{"id":698,"date":"2026-04-25T21:06:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T21:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/no-ketchup-bbq-sauce-recipe\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T21:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T21:06:39","slug":"no-ketchup-bbq-sauce-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/no-ketchup-bbq-sauce-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"No Ketchup BBQ Sauce Recipe (Easy with Way Less Sugar!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ditch the ultra-sugary bottles of barbecue sauce. This no ketchup BBQ sauce recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and savory and can easily be made in 15 minutes with basic kitchen staples.<\/p>\n

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Barbeque sauce is one of those condiments that has a reputation of being bought from a bottle. But, like salad dressing<\/a>, enchilada sauce<\/a>, and so many others, making homemade bbq sauce yourself is surprisingly easy (and delicious!)<\/p>\n

Instead of ketchup, we start our barbecue sauce with tomato sauce<\/a>. Then with the addition of some natural sweeteners and spices, the result is a drool-worthy (and better for you!) barbecue sauce in no time.<\/p>\n

Homemade BBQ Sauce Ingredients (And Substitutions)<\/h2>\n

Tomato Sauce \u2013<\/strong> We use our homemade roasted tomato sauce<\/a> in this bbq sauce, but canned tomato sauce would work as well. Alternatively, tomato paste could work for a much thicker barbecue sauce, or it could be thinned out with some water.<\/p>\n

Apple Cider Vinegar \u2013<\/strong> You could substitute a different type of vinegar here, like red wine vinegar or white vinegar, but apple cider vinegar is my favorite in this recipe. We typically get it from Costco or Azure Standard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maple Syrup \u2013<\/strong> This adds the perfect sweetness to this barbeque sauce recipe. Honey would make a perfect swap.<\/p>\n

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Sucanat (or Brown Sugar) \u2013<\/strong> Sucanat<\/a> stands for sugar cane natural and is 100% sugar cane. This is going to be the most natural and nutritious sugar option, but brown sugar would make a fine substitute.<\/p>\n

Worcestershire Sauce \u2013<\/strong> I love adding Worcestershire<\/a> for that savory, umami flavor to this bbq sauce.<\/p>\n

Spices \u2013<\/strong> We use paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and black pepper in this recipe, but there is definitely room to play here to make it your own. You can turn up or down the heat as you please. My preference is to buy spices in bulk from Azure Standard<\/a> and refill spice jars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sea Salt \u2013<\/strong> Redmond Real Salt<\/a> is our favorite source for salt.<\/p>\n

How to Make No Ketchup BBQ Sauce<\/h2>\n

This no ketchup bbq sauce recipe is as easy as it gets.<\/p>\n

To make it, all you need to do is add all of the ingredients to a saucepan and cook over medium \u2013 high heat until the sauce begins to bubble.<\/p>\n

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Then, reduce heat and bring to a simmer for about 15 minutes. You can keep it simmering for longer if you want to reduce the sauce for a thicker sauce.<\/p>\n

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Serve it warm or store it in the fridge for later use.<\/p>\n

How to Store BBQ Sauce<\/h3>\n

This no ketchup bbq sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze it for up to 3 months.<\/p>\n

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No Ketchup BBQ Sauce Recipe<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Yield: 2 \u2013 2.5 cups<\/h4>\n

Ingredients:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

– 2 cups tomato sauce
– \u00bc cup apple cider vinegar
– \u00bc cup maple syrup
– 1 tbsp sucanat (or brown sugar)
– 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
– 2 tsp paprika
– 2 tsp onion powder
– 1 tsp garlic powder
– 1 tsp chili powder
– 1 tsp sea salt
– \u00bc tsp black pepper<\/p>\n

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Directions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Add all ingredients to a saucepan and heat over medium to high heat until the sauce begins to bubble.<\/p>\n

2. Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring regularly for 15-20 minutes (or longer if desired). <\/p>\n

3. Serve warm or refrigerate for later use.<\/p>\n

Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!<\/em><\/p>\n

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More easy, homemade sauces you will love:<\/h2>\n