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Store-bought BBQ sauces are usually loaded with sugar, honey, or molasses and might contain a high sugar content. However, cutting down on sugar intake doesn't mean you have to skip delicious BBQ dishes since there are many sugar-free BBQ sauces available online that are still sweet and spicy! Instead of sugar, they are sweetened with artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. There are also sauces that are completely free from all of them.
If you are struggling to find a sugar-free BBQ sauce, take a look at our list of favorites! G Hughes' Smokehouse BBQ Sauce ranked first on our list. It has a rich, smoky, and oaky flavor that goes perfectly with all kinds of meat and veggies. Importantly, sucralose is the only sweetener in this BBQ sauce. In addition to our 9 best list, we also created a buying guide, reviewed by a registered dietician, with many tips to help you choose the best sugar-free BBQ sauce for yourself and a recipe if you want to go the homemade route!
Andrea Marincovich (aka The Realistic Dietitian), is a registered dietitian and macros nutrition expert. She helps individuals reach their weight, body composition, and specific health goals through nutrition. Andrea specializes in altering diets in order to meet the needs of each client, such as: macro-centered, keto, paleo, Mediterranean, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, diabetic, renal, cardiovascular, IBS/IBD, and GERD diets.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
In this buying guide, we will discuss all the factors you should take into consideration when choosing a BBQ sauce, including flavors and some common sugar substitutes.
Sugar-free BBQ sauces are usually made with artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. Read on to learn more about these sugar substitutes.
Artificial sweeteners are synthetically made and are many times sweeter than sugar. Since they aren't found in nature, they can impact your gut health. But there's yet to be any conclusive evidence showing that artificial sweeteners lead to any digestive problems.
Another concern about artificial sweeteners is that they might cause cancer. However, the National Cancer Institute says that there's no sound proof that artificial sweeteners approved by the Food and Drug Administration lead to cancer.
On another note, artificial sweeteners have no glycemic impact and are generally safe for those who have diabetes. They also have zero to a few calories and are a great option if you're trying to manage your weight.
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener used frequently in many sugar-free BBQ sauces. It's recognized as generally safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Plus, it doesn't have a bitter aftertaste like many other artificial sweeteners.
Some BBQ sauces might contain stevia or monk fruit extract. While stevia is made from the leaves of the stevia plant, monk fruit extract is derived from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii, a subtropical melon in Asia. Both of them contain virtually no calories and are much sweeter than sugar.
These sweeteners don't affect your blood glucose and are suitable for those with diabetes. They can also be metabolized by the body more easily than artificial sweeteners too.
Sugar alcohols are not alcohol but a kind of carbohydrate. In comparison to sugar, sugar alcohols are less sweet and are lower in calories.
However, sugar alcohols cannot be completely absorbed by the body and might cause digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea if consumed in a high quantity. They are not suitable for those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or FODMAP intolerance. They might raise your insulin levels, too!
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol often used in sugar-free BBQ sauces. It has about 70 percent of the relative sweetness of sugar but provides only five percent of the calories. Unlike other sugar alcohols, erythritol is less likely to irritate your digestive system as it can be absorbed in the small intestines. It also doesn't affect your insulin levels.
When searching for a sugar-free BBQ sauce, you might find claims such as "no sugar added," "unsweetened," and "sugar-free." So what are the differences between them?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, a product can only be labeled "sugar-free" if it has less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. It can include both natural and added sugar.
The "no added sugar" label means that sugar isn't added to the product during production. However, it might still contain naturally-occurring sugar, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweeteners. So, unsweetened BBQ sauces are usually free from sugars or sugar substitutes but might still contain naturally-occurring sugar.
Some BBQ sauces are made with Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and fruit juice. Worcestershire sauce includes molasses and has sugar in it. Tomato paste and fruit juice might also contain natural sugar. Although the sugar content might not be significant, avoid them if you're searching for a sauce with no sugar.
However, some products without a "sugar-free" label are actually sugar-free or low in sugar! So, if you see a BBQ sauce that seems appealing, it doesn't hurt to check the nutrition facts to see if it happens to be sugar-free.
There are four prominent BBQ styles in the United States: Carolina, Kansas, Texas, and Memphis. Each style has unique flavors that might work better for certain types of ingredients or recipes.
Carolina-style BBQ sauce is usually tangy with just a slight hint of sweetness. While North Carolina BBQ sauce is vinegar-based and has a thin consistency, South Carolina-style sauce is made with mustard and has a thicker texture.
The tanginess of both North Carolina and South Carolina sauces can cut through the rich and fatty flavors and are especially good on pulled pork. They're fantastic on grilled pork chops, grilled chicken, smoked pork ribs, and veggies as well.
Memphis-style sauce is the ultimate accompaniment for pulled pork but is also great on ribs, chicken, and veggies. It's usually made with cider vinegar, tomato sauce, and sugar and strikes a nice balance between sweet and tangy. Also, it has a nice kick of spices.
Kansas City BBQ sauce is tomato-based and quite sweet. It usually contains smoke additives that impart a smoky flavor to the sauce. Its sweet, tangy, and smoky flavor works beautifully with ribs and can compliment the richness of beef!
Texas-style BBQ sauce is thin and has many strong ingredients like garlic, chili powder, cumin, and Worcestershire sauce. It might also contain meat drippings for a hearty and rich flavor. This style of BBQ sauce is delicious slathered on beef brisket or brisket sandwiches.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | G Hughes Smokehouse Hickory Flavored Sugar Free BBQ Sauce | $3.88 Low Mid | You Won't Think This Sauce Is Sugar-Free | ||
2 | Lillie's Q Zero Sugar Carolina Barbeque Sauce | $8.09 High Mid | Great for Pork and Beef | ||
3 | Sweet Baby Ray's No Sugar Added Original Barbecue Sauce | $2.98 Low | A Well-Balanced Flavor That’s Great on Many Things | ||
4 | G Hughes Smokehouse Honey Flavored Sugar Free BBQ Sauce | $3.88 Low Mid | Give Meat or Veggies Some Sweetness | ||
5 | Stevia Sweet BBQ Barbecue Sauce | $6.99 High Mid | A Tasty No-Sugar-Added BBQ Sauce | ||
6 | Simple Girl Carolina Kick BBQ Sauce | $6.47 Mid | Tangy, Smoky, and Spicy With a Slight Hint of Sweetness | ||
7 | Scott's BBQ Sauce Red Hot Barbecue Sauce | $4.50 Mid | Vinegar-Based Sauce With a Sour and Peppery Taste | ||
8 | Walden Farms Barbecue Sauce Variety Pack, Honey, Original and Hickory Smoked | $17.47 High | Three Flavors With No Fat, Sugar, and Low in Calories | ||
9 | Primal Kitchen Classic BBQ Sauce | $4.99 Mid | Crafted With Natural Ingredients Only |
This BBQ sauce from G Hughes boasts a deep, smoky, and woody hickory flavor that's reminiscent of Texas barbecue. It's fantastic to put on ribs, burgers, chicken, or meatloaf and can also be used as a dip for pretty much anything. This sugar-free sauce is sweetened with sucralose.
A few buyers notice that there's a slight sucralose aftertaste. Still, most are impressed with how flavorful this sugar-free BBQ sauce is, saying it tastes just like the real deal! They further mention that it adds flavor to steaks, pulled pork, and chicken. This sauce is also a favorite of those who are diabetics.
This BBQ sauce from Lillie's Q is mustard-based and made with many spices such as turmeric, paprika, and garlic. The addition of apple juice concentrate further gives it a nice sweetness. Since this sauce is quite tangy, it can cut through fat and balance flavors. This makes it fantastic for pulled pork and beef brisket.
Keep in mind that the Worcestershire sauce and apple juice concentrate in the ingredient list might contain an insignificant amount of sugar. Even so, according to most reviewers, this sauce is quite flavorful and has a thick texture. It was a big hit for those on the keto diet, too.
This keto-friendly barbecue sauce is a tangy and aromatic blend of tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, dried garlic, paprika, and other spices. It's sweetened with sucralose. Slather this sauce on ribs or spread it on sandwiches!
This BBQ sauce is so delicious that many reviewers cannot tell that it's sugar-free. Some even say that it has just the right amount of sweetness and tastes better than the original sugar-added version. Those following a keto diet or who have diabetes love this sauce as well.
This sugar-free BBQ sauce contains sucralose as the only sweetener. It has a honey flavor and can add a touch of sweetness to your dishes. There's also hickory smoke to give the sauce a distinctive smoky note. Smother it on brisket or use it for baked beans.
Although a couple of customers find this BBQ sauce too sweet, the majority think that it's delicious with a thick consistency. Many also say it's versatile and can be used for various recipes, from meats to soups and veggies.
This BBQ sauce is made from tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and spices. They create a tangy and sweet condiment that's great for any barbecue recipe. It's completely free from added sugar and contains stevia for sweetness.
Keep in mind that it still has one gram of sugar per serving from the tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. For a few reviewers, one drawback of this BBQ sauce is its thin consistency. Yet, this sauce is a must-have for those following a keto diet. They say the flavor is sweet, spicy, and tangy.
Simple Girl's Carolina Kick BBQ Sauce features two natural sweeteners: stevia and monk fruit extract. There are no sugars or artificial sweeteners in the ingredient list! Containing apple cider vinegar, spices, and hickory smoke flavor, this sauce is tangy with a subtle hint of sweetness.
A few buyers are disappointed with the thin consistency of this BBQ sauce. Still, it's a must-have for many others as it's not only sugar-free but also low in carbs and sodium. They say it's smoky, tangy, spicy, and isn't too sweet. Reviewers add that it's great on a variety of things such as steak, grilled chicken, and vegetables.
This BBQ sauce is crafted from only simple ingredients, including vinegar, water, salt, peppers, and spices. There are no sugar or sweeteners, so the sauce isn't sweet at all. What's more, it's free from artificial ingredients and a great choice for those who are sticking to a keto diet or have diabetes.
Since this sauce is North Carolina style, it tends to be quite tangy with a thin consistency. Most reviewers say it's great on meat, rice, and veggies. Another plus point for reviewers is that it's completely free from sugar!
This variety pack from Walden Farms offers three BBQ flavors for you to try out: honey, hickory smoke, and original. All of them are packed with flavor and can be used as a marinade or as a dipping sauce. Not only are they free from sugar, but they are also low in calories and have no cholesterol!
For a few buyers, these sauces are a little bit thin for their preferences. On the other hand, many buyers agree that these BBQ sauces are delicious and don't have any unpleasant aftertaste. They also pair perfectly with grilled chicken, fish, and many other things, reviewers say.
Primal Kitchen's Classic BBQ Sauce includes tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, chipotle powder, and different spices for a bright, tangy, and smoky flavor. It does not have any added sugar, but there are still two grams of sugar from ingredients like tomato paste and balsamic vinegar.
A few buyers note that this sauce is quite spicy. Nevertheless, many reviewers comment that this BBQ sauce has a unique flavor and is great for basting meat. They also like that it's made with only natural ingredients!
No. 1: G Hughes Smokehouse |Hickory Flavored Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
No. 2: Lillie's Q |Zero Sugar Carolina Barbeque Sauce
No. 3: Sweet Baby Ray's |No Sugar Added Original Barbecue Sauce
No. 4: G Hughes Smokehouse |Honey Flavored Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
No. 5: Stevia Sweet BBQ|Barbecue Sauce
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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