A deliciously sweet, tart and tangy Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe can make clean eating a breeze. Because really, so often the difference between a dish that’s blah and boring and one that’s bold and memorable is the sauce. A sauce can definitely make the meal!
But isn’t BBQ sauce loaded with sugar, you ask?
Not this one….
It is absolutely true that the typical BBQ sauce, whether homemade or not, is swimming in refined sugar. Although some BBQ sauces are naturally more tart and vinegary and less sugary, I of course like mine sweet. To me, if a BBQ sauce is not sweet, then it’s not really BBQ sauce.
My Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe below is plenty sweet, but it is sweetened primarily with “whole food” pureed dates and just a touch of raw honey. In addition to being sweet, it’s also a smidgen vinegary, a smidgen savory, a smidgen tangy and a smidgen tart. In other words, it is complex enough to be interesting.
Once you’ve made your sauce, you can of course head to the grill. But if you want to cook indoors, there are umpteen other imaginative ways to use Homemade BBQ Sauce. Here are just a few suggestions:
- BBQ Pizza
- BBQ Chicken
- BBQ Tofu Sandwich
- Baked BBQ Tofu
- Roasted Vegetable Wrap with BBQ Sauce & Avocado
- Baked Beans
- BBQ Portobello Mushrooms
Check out TheKitchn for more inspiring ways to use leftover BBQ Sauce.
Pin this graphic for later!
Note: The Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe will keep for up to a week if stored in a mason jar and refrigerated.
PrintClean Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe with No Refined Sugar
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 onion (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
- Dash of Pink Himalayan Salt
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- Organic Worcestershire sauce (here’s a good gluten free option)
- 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons raw honey
- 5 medjool dates (if not pitted, pit before adding)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; add the onions and garlic. Saute for 6 to 7 minutes, or until onions soften. Season with salt to taste. Add the tomato sauce and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. Set sauce aside to cool.
- Transfer cooled sauce to a high-speed blender (such as a Vitamix); add the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, honey, dates, chili powder and paprika. Process on high speed for about a minute, or until all ingredients are well-blended. Season with salt to taste.
- Transfer to a mason jar and refrigerate for up to a week.
P.S. Looking for More Clean Sauce Recipes?
A great sauce really can make the meal! But so many delicious sauces are made with sugar, refined oil, heavy cream, butter and other not-so clean ingredients. Check out our Clean Cuisine Superfood Cookbook (only $2.99 as a digital download) for mouthwatering sauces that are both healthy and delicious!
Kaneez says
Hi Ivy,
Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I’m just a bit confused and would like some clarification. When you say tomato sauce, do you just mean crushed tomatoes because the ingredients in basic tomato sauce usually include EVOO, onions, spices etc. However, these other ingredients are already included in your recipe. Can I just blend a can of whole tomatoes in my Vitamix and use 1cup of this for the “tomato sauce” portion mentioned above ?
Thanks,
Kaneez
Tory says
Also wondering this! I usually buy whole or diced tomatoes!