This low carb BBQ sauce has 2.2g net carbs per 2-tablespoon serving—5.5 g total carbs minus 0.3 g fiber minus 3 g sugar alcohols—and 28 calories according to our recipe card. It comes together in 30 minutes on the stovetop (5 minutes prep + 25 minutes cook) with pantry staples: no-sugar-added ketchup, golden monk fruit sweetener, and a splash of Worcestershire. Smoky and tangy for ribs, burgers, or pulled chicken.
This post was originally published on August 9, 2018 and has been updated with fresh content and photos, though the recipe remains perfectly the same.
Hello Beautiful, I am so glad you were created. What would I do without your perfect, tangy sauciness?
It’s a good thing I don’t need to find out what life would be like without this tasty low carb BBQ sauce (sweetened with golden monk fruit, not brown sugar)! What would I do when all those burgers came home off the Traeger? Or fresh baked chicken breasts from the oven? Or RIBS? What would I do if I have to eat sauceless ribs?!
I’ve loved this Keto BBQ Sauce since the moment it first hit my taste buds, and hope you love it too!
Why it works
- Packed with flavour and just the right amount of spice, this Low Carb BBQ Sauce is crazy delicious; perfect for all your BBQ saucy needs!
- Fast and easy — throw some stuff in a saucepan and simmer about 25 minutes (5 prep + 25 cook = 30 minutes total). That’s it!
- Skip the store-bought bottles packed with brown sugar and molasses. Use no-sugar-added ketchup and golden monk fruit sweetener instead.
- Per our recipe card: 2.2 g net carbs per 2 tbsp (5.5 g total carbs − 0.3 g fiber − 3 g sugar alcohols) and 28 calories.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card for ingredient measurements.
- unsalted butter
- onion
- garlic
- chili powder
- sea salt
- ground black pepper
- ketchup with no added sugar
- apple cider vinegar
- lemon
- golden monk fruit sweetener
- worcestershire
- dijon mustard
- liquid hickory smoke
Ketchup – Ketchup is known to be packed with sugar. Packed. This is why you should always look for ketchups that have ‘no added sugar’ on the label.
Sweetener – My favourite sweetener for this Low Carb BBQ Sauce is either Lakanto’s Golden Monk Fruit / Erythritol blend or Sukrin Gold. If you don’t have either, you can just use your sugar free sweetener of choice.
How to make Low Carb BBQ Sauce
Heat a small saucepan on medium high with some butter. Dice up the onion and add it to the saucepan once the butter has melted. Fry the onion until translucent and then stir in minced garlic, chilli powder, sea salt and ground black pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
Add ketchup, apple cider vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sweetener, Worcestershire, dijon mustard, and liquid hickory smoke. Whisk until fully combined.
Heat the sauce until it comes to a boil, reduce to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Strain into a heat safe bowl and discard the strained bits. Use hot or store in an air tight container in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.
Tasty recipes for your Low Carb BBQ Sauce
Brush it on Instant Pot BBQ pulled pork, spoon it over slow cooker pulled chicken, or keep a jar next to our keto sweet and sour sauce for dipping nights.
- Instant Pot Low Carb Ribs
- Keto Meatballs (smother them in this sauce)
- Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
- Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
- Low Carb Turkey Burgers
Subscribe to Mama Bear’s monthly newsletter to be kept up to date on the latest and greatest recipes!
Low Carb BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Method
- Cutting Board and Knife
- Small Saucepan
- Whisk
- Heat safe storage container
- Heat a small saucepan on medium high with some butter. Dice up the onion and add it to the saucepan once the butter has melted. Fry the onion until translucent and then stir in the minced garlic, chilli powder, sea salt and ground black pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add ketchup, apple cider vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sweetener, Worcestershire, dijon mustard, and liquid hickory smoke. Whisk until fully combined.
- Heat the sauce until it comes to a boil, reduce to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Strain into a heat safe bowl and discard the strained bits. Use hot or store in an air tight container in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition facts are an estimate only! The ingredients you choose could have different nutritional values than the ingredients I have used. * Net carb count excludes both fibre and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. Deduct fibre (0.3 g net carbs per serving) and sugar alcohols (3 g net carbs per serving) from the total carbs to get 2.2 g net carbs per serving of 2 tbsp.Frequently Asked Questions
How many net carbs are in this low carb BBQ sauce?
Our recipe card lists 2.2g net carbs per 2-tablespoon serving: start with 5.5 g total carbs, deduct 0.3 g fiber and 3 g sugar alcohols. That serving has 28 calories. We use no-sugar-added ketchup and golden monk fruit sweetener instead of brown sugar and molasses—Worcestershire can add a little sugar, so we do not call the sauce absolutely sugar-free.
How long does homemade keto BBQ sauce last?
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it within 2 weeks. Let it cool completely before sealing so it keeps its flavor longer.
Can I freeze low carb BBQ sauce?
Yes. Freeze it in a freezer-safe container or ice cube tray for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and whisk well before using, since it can separate slightly.
What can I use instead of liquid smoke?
If you don’t have liquid smoke, swap in a pinch of smoked paprika for a similar smoky note, or leave it out entirely for a tangier, less smoky sauce.
Love This Recipe? Get the Full Cookbook
This recipe is just a taste of what’s inside The Ultimate Keto Cookbook by Michelle Beaupre & Mitch Durfee — 50+ easy, delicious keto recipes for rapid weight loss, complete with full nutrition info for every dish. Grab your copy on Amazon →
A keeper!! I absolutely love the tanginess of this sauce!
Awesome, so glad you like it Terri 🙂
This Keto BBQ Sauce is FABULOUS!!!! The only suggestion I have is that if you have the computer double the recipe, DO NOT DOUBLE THE VINEGAR!! Only use 1/4 cup.
With that said, I had bought a low carb bbq sauce that was way too sweet. This recipe has just the right amount of heat and sweet. I had my Keto following neighbor come over to help me fix the vinegar situation and she asked for a copy of the recipe stating that she has never had luck with bbq sauce but this was the best ever! Enjoy, we did. 🙂
I am so glad to hear it Judy! That is the whole reason I first made this recipe – could not find one to buy that actually tasted good! Enjoy 🙂
Just made this sauce and it’s better than store bought! Putting it baby back ribs that are on the smoker right now. Can’t wait for the finished product! Thank you for this recipe!
I’m so happy you liked it so much Tammy! Being very biased myself, I agree, it’s way better than store bought 😁
All of your recipes are so good, I’m never disappointed. This BBQ is a staple. Thanks!
Awe thanks so much Stacy!
Wow this is wonderful! I LOVE LOVE LOVE BBQ and BBQ sauce. I grill out year round, in the snow rain, anything goes. And I can’t imagine having BBQ without the BBQ sauce. This stuff ROCKS!!! It is so easy to throw together and so flavorful. So now I’m going to head out to the BBQ grill and brush off the snow so I can grill something up to go with my BBQ sauce – or just eat the BBQ saue by itself! It’s that good = )
Yay! I love this BBQ sauce that much as well, slather it on anything and everything! Enjoy!
BBQ season..I can’t wait for it. And with homemade BBQ sauce it’s only going to be a amazing season of BBQs and grilling. I love this simple BBQ sauce recipe
Thanks Jo, I also cannot wait for bbq season!
Low carb bbq sauce sounds so easy to make yet delicious. Can’t wait for bbq season. Need to check out liquid hickory smoke.
Thanks Jagurti, I love liquid smoke, I use it for so many recipes!
I’ve been trying to get my husband and I to eat healthier but he just loves covering everything in delicious, calorie-filled sauces. I’m definitely going to have to make this for him!
My husband is also a sauce fanatic! He loves this bbq sauce so it works out great 🙂
So smart to use sugar-free ketchup! Looks perfect!
Thanks Kelly 🙂
This makes me think about grilling season which is right around the corner! I need to add this to my list of recipes to try!!
I hope you love it!
My husband and I are bbq sauce addicts, but we rarely make our own even though homemade is so so good. Can’t wait to try this!
We should start a bbq sauce addict group 🤔 You’ve gotta try making your own! It’s so exciting to create your exact flavour of choice and then make a giant batch and jar it!
What a great post. Not only do you give great ideas with the BBQ sauce but how we can use it. I certainly can’t wait for grilling season to get here. We love to BBQ and this low carb sauce will be ideal. I really don’t care for store-bought sauces. They’re either too sweet or too tangy. This low carb sauce sounds perfect.
Wow thanks for the comment Marisa! I can honestly never go back to store bought sauce!
This recipe will definitely come in handy this summer! Can’t wait to slather some ribs in it!
Right?? So good on ribs!
This BBQ sauce looks unbelievable… I prefer eating stuff that I make from home so that I know exactly what is inside. Can’t wait to try this!
Thanks Dominique!
Bring on the BBQ season!!! This sauce will be definitely making it to my menu! Love that you’re using the sweetener instead of sugar, the whole list of ingredients looks so much healthier in comparison with a shop-bought sauces!
Right? I love creating a healthy option that beats store bought processed foods!
Love when I can find a recipe that allows me to throw out the jarred store bought stuff. This sounds much better than anything you can find in a store.
Thanks Des!
I cannot wait for BBQ season. This will be perfect and delicious. Homemade sauces are so much better than anything you can get in the store.
I totally agree! Thanks Gloria 🙂