Homemade BBQ Sauce – without ketchup!
Last Updated October 29, 2023 · First Published October 21, 2018
Being from the South, I love BBQ’s and all the fixin’s, but it isn’t exactly the healthiest of meals. The meat is usually over-cooked and the side dishes are typically mac ‘n cheese, potato salad and cornbread – a carbohydrate explosion!
One of the worst offenders is bottled BBQ sauce. Most commercial preparations include high fructose corn syrup, food starches, and preservatives like sodium benzoate. One serving, which is typically “two tablespoons” can include as much as 18 grams of sugar — but we all use much more than that!
So, I decided to come up with my own quick version that includes whole food ingredients and half the sugar…and doesn’t require any ketchup. You can ramp up the sweetness or the spiciness, according to your tastes.
No Ketchup BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups organic tomato sauce, preferably homemade, or jarred
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup blackstrap molasses, or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Whisk all of the ingredients over medium high heat in a saucepan. Boil for 1 minute, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Pour into a mason jar and allow to cool. Then, seal and store in the fridge. Once opened, it will last about 3-4 weeks.
Nutrition
Cindy Santa Ana is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, speaker and author of Unprocessed Living: 3 Easy Steps to Transition Into Healthy Eating.
Having lost 50 pounds herself by cutting out processed foods, Cindy now helps her clients maintain their happy weight and get back their energy by creating a personalized “roadmap to health” that suits their unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals.
Learn more about Cindy at Unlock Better Health, and of course you can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Great and Easy.