No Sugar Added Homemade BBQ Sauce
On September 24, 2015 (Updated April 17, 2022)
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The main taste tester in my house (aka The Todd) is participating in a wellness challenge this month. One of the challenge guidelines is to avoid all refined sugar, which rules out pretty much anything pre-made in a bottle. Having toyed with my fair share of BBQ sauce recipes I knew I could make him something super tasty and still stay within his dietary needs.
I know the hubs isn’t the only person in the world trying to watch his figure, so I thought I’d pass the recipe along to anybody who might just be craving something saucy for their grilled chicken breast without the consuming guilt and subsequent comfort food binge eating that always comes after falling off the health food wagon. No? Just me?
Whether you are eating the sweet stuff or not, this BBQ sauce is freaking good. I think we both agreed it was actually the best of all of my previous sauce attempts (notice how there isn’t another BBQ sauce recipe on my site yet… it’s been a struggle.) The sweetness in this no sugar added homemade BBQ sauce comes from local honey and the richness from caramelized onions and unsulphured blackstrap molasses. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Now pat yourself on the back for staying on track and feeling healthy and stuff. And maybe don’t do too much searching on my site if you’re really trying to watch calories. There’s always a balance, but I gotta tell ya, bacon weighs as heavily on my mind as it does on my hips. Happy grilling!
No Sugar Added Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 29-ounce can tomato sauce unsweetened
- 1/4 cup unsulphured blackstrap molasses
- 1/8 cup honey
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard (check label for no sugar)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 medium red onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch optional
- 1/4 cup cold water optional
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Stir in the diced red onions and cook until they are lightly browned and completely tender. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, making sure to thoroughly scrape the bottom of the pan, then add in the remaining ingredients, except for the cornstarch and water. If you want a slightly thinner sauce, you can skip the cornstarch. If you want your sauce to be thick, then combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and add it to the pan.
- Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pan. Simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 more minutes. Allow to cool before transferring to a storage container. Sauce will last 1 week in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Been doing the low-carb thang for a few months now and have come to the conclusion that I’m pretty much relegated to using North-Carolina-style vinegar & red pepper flake sauce. Absolutely no regrets as I think it’s actually better than typical sweet sauces. Give it a try!
Made this to put on smoked chiken thighs and the wife and I loved it. Thank you
It says no sugar added, didnt say it had sweetness
You had me a no sugar; however, the addition of molasses and honey is a LOT of sugar (ie carbs). Won’t even try to substitute for these 2 items, as the molasses is the same thing as brown sugar. Try again….?
I share your frustration. There are sugar free bbq sauces available such as G Hughes sugar free bbq sauce (sweet and spicy is best) and you can substitute serve brown sugar replacement for any brown sugar such as in the sweet rub recipe. I’ve used these in ribs and many other recipes and gotten compliments and empty plates. But I am missing making my own bbq sauce like I used to.