
Salad – Try drizzling one of these sauces on a chopped salad with greens and vegetables.
Veggies – Yep, even vegetables taste good with these keto sauces. Add it to some cooked cauliflower or even grilled Brussels sprouts.
Seafood – Another delicious protein that goes well with sauce is seafood. Try it with salmon and shrimp!
Meatloaf – This is one of our fave varieties of meatloaf! Try my popular BBQ Meatloaf Recipe to see why.
How Long Does BBQ Sauce Last?
All three sauces will last around 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Keep them in a mason jar or another airtight container. Give the sauce a quick stir or shake before serving. You can serve it chilled or warm it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. Be sure to cover the keto bbq sauce with a paper towel if you are warming it up.
You can also freeze it too. Place it in a sealed container or freezer bag, and it lasts 2-3 months—Thaw in the fridge overnight or set on the counter until defrosted.
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Keto Barbecue Sauce - 3 Ways
Ingredients
Keto White BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Keto Mustard BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- 1/3 cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Classic Low Carb Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup sugar free ketchup
- ¼ cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Stir together the ingredients for your sauce of choice. Use as a dip or to coat grilled chicken, vegetables, or other meats.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published on June 4, 2021. Revised and Republished on March 21, 2023.
I just love mustard BBQ sauce, and now I have a THM way to make it! Thank you, Taryn.
I made the classic BBQ sauce and it was just delicious! Perfect on grilled chicken breast and added amazing flavor. Can’t wait to make again!
Love the three different BBQ sauce options here. Tried the mustard bbq sauce on our chicken the other night and we really enjoyed. Can’t wait to make the other two!