Homemade BBQ Sauce {Low Sugar}

Homemade bbq sauce is not only versatile and flavorful, but can be thrown together in less than 15 minutes! Make a batch of this low sugar bbq sauce to have on hand for quick meals. 30 calories and 1 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP

Homemade BBQ sauce is key when we’re throwing together weeknight dinner recipes during the year. When it’s warm enough to grill, we use it to baste chicken thighs almost once a week during the summer. During the winter, we use it on baked chicken legs, brush it on muffin tin meatloaves and use it to flavor healthy Sloppy Joes. Since we use it so much, it’s important to me that we have a healthy bbq sauce on hand. This recipe always does the trick!

The beauty of homemade bbq sauce is that you can adjust the spices to your liking. Want a little more spice? Sprinkle in extra cayenne pepper. Want a boozy Kentucky barbecue flavor? Add a few splashes of bourbon. Want it a little sweeter? Go ahead and add an extra tablespoon or two of maple syrup.

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What is barbecue sauce made with?

• There is a short and a long answer to this question. Many countries have some variation of a barbecue sauce recipe, ranging from soy sauce and rice vinegar-based sauces in Korea to the herb and vinegar-based sauce of Argentina (chimichurri).
• Even within the United States, there is a huge variety of bbq sauces, depending on whether you’re in Kansas City, Texas, Memphis or Alabama (mayo-based!).
• If we narrow it down to tomato-based barbecue sauces, you’ll find that most sauces include some variation of tomato sauce, ketchup or tomato paste; vinegar; seasonings; some sort of sweetener; and an ingredient to add a layer of smokiness, such as liquid smoke.

How to make bbq sauce from scratch:

• Some form of tomatoes (preferably not high-sugar ketchup), vinegar, sweetener and spices will do the trick.
• This homemade bbq sauce recipe uses canned tomato sauce, tomato paste, apple cider for a bit of tang (plus as a natural preservative), molasses and pure maple syrup (not the high fructose corn syrup stuff!) for sweeteners, plus plenty of spices and flavorings in the form of onion and garlic powders, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika (natural smokiness!), Worcestershire sauce and regular mustard.
• If following a vegetarian or vegan diet, be sure to seek out a vegan Worcestershire sauce.

Is barbecue sauce healthy for you?

• It’s getting easier to find healthy store-bought bbq sauces, but it requires some label reading. Check out the sugar content and the ingredients list, as many commercial barbecue sauces are chockfull of sugar and high on the sodium scale. If the first ingredient is high fructose corn syrup, steer clear!
• One of the easiest ways to ensure that you’re cooking with a healthy bbq sauce is to make it yourself. It takes mere minutes to make and, depending what ingredients you use, can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. It can even be frozen in smaller amounts and defrosted as needed!
• This low sugar barbecue sauce uses pure maple syrup and molasses as sweeteners and foregoes ketchup, brown sugar and white sugar.

Dinner recipes with bbq sauce:

Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joes {Cookin’ Canuck}
Slow Cooker Shredded Barbecue Chicken {Cookin’ Canuck}
Mini Muffin Tin Meatloaf Recipe with Barbecue Sauce {Cookin’ Canuck}
Crunchy BBQ Ranch Grilled Chicken Wraps {Recipe Girl}
BBQ Chicken, Kale & Quinoa Bowl {Aggie’s Kitchen}

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I’ll be sure to find it.

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Homemade BBQ Sauce {Low Sugar}

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 6 mins

Total Time 11 mins

Homemade bbq sauce is not only versatile and flavorful, but can be thrown together in less than 15 minutes! Make a batch of this low sugar bbq sauce to have on hand for quick meals. 30 calories and 1 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP

Yields 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp unsulfured molasses
• 4 tsp onion powder
• 3 tsp garlic powder
• 3 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (vegan version, if desired)
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1/8 – ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Whisk together all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer, partially covered, for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. Use as desired.

by From the kitchen of cookincanuck.com

Recipe Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 1 (Freestyle SmartPoints), 1 (Points+)