How many times have you reached for the BBQ sauce only to catch a glimpse of the nutrition facts, gasp, and set the bottle back down in shock?

Most people on the keto diet know how difficult it is to find low carb or keto-friendly condiments to smother over your favorite dish. After all, with the majority of ketoers averaging 30 grams of net carbs per day (or less), who wants to waste those carbs on sauce?

Sit tight, because your prayers about about to be answered. The keto barbecue sauce recipe below takes just 5 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cook time, plus it contains just 2.2 grams of net carbs per serving.

How Do You Make Low Carb, Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce?

A leading brand of BBQ sauce bought from the store can weigh you down with 18 grams of total carbohydrates per serving — and a serving size is just 2 tablespoons. Even worse, it contains 16 grams of added sugar, zero fat, and zero protein[*]. Even most BBQ sauce recipes you find online are packed with sugar, adding molasses or honey in the recipes.

Gulp.

Store-bought BBQ sauce is commonly made from a combination of corn syrup, corn starch, molasses, and fruit juice — none of which are doing your waistline, or your attempt to enter ketosis, any favors.

INGREDIENTS USED

By making homemade, keto BBQ sauce, you can avoid any unwanted, artificial ingredients. Plus, you can tweak the ingredients to make your concoction as spicy or tangy as you like. Some of the main ingredients in this sauce include:

• Tomato sauce (not tomato paste)
• Apple cider vinegar
• Hot sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Brown mustard
• Spices, including onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and cayenne powder
• Liquid smoke

WHERE’S THE SUGAR?

You probably noticed there is no sugar in this recipe. That’s because sugar — even natural sugar like molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey — raises the carb count considerably. While keto-friendly sweeteners such as stevia, swerve, erythritol, and monk fruit work well for baking, some people complain of a distinct aftertaste, which wouldn’t quite work in a BBQ sauce.

Therefore, you’ll find this particular recipe has a distinct smoky flavor, rather than a sweet dipping sauce you may be accustomed to.

This sauce is easily customizable to your preferences without increasing the carb content. Looking for heat? Add a touch more hot sauce and cayenne pepper. Want your BBQ sauce a little more tangy? Add an extra dash of apple cider vinegar.

The Secret, Healthy Ingredient to Low Carb Barbecue Sauce: Apple Cider Vinegar

One ingredient you don’t see too often is apple cider vinegar. While it’s not commonly used, it should be — it’s a nutritional powerhouse. Apple cider vinegar has been shown to:

1. Increase healthy weight loss
2. Improve heart health
3. Improve skin health

#1: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR CAN HELP AID WEIGHT LOSS

A study published by “Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry” showed just how effective consuming apple cider vinegar (ACV) is for weight loss. They took subjects that consumed two tablespoons of ACV a day over a 12-week period and saw that the individuals lost almost four pounds without any other lifestyle modifications.

#2: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR HELPS KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY

ACV has been shown to reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) while also increasing “good” HDL cholesterol. This helps the heart function properly since cholesterol can build up in the arteries and harden, making the heart work harder than it has to.

#3: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR SKIN HEALTH

Did you know that ACV contains important elements such as acetic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid? These different acids have all been shown to prevent the growth of certain bacterias known to cause acne[*]. Apple cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy for many skin ailments, helping to remove warts and skin tags, and reduce acne scars, wrinkles, and age spots.