Whole30 BBQ Sauce
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Homemade Whole30 BBQ Sauce is quick and easy to make! It’s lightly sweetened with dates and perfectly tangy + paleo, keto, and gluten free.
If you’re looking for more Whole30 recipes, make sure you try this Weeknight Skillet Chicken, Sweet Potato Toast, and Jalapeño Lime Pan Seared Chicken.
Whole30 BBQ Sauce Recipe
Did you know making your own BBQ sauce is easy?
I know what you’re thinking and I promise, it’s quick…I’m talking 10 minutes…and delicious!
As many know, store bought sauce and condiments in general are filled with ketchup, sugar, preservatives, and a bunch of ingredients we can barely spell let alone pronounce!
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe calls for tomatoes, dates, and coconut aminos!
Now that I have perfected this at home, I don’t think I am ever spending the money on specialty sauces or store bought sauce ever again.
It’s sweet, thick, tangy, AND healthy…how can you go wrong?!
Whole30 BBQ Sauce Ingredients
Tomato paste: This is the base of your sauce!
Balsamic vinegar: This is essential for bringing out that delicious tangy flavor and making your meat tender!
Coconut aminos: The coconut aminos are responsible for that savory flavor in your sauce.
Orange juice: I used freshly squeezed orange juice to focus on natural sugars and cutting out preservatives. If you don’t have an orange handy, you can use the orange juice in your fridge.
Pitted dates: Dates may be hard to find depending on the time of year or grocery store you are at; I recommend checking your local ethic grocery store if you big box grocery store does not have any in stock!
Spices: You won’t need anything too fancy from your spice cabinet for this recipe, just some paprika, pepper, all spice, and an optional pinch of cayenne pepper if you are looking for that added kick.
How to Make BBQ Sauce
1. Heat the ingredients. Add all ingredients to a medium sized sauce pan and heat over medium heat, whisking to combine. Heat just until dates are softened, approximately 10 minutes.
2. Blend the sauce. Transfer sauce to a blender, or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
3. Cool the sauce. Transfer sauce to an airtight container, like a mason jar and allow to cool. Refrigerate for up to two weeks.
The skinny on sugar-free BBQ sauce
This DOES NOT taste SUGAR-FREE! But if you need more convincing on why you should make your own BBQ sauce at least once…
- The flavor is truly amazing; it tastes just like “regular” BBQ sauce, but better, healthier, and natural.
- The sauce is naturally sweetened by the dates.
- You can make it in just a few minutes…a commercial break worth of time…with a blender or immersion blender.
Storing Homemade BBQ Sauce
For best results, I recommend storing your BBQ sauce in an airtight sealed container or glass mason jar!
Don’t forget, you must keep it chilled. The sauce will go bad if you leave it out.
Kept in the fridge, your Homemade Whole30 BBQ sauce will be good for about 2-weeks.
Questions you may have
Is BBQ Sauce unhealthy?
It can be. You will find high amounts of sugars in store bought BBQ sauce, but that doesn’t mean all sauces are unhealthy for you.
Watch the sugars in your condiments so your healthy grilled chicken or steak does not turn into a calorie bomb due to the sauce you add on top!
What are the different BBQ sauces?
Did you know depending on where you live, the base of your BBQ sauce may differ?!
There are 12 different types of BBQ sauce, here are a few different ones I thought were interesting and different from the “norm”.
Alabama: Mayo based sauce
North East Carolina: Vinegar based thin sauce
West North Carolina: Very similar to North East Carolina, however they add ketchup and brown sugar to it
South Carolina: Mustard based
Florida: Vinegar based with heavy Caribbean/tropical notes
Oklahoma: Ketchup base with Worcestershire
How do you make BBQ sauce from scratch easy?
The easiest quickest way to whip up BBQ sauce is with these 3 ingredients: Vinegar, Ketchup, and Tomato Paste.
How do you make BBQ sauce from scratch without ketchup?
If you don’t like ketchup, but aren’t following Whole30 you only need 3 key ingredients for a quick sauce: vinegar, maple syrup, and tomato paste.
The best tasting, quick BBQ sauce is the one in this recipe!
Can you have BBQ sauce on Whole30?
Yes, as long as the one you are using is sugar free or Whole30 compliant.
What BBQ sauce is Whole30 compliant?
If you don’t want to make your own BBQ sauce I do recommend the following brands:
More Whole30 Recipes To Try
- Blackened Shrimp Tacos
- Whole30 Egg Roll In A Bowl
- Green Goddess Salmon Bowls
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Avocado Mango Salsa
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Whole30 BBQ Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup pitted dates, approximately 6 small
- 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon all spice
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium sized sauce pan and heat over medium heat, whisking to combine. Heat just until dates are softened, approximately 10 minutes.
- Transfer sauce to a blender, or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
- Transfer sauce to an airtight container like a mason jar and allow to cool. Refrigerate for up to two weeks.
Notes
- For a thinner sauce, add 1 -2 tbsp of water after blending.
