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    Home ▸ Vegan Sauces and Toppings

    Healthy Vegan BBQ Sauce Recipe

    Last modified: May 3, 2021. Originally posted: May 3, 2021 By Sophia DeSantis

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    Overlay text on homemade bbq sauce with a photo of some in a glass storage jar
    Spoon coming out of a glass storage jar filled with bbq sauce
    Collage of ingredients, process and final photo to make homemade bbq sauce with overlay text

    This vegan BBQ sauce recipe is the perfect mix of tang and sweet. It's easy to make and uses nine simple ingredients!

    Glass storage jar with bbq sauce in it and running down the sides
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    This post was originally published on July 6, 2019.

    I love making my own sauce, especially barbecue sauce. Store bought versions are either too sweet or too tangy, and this homemade recipe is pure perfection!

    When I say easy, I'm not exaggerating. This recipe for homemade bbq sauce is literally a stir all ingredients and serve kind of recipe. You can warm it up if you prefer, but it's not needed, especially if you are using it as part of a bigger recipe.

    Ingredients

    No overloaded amount of sugar in this healthy BBQ sauce! Here's what you'll need to make this easy recipe:

    • Tomato paste
    • Veggie broth 
    • Maple syrup
    • Molasses
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Liquid smoke
    • Chili powder
    • Garlic powder
    Different color and sized bowls with ingredients to make homemade bbq sauce

    How to Make Vegan BBQ Sauce

    Making a healthy homemade bbq sauce is so easy. There are literally two steps:

    1. Mix everything in a bowl.Wooden spoon mixing bbq sauce in a grey bowl
    2. Serve!Spoon coming out of a glass storage jar filled with bbq sauce

    Serving suggestions

    Put this sauce on everything! If you need some inspiration, I have many recipes that use this sauce in them! It's super versatile so it can be used in many ways.

    • BBQ Cauliflower Bites Bowl
    • Vegan BBQ Pulled 'Pork' Sandwich
    • BBQ Tempeh Sandwich
    • BBQ Chickpea Sliders
    • Black Bean Burger with BBQ Sauce
    • Or use as a dip for Sweet Potato Fries!

    Tips and tricks

    As easy as this vegan BBQ sauce is, there's a little bit of extra information that will come in handy:

    • If you want to heat it up you can, but it's ready to go as is. Most of the time you are using it in another recipe anyway.
    • Make it spicy by adding some chili powder or cayenne powder!
    • You can use water instead of broth, but I find the broth gives it a bit more flavor. 
    • Add more or less broth for the thickness you like.
    • Adjust the amount of salt to taste. The salt content in your tomato paste and veggie broth will affect how much salt to use.
    • This sauce is best if made ahead of time so the flavors are allowed to marinate. Marinating also allows the spices to fully combine with the tomato paste.
    • If your sauce seems a little “gritty,” then allow it to sit longer. You can speed this up by heating it slightly.
    • Store this BBQ sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
    • You can also freeze this sauce for up to 3 months. Put it in an airtight container, then put a layer of plastic wrap over the top of the sauce so it sticks on the sauce itself. Then freeze. When ready to defrost, put it on the counter or fridge.

    Common Questions

    Can vegans eat barbecue sauce?

    As long as a food doesn't have animal products, then it can be eaten on a vegan diet. When it comes to barbecue sauce, the one ingredient that may appear to make it not vegan is honey.

    Honey is not something we worry much about, but if you follow a strict vegan diet you need to stay away from it. So always make sure to check the list of ingredients.

    What sweeteners can I use in vegan bbq sauce?

    In this homemade vegan bbq sauce recipe, I use maple syrup so it stays fully vegan. But there are many other ways to get that level of sweet you like in your bbq sauce. Molasses, brown rice syrup, coconut syrup, coconut sugar, or cane sugar are all good options.

    We all have different likes when it comes to bbq sauce. Some like it sweet, others tangy and then there is the level of spice. This version is that perfect medium that we love. Always feel free to adjust the ingredients to get the perfect version for you!

    What sauces are vegan?

    Sauce are one of my favorite ways to add to a recipe. I feel like it finishes off anything and gives it an extra oomph you wouldn't get otherwise. I am a huge sauce fan and have created so many vegan sauces!

    Anything, including sauces, is vegan as long as it has no animal products. This includes dairy, butter, eggs and honey. But as you can see on this site, it isn't hard to recreate your favorites into a vegan recipe!

    More Vegan Sauces

    Sauces can be the star of the show, so they're always great to have on hand! Here are some of our favorite plant based recipes:

    • Easy Pizza Sauce
    • Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
    • Homemade Sour Cream
    • Garlic Aioli
    • Vegan Alfredo Sauce
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    Glass storage jar with bbq sauce in it and running down the sides

    Healthy Vegan BBQ Sauce Recipe

    Sophia DeSantis
    This vegan BBQ sauce recipe is the perfect mix of tang and sweet. It's easy to make and uses nine simple ingredients!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 76 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup tomato paste
    • ½ cup veggie broth , low-sodium if needed (see notes)
    • 3 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 3 tablespoon molasses
    • 4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 teaspoon liquid smoke
    • 2 teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ - 1 teaspoon sea salt , adjust depending on amount of salt in tomato paste and broth
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions
     

    • Put the tomato paste, broth, maple syrup, molasses, vinegar, liquid smoke, chili powder, salt and garlic powder in a bowl and mix well until smooth. 
    • People have many different opinions when it comes to the kind of BBQ sauce they like. If you fall in the spicy camp, then add more chili powder ¼ teaspoon at a time to get the level of spice you like. 
    • If you are in the sweet camp, add more maple syrup ¼ teaspoon at a time until you get the sweetness you like.
    • But if you are in the tangy camp, add more vinegar, ¼ teaspoon at a time until you get the tang you like. 
    • Serve with everything!

    Notes

    • Makes 2 cups (473 ml) sauce. Each serving is ¼ cup.
    • You can use water instead of broth, but I find the broth gives it a bit more flavor. 
    • Add more or less broth for the thickness you like.
    • This sauce is best if made ahead of time so the flavors are allowed to marinate. Marinating also allows the spices to fully combine with the tomato paste.
    • If your sauce seems a little “gritty,” then allow it to sit longer. You can speed this up by heating it slightly.

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 76kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 184mgPotassium: 143mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 148IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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    1. Sarah

      May 16, 2021 at 7:35 am

      I love that there's no refined sugar in this recipe! Tastes so good, and it easy enough to make. Adding to the repeat file!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        May 16, 2021 at 11:23 am

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Noemi

      August 13, 2020 at 5:13 am

      Hi Sofia! What can I use if I don't have molasses?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        August 13, 2020 at 6:48 am

        Ho Noemi! Molasses has a unique flavor and does contribute to the end result here, but you can add a touch more maple syrup if you don't have it. Just keep in mind the flavor won't be exactly the same! Let me know how it turns out!

        Reply
    3. Pamela Duel

      April 15, 2020 at 5:18 pm

      Hi Sophia,
      How long will your BBQ sauce last in the fridge please?

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        April 15, 2020 at 6:36 pm

        Hi Pamela! I'd say about 5-7 days!

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Sophia and I love food. As a food photographer, plant-based recipe creator, and client-centered health coach, I focus on helping people feel empowered instead of overwhelmed when it comes to overall health and wellness. Let me help you eat more plants!

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