PANTRY BASIC: BBQ SAUCE
BBQ sauce is such a delicious condiment, but it’s usually full of sugar, so my brother (who isn’t Paleo but just loves me a lot and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen) came up with a pretty awesome Paleo-friendly BBQ sauce for us. I think the magic ingredient is pineapple juice, which lends sweetness to the sauce without the need for any added sugar. MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS (480 ml)
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 1 hour
1 cup (240 ml) apple cider vinegar
1 cup (240 ml) white vinegar
Zest and juice of ½ lemon
¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon (5 ml) garlic powder
1 teaspoon (5 ml) onion powder
1 teaspoon (5 ml) ground paprika
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (or less if you don’t want it super spicy)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 heaping teaspoon tomato paste
¾ cup pineapple juice
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, lemon zest and juice, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and pineapple juice until smooth. Bring to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for at least 30 minutes, but closer to 1 hour if you have time.
- Remove from the heat, cool, and store in a mason jar or other container with a tightly fitting lid.
More Recipes You'll Love
Tangy, sweet-and-smoky BBQ sauce made from a pantry-friendly base of apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, honey, and pineapple juice. Spices like paprika, cayenne, and red pepper flakes give it a proper kick, and a spoon of tomato paste adds body without any refined sugar. Simmered gently, it thickens into a glossy sauce that beats anything from a bottle.
Pro Tips
- Simmer the sauce gently — a hard boil makes the vinegar flavors harsh and sharp instead of mellow and rounded.
- Taste as it cools: vinegar sauces lose some of their punch as they sit, so it should taste slightly sharper than you want at the stove.
- Double the batch and keep a jar in the fridge — it's the backbone of the pulled pork and BBQ-stuffed sweet potato recipes.
- For a smokier sauce, add a touch more smoked paprika rather than liquid smoke, which can taste artificial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this BBQ sauce Paleo?
Yes — it's sweetened with honey and pineapple juice instead of refined sugar, and thickened naturally with tomato paste rather than cornstarch.
How long does homemade BBQ sauce keep?
About 2 weeks in a sealed jar in the fridge. The flavors actually improve after the first day.
How spicy is this sauce?
Gently spicy from the cayenne and red pepper flakes. Halve the cayenne for a mild, family-friendly version.
Can I use it as a marinade?
Definitely — brush it on chicken or pork during the last minutes of grilling so the sugars caramelize rather than burn.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- Zest and juice of ½ lemon
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (or less if you don’t want it super spicy)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 heaping teaspoon tomato paste
- ¾ cup pineapple juice
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, lemon zest and juice, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and pineapple juice until smooth.
- Bring to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for at least 30 minutes, but closer to 1 hour if you have time.
- Remove from the heat, cool, and store in a mason jar or other container with a tightly fitting lid.
