There are so many dishes that could use a great barbecue sauce to enhance the flavors. With its sweet smoky flavor, a good bbq sauce can transform a bland recipe into a culinary masterpiece. This healthy bbq sauce recipe can do just that!

We love this homemade bbq sauce recipe because it’s…
- Sweet and tangy
- Simple to make with only 8 ingredients
- Great with so many recipes
- So easy a kid can make it
- A no-cooking-required recipe
- Great stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week
- Delicious
Reasons to make your own sauce
It is easy to just buy a bottle of barbecue sauce at the grocery store, but most bottled versions are loaded with added sugars. LOTS of sugar with some containing 12 to 16 grams per two-tablespoon serving. Wow!
However, in my opinion, a completely unsweetened barbecue sauce wouldn’t taste right either. Some sugar is required to balance the tanginess of the sauce. The great thing is that by making your own, you get complete control over how much sugar is in your homemade bbq sauce.

How to make homemade bbq sauce
This delicious gluten-free homemade vegan bbq sauce recipe requires only 8 ingredients and is SO easy to make. With no cooking required, simply whisk all the ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl and then add it to your favorite recipes.
If you would like to make your own ketchup for this recipe, check out my 10-Minute Vegan Ketchup recipe.
A full list of ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

I’ve even included my first ever hands and pans video to show how simple this is to pull together in minutes, and you’ll find it below.
Check out all my Vegan Sauces to liven up those healthy meals.
Homemade heart-healthy bbq sauce ingredients
- ketchup or tomato sauce
- Worcestershire sauce (without anchovies)
- liquid smoke
- apple cider vinegar
- maple syrup
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt

Vegan BBQ Recipes
Every year, my husband and his friends make their annual request for these Cauliflower BBQ Wing Bites for game day. They say they just want to make sure I remember. This is the 3rd year in a row, so I think they have me trained now.
They are so good! Even my sister, that normally does not eat cauliflower, likes them. That’s saying a lot!
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I have two barbecue sandwich recipes that are amazing with this homemade gluten-free bbq sauce.
If you love soy curls, this BBQ Soy Curl Sandwich is a quick and easy vegan barbecue dinner recipe that can be pulled together in minutes.
The other sandwich is my Seitan Barbecue Sandwich that will rock your world. If you’ve never had seitan before, that needs to change right now!
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This Easy BBQ Tempeh is a very simple, finger-lickin’ dish that is fabulous on the grill, baked in the oven, or even slow-cooked in a crockpot. Leftovers make great sandwiches and burritos.

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These Easy Vegan Meatballs can be made with this easy healthy bbq sauce and served as an appetizer or main dish. Or replace the barbecue sauce with marinara for a delicious dish of spaghetti and meatballs. Whichever way you decide to make them, they’re delicious!
Healthy store-bought BBQ sauce options

There is one great-tasting store bought bbq sauce that I like, and it’s much lower in sugar. It has a funny name–especially because we are plant-based eaters–and is called Bone Suckin’ Sauce.

Healthy BBQ Sauce Recipe
There are so many dishes that could use a great barbecue sauce to enhance the flavors. With its sweet smoky flavor, a good bbq sauce can transform a bland recipe into an culinary masterpiece. This Healthy BBQ Sauce Recipe can do just that!
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup (or tomato sauce)
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup (or date syrup)
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (without anchovies)
- 4 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1.5 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 pinch salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in medium-sized bowl and whisk together.
- Keeps in the refrigerator in air-tight container for 7-10 days.
Notes
Detailed instructions, in-process photos, and my personal helpful tips can be found in the article above.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8Amount Per Serving: Calories: 47Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 313mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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Pam
Tuesday 2nd of June 2020
Fantastic! Thank you!
Jennie
Wednesday 3rd of July 2019
Anything I can use to replace the liquid smoke?
EatPlant-Based.com
Wednesday 3rd of July 2019
I found this link with some substitute that might work. https://www.leaf.tv/articles/alternatives-for-liquid-smoke/
Plant-Based Recipes for a Delicious 4th of July | Planted365
Wednesday 3rd of July 2019
[…] 22. Healthy BBQ Sauce from Eat Plant-Based […]
janet
Thursday 17th of January 2019
We like bbq sauces with some kick in addition to the tang. What would you recommend as an addition that would give us that flavorful kick? A chipotle chili powder? Thank you!
EatPlant-Based.com
Thursday 17th of January 2019
I like a little kick myself, so I completely understand. Adding chipotle sounds great or even cayenne pepper.