Since it contains no sugar, this easy BBQ sauce is good for those watching their sugar intake and works for the Whole 30 diet. It’s great on burgers, pulled pork, pork chops, chicken or anywhere you want a little sweet and smoky.
While I confess that I love sugary things just as much as the next person, I’ve discovered the pleasant surprise that I can enjoy my favorite foods without the added sugar, which I know isn’t good for my health, if I’m honest with myself.
Over the last few years, I’ve figured how to sweeten family favorite recipes with fruit, honey, or maple syrup. Milk and Honey Cornbread, Mamabars, and Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes are all big hits at our house. And now, so is this BBQ sauce.
Yes, you can make delicious BBQ sauce that’s not loaded with sugar!
If you’ve ever read the ingredients on a bottle of BBQ sauce, you know that it can be pretty scary. That stuff, though often super cheap with a coupon, is rife with preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, and a lot of non-food items.
I’ve got several yummy barbecue sauce recipes in my cookbooks; they each have a minimum amount of brown sugar. However, I wanted to make sure I made one that my mom and dad could eat. They’re still holding strong on the Whole 30, over 3 months after they started. They’ve both lost 20 pounds or more!
I tested this recipe first with pineapple juice, but that didn’t give it enough sweetness. I was running errands when the idea came to me: sweeten it with fruit-only jam! Yay!
As luck would have it, there was a fruit-sweetened Apricot jam at the store. Yum! If you don’t care about the sugar issue, feel free to use regular jam.
This sauce is delicious on burgers, pulled pork, pork chops, grilled chicken, anywhere you like to have a little sweet and smoky tomato sauce. The sauce is good in the fridge for about a week, so freeze it if the batch is too big for you to use it in that amount of time.
Naturally Sweetened Apricot BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion (about 1 cup chopped)
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves preferably naturally sweetened
- 2 tsp chipotle chile powder or more to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion, and cook, stirring until tender, about five minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, jam, chile powder, ginger, mustard, and cinnamon. Stir well and simmer for 25 minutes.
- For a smoother sauce, blend with an immersion blender until you have the texture you prefer.
- Serve as a condiment or brushing sauce for your favorite meats.
- To freeze, cool the sauce and pour it into small containers with lids. Chill completely and store in the freezer.
Notes
Nutrition
Dave
Thanks. I made a double batch for a memorial day BBQ yesterday and everyone loved it with ribs.
Jessica Fisher
So glad you enjoyed it!
Dave
I made this once before and the whole family loved it, but for some reason now I’m not reading the recipe right. Does the recipe call for a 15 ounce can of tomato sauce, or one 5 ounce can of tomato sauce? I can’t really tell from the formatting. Thanks.
Jessica Fisher
It’s a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce.
Megan
Just made this for a BBQ chicken pizza. It is gooood! Nice kick from the chili powder, but not too much. Also like the smokiness that comes from the chipotle.
Megan
I ended up with 1 2/3 cups sauce rather than 3.
Jessica Fisher
Good to know. That may be the result of differing stove performance. If you prefer you could cook it for a shorter time next time.
Jessica Fisher
Glad you liked it!
Charyse
What type of onion would you recommend?
Jessica Fisher
white or yellow/brown work best.
MH in OH
On the topic of sugar reduction – didn’t you post a chocolate cupcake sweetened with maple syrup a while back? You were trying to make brownies but it turned out more like a cupcake or vice versa? I’m not sure if it was on this blog or Life as Mom – and I wasn’t able to find it with a quick search. Please point me in the direction of that. Thank you!
Cole
I was so intrigued by your comment, I had to find the recipe. Here is the link:
https://goodcheapeats.com/2014/04/maple-sweetened-chocolate-cupcakes-with-honey-cream-cheese-frosting/
Jessica Fisher
Thanks. I’m behind on comments, obviously.
Cherie
LOVE IT
Very timely and while fits in my new low carb menu list when used with reason – thanks!
Jenni
I don’t often (or ever) have chipotle chili powder on hand. Would regular chili powder work? Or I have chipotle in adobo sauce sometimes. Would that work?
Sounds yummy and perfect for summer as we are aiming for sugar free
Jessica Fisher
Yes, either of those adaptations would be fine.