Here’s a quick and easy recipe that you can mix up in a few minutes to make some extremely tasty, spicy, and tangy keto BBQ sauce.
I really like the tang you get from BBQ sauce, but this might be a bit much for people! Go easy with the mustard when you’re adding it, and gauge how much you should add by your own taste preferences.
This is one of my all-time favorite keto condiments and low carb BBQ sauces because I can whip it up in an instant and it’s no-hassle. Non-keto people enjoy it just as much as I do, and I highly suggest you try it too!
Yields 10 tablespoons of Spicy and Tangy BBQ Sauce
The Preparation
- 1/2 cup low-carb ketchup
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
The Execution
1. Find a small mixing bowl and add your ½ Cup of Reduced Sugar Ketchup.
2. Add your Louisiana Hot Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, liquid smoke, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Mix well.
3. Add some extra cayenne pepper if it isn’t hot enough. I like my BBQ sauce tangy and full of heat.
4. Add a little bit of mustard. I usually go with 2 tsp., but test it before you add too much.
5. Add your cumin and mix well.
6. Keep mixing it until all lumps are out and it is up to your taste.
This makes a total of 10 servings of Spicy & Tangy BBQ Sauce. Each serving comes out to be 10 calories, 0.1g fats, 1.2g net carbs, and 0.1g protein.
| NUTRITION | CALORIES | FAT | CARBS | FIBER | NET CARBS | PROTEIN |
| 1/2 cup low-carb ketchup | 72 | 0.1 | 7.5 | 0 | 7.5 | 0 |
| 1 tablespoon hot sauce | 2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce | 4 | 0 | 1.1 | 0 | 1.1 | 0 |
| 1 teaspoon liquid smoke | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 |
| 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder | 5 | 0 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.3 |
| 1/2 teaspoon onion powder | 4 | 0 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| 1/2 teaspoon chili powder | 4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper | 3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 2 teaspoon yellow mustard | 6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| 1/2 teaspoon cumin | 4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Totals | 104 | 1.1 | 13.2 | 1.6 | 11.6 | 1.3 |
| Per Serving (/10) | 10 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 |
Spicy & Tangy BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup low-carb ketchup
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Add the reduced-sugar ketchup to a small mixing bowl.
- Add in the Hot Sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
- Add a little bit of the mustard at a time, adjusting to taste.
- Add the cumin and mix until completely smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!
Craig,
Tastes just like “real” bbg sauce! I substituted an extra tsp of worcestershire sauce in lieu of the liquid smoke as i didn’t have any on hand. I also used a chile habanero hot sauce for the Louisiana Hot sauce and WOW! I hope my son likes it as much as I do. Based on my ingredients the total net carb count per tablespoon was 1.2, very close to yours.. I wondering how the taste will enhance afer stting for a while??? Anyway, thanks again for your awesome recipes! I’m pairing this with your meatballs. I’ll let you know how those turn out next. Its whats for dinner tonight…lol
Marsha,
I made the sauce specifically with the meatballs in mind so I think you guys will love it 🙂 The liquid smoke adds a depth of flavor that I couldn’t get otherwise, so when you get the chance – try to buy some, you won’t be disappointed. Glad you like it though, let me know your thoughts on the meatballs – love hearing your feedback!
Craig,
liquid smoke will be on the next grocery list.. so far I’ve made 30 meatballs at 1 tablespoon each and i’m still not done making balls. lol. This works out fantastic as I have lots of mouths to feed. 😉 I’ll keep you posted.
Marsha,
Sounds awesome! 🙂 I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you think.
This sauce is the best. I’m about to make some for a Christmas party I’m hosting tonight.
Don’t worry. I’m going to have plenty of your bbq meatballs to go along with it. I love your site by the way. I’ve used many of your recipes.
Merry Christmas!
Michael,
Awesome! I’m glad you like it, and I’m really happy to hear that you’ve tried other recipes too 🙂 It’s a great feeling when people actually try and enjoy what I’m writing up here!
Happy holidays and hope you have a fun party!
ERMAHGERD
First things first, since starting keto we have been stuck in a loop. Imagine my surprise when I say you did a guest spot on a blog that I saved just for the cream cheese pancakes! So I want to say thank you for the wonderful work you are doing and helping me try new recipes mainly cause I enjoy to cook and now being off work for medical reason I have more time to and I’m getting sick of the same things all the time 🙂
Second thing brings me to the ERMAHGERD! BBQ sauce used to be a staple in my diet before keto and for some reason once making the life change I just gave up on ever having it again. But you sir have blown my mind (mainly cause I would have never bothered to try and make it keto friendly due to lack of time) so I want to say thank you for that! I am so excited and cant wait to make some. But I cook for 4 people plus I’m having family stay with me soon and told them they have to eat what I cook due to members in our home having a gluten allergy which we thought was a lactose allergy for many years MEANING I am going to have to make this by the gallons lol (I know they will want to take some home)
So moral of my story? You are an amazing person with a wonderful mind and I am very grateful to have found your site in my hunt for pancakes which led me to the joy of making easy chocolate and now BBQ sauce!!!! Keep up the wonderful work Craig. It’s much appreciated!
Wow Shauna! Thanks so much for the positive feedback 🙂 Super happy to hear you’ve enjoyed some things already, and even more happy to hear you have the time to put into cooking right now. I think it’s important to change up our diets every now and again (though I do it daily). It’s nice to have something new, a change from the old meat and cheese every once in a while.
Let me know what you guys think of the sauce! They shouldn’t have a problem with it with their gluten allergies, and you could even go further and make all the ketchup from scratch too – though you don’t have to. I’m really grateful that YOU took the time to write an awesome comment up and post it, and that it’s so positive – seriously thank you so much!
I have loved your site and your recipes and your latest cookbook! 😉 I’ve only been eating “keto” for 2 1/2 months or so, but following you and also Maria Emmerich for awhile! I think I am still getting to keto, sigh…I feel like I’ve had that carb flu for awhile, low energy, nausea, headaches, etc. Anyhow…had your crispy curry rubbed chicken thighs for the second time last night! I’m in love! Those are THE BEST EVER! My whole family loves them, even my picky 12 year old! Yahoo!
Quick question…where do you find reduced sugar ketchup? I haven’t seen it in my local grocery stores. Just wondering! Thanks!
Thanks so much Lisa! Glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
The reduced sugar ketchup I find in my local grocery store. It seems like it’s been getting more and more popular as of late so you may be able to find it too (it’s got a blue ribbon on it). If not, you may be able to talk to the grocery store shipment manager and have them order some. I’ve also found this in Walmart and Target in my area, so if you want to try searching there, you could 🙂
Thanks. I’ll check them all out.
Sure thing – worst case you can order online, but I think you’ll be able to find it in the store.
This BBQ sauce is AH-mazing! I cannot even begin to explain how sad I was about giving up BBQ sauce because every low carb sauce I had tasted I deemed unworthy of my ribs.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Do you happen to know how long it will stay fresh in the fridge in a mason jar? Im thinking about making a bigger batch.
Thanks Maxine, glad to hear you liked it! I’m not too sure how fresh a big batch would stay, but I would think it’d last quite a while if it was air-tight in a mason jar.
I made pulled pork last & was looking for a low carb BBQ sauce to put on it. I just finished making your sauce and it us delicious. Can’t wait for dinner tonight! Thanks for the recipe.
No problem Pam – glad to hear you liked it!
Can you use your LC Ketchup in this recipe, or is it better to use the pre-made reduced sugar ketchup?
Of course you could, Dena 🙂
This was amazing!!!! The waffles turned out perfect and didn’t “deflate” like other recipes! Quick question – how do you feel about Waldrens brand syrups, ketch ups etc? It was the only low sugar (In fact no sugar) ketchup our little store carried. I looked at the ingredients and nothing too concerning stood out to me. Anyways thanks again for all you do. I’ve been following a keto diet for a year now and lost 36 pounds in the first 4 months and have managed to maintain and still enjoy every meal by following creative informative cooks like yourself! keep it up!
Walden Farm is alright, but I tend to find their stuff:
1. Really freaking expensive for what it is.
2. Really watery – especially their syrups and dressings.
3. Very hit and miss. Some sauces taste amazing, some taste absolutely gross and chemically.
Really glad you’re having a good time on keto – keep at it 🙂 Thanks for leaving such awesome feedback!
Haven’t tried this yet, but I plan on it … can you tell me how the taste compares to other BBQ sauces? I’m imagining it’s similar to Open Pit? Love the site, by the way!!
How hot can I make this? Can I use ghost peppers or other hot sauces?
Definitely you can. If you want to use any hot sauce (as long as it’s not chocked full of carbs/sugar), feel free!
Thanks. Keto is working great for me.
WOW! I just made this it’s amazing! I didn’t have any liquid smoke but it still taste amazing! I am sure it taste even better with it!
Thank you so much Maria – it’s a favorite in our house. The liquid smoke adds a nice smokey profile; definitely give it a try when you pick some up!
Craig – I know I’m a little late to the party here (2 year old recipe and all) but my wife and I just converted to a modified Keto diet. I am so very glad I found your site. Your recipes have been HUGE hits with the two of us to this point and this BBQ sauce recipe is out of this world.
Since we started this transition April 1 (no kidding), I’m down 14 lbs and my wife is down almost 25. Being able to eat real food has been a huge benefit for us and having the bevvy of recipes that you’ve put up available to us has been an absolute Godsend.
Thank you very much for your work on these recipes. We’ve tried several and they’ve all been great. Can’t wait until tomorrow night! 🙂
My family doesn’t care too much for “spicy” or “hot” flavors, especially my 4 year old. Could I leave out the hot sauce? How would that affect the recipe?
Hi Heather! You can leave it out but you may need to add a little more acid, something like ACV or white vinegar. You could also try “Notso Hot Sauce.” It has the flavor, but not the spice.
Hi, I’m looking forward to trying this, but was wondering if there is a sweet BBQ sauce recipe?
Hi Syrsei, can I suggest the sauce from the Korean BBQ Beef Stuffed Peppers? If you don’t like spice you could omit the chili. Alternatively you could just make this sauce and add the sugar free preserves.
I really dont like ketchup, do you think Tomato Paste would work? Or any other thoughts?
I just made it and it tastes delicious! I didn’t have liquid smoke but it still tastes great. I also added a little curry powder. 😋
I just made this and it was soooooo good! I thought I had to give up BBQ sauce when I started the keto diet a few months ago, but now that I have this recipe I’m never giving it up again! And the good thing is that I only need a tablespoon of it in my dishes, which keeps the carbs down to 1 gram!
Is there a suggested replacement for the mustard?
I think you could just leave it out, but maybe add a dash of vinegar if you think it needs it.
Nice flavor with some nice tang. Easy prep with small bowl so you can save it up for a few more uses in the near future. I’ll try painting on some chicken on the grill next time. I used it as dipping sauce today with some baked keto garlic chicken and it was GREAT. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I’m so glad you like it!
This was really good. I skipped they cayenne because it was already spicy to me. Thanks for the recipe.
Glad you liked it!