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Everybody should have an easy BBQ sauce recipe that they can use whenever the mood strikes! This super simple Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce contains no refined sugars, is paleo friendly and takes under 20 minutes to put together!

Paleo BBQ sauce in a jarBBQ Sauce Recipe

Homemade BBQ Sauce is surprisingly easy to make once you have the right formula! We love our Sweet & Smoky BBQ sauce because it’s so simple to make and is a great sauce for so many dishes! For this recipe all you need to do is add all of your ingredients to a pot and simmer away!

Usually barbecue sauces you buy at the store are laden with hard-to-pronounce ingredients and so much sugar. While our recipe has sugar because we like it sweet, we opt for a cleaner alternative and use refined-sugar-free coconut sugar. We also skip the addition of ketchup and use a mix of tomato paste and tomato sauce to get the Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce just right.

barbecue baked chicken

Paleo Barbecue Sauce Ingredients

What I love most about this recipe is how much control you have over the ingredients for this homemade BBQ sauce. While I’ve got nothing against ketchup, unless you are buying a really high-quality brand there can be some suspect ingredients in it. So we ditched the traditional ketchup and instead use tomato sauce and tomato paste! We’re using coconut sugar here as well, to keep this refined-sugar-free, but if you didn’t have that on hand you could swap it with maple syrup or even organic brown sugar.

  • Tomato Sauce (buy organic, if you can!)
  • Tomato Paste
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Coconut Sugar
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Molasses
  • Garlic Powder
  • Ground Mustard
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Paprika
  • Cayenne (optional)
  • Onion powder
  • Salt and Pepper

Homemade barbecue Sauce being brushed on ribs

This Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce would be perfect on:

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BBQ Sauce

Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce

Everybody should have an easy BBQ sauce recipe that they can use whenever the mood strikes! This super simple Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce contains no refined sugars, is paleo friendly and takes under 20 minutes to put together!
Servings 2 cups
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
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Ingredients
  

  • 15 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne optional
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a large pot and mix together until combined.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes or until the bbq sauce has thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 6 months.

Notes

Worcestershire sauce often contains soy, wheat, and sugar, if you can't find a clean brand in your store, omit and add an additional 1/2 tbsp of molasses
Smoked paprika gives this BBQ sauce it's nice smoky flavor!
Yields roughly two cups!
Course: Gluten-free, Paleo
Cuisine: Sauce
Author: Lexi's Clean Kitchen
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Comments

  3. Do you think this would work with white distilled vinegar? I am on a food sensitivity diet plan and this is the first barbecue sauce I’ve come across that I could actually potentially make! Unfortunately that is the only kind of vinegar I can use right now, though.

    Reply

  4. This BBQ sauce is UH-Mazing. You did a fantastic job. I’ve tried a handful of paleo BBQ sauces and none of them come close to being the right taste. This stuff on the other hand is addictive. Made with BBQ chicken and my husband devoured it (he hates chicken). Thanks for this great recipe!

    Reply

  5. Made this sauce to make BBQ chicken and it was absolutely delicious!!!! Perfect amount of sweetness and smokiness – highly recommend!! xoxo

    Reply

  7. Wonderful web site. Lots of useful information here.
    I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious.

    And obviously, thanks on your effort!

    Reply

  8. How long would it be good for in the fridge?? I was going to make it for pulled pork sandwiches, but was wanting to make a little extra to keep on hand!

    Reply

  9. Now that is one superb BBQ sauce! Looks thick and wonderful, so much more superior.than the usual store bought BBQ sauce.

    Reply

  10. My family loves BBQ sauce, but I hate all the sugar that is added.
    I’m in Australia and can’t get the tomato sauce and paste you used. Is the tomato sauce like passata? Or can I use tinned tomatoes blended smooth?

    Reply

    1. Wendy, tinned tomatoes should work, do they make tomato sauce in tins or just whole tomatoes? I just did a google search for Passata and assume it would be the same!

      Reply