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Sweet and Tangy Vegan BBQ Sauce (No Ketchup)

Published on . Last updated on by 25 Comments

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This Vegan BBQ Sauce has the perfect taste profile of sweet and tangy. It is super easy to make and is ready in less than 30 minute!

BBQ sauce in a pan with wooden ladle

Just like my Mango BBQ Sauce recipe, this easy Vegan BBQ recipe is super easy and quick to make. You will never want to buy store bought BBQ sauce again!

It is perfect to use on vegan weight gain recipes like my vegan ribs, vegan lentil meatballs, vegan lentil loaf, and even as a dipping sauce for fried oyster mushrooms!

photo of BBQ sauce ingredients

The 5 Components of a Good Barbecue Sauce

1. Tomato Base

This can be anything from...

  • tomato paste
  • tomato puree
  • ketchup

Typically ketchup is used for homemade BBQ sauces. For this recipe, I used tomato puree to control the amount of sugar in the sauce. Be sure to use tomato puree and NOT tomato sauce used for pasta.

2 grid photo showing the difference between tomato puree and tomato sauce

2. Vinger

This is the tangy component to a good barbecue sauce. You can use...

  • white vinegar
  • apple cider vinegar
  • mustard (has vinegar in it)

3. Sweetener

The amount of sweetener you use will largely depend on how sweet you desire your barbecue sauce and what flavors you desire. You can use a combination of...

  • brown sugar
  • molasses
  • maple syrup
  • agave nectar
  • coconut nectar
  • Bee Free Honey
  • sugar-free alternatives like monk fruit, stevia, erythritol

4. Spices and Flavors

Again this will largely depend on your flavor profile and how spicy you like your BBQ Sauce. Typical spices include ...

  • chill powder
  • cumin
  • liquid smoke
  • garlic powder (or chopped fresh garlic or minced dried garlic)
  • onion powder (or chopped fresh onions or minced dried onion)
  • cayenne pepper
  • Vegan Worcestershire Sauce

5. Extras

And lastly, if you want your BBQ Sauce to stand out, you can add some fruit to it! You can use...

  • apricots
  • blueberries
  • strawberries
  • pineapples
  • peaches
  • lemon juice (for even more tanginess)

How to Thicken BBQ Sauce

There are many ways to thicken BBQ sauce. With this vegan bbq sauce recipe, it thickens on its own because we are using tomato puree for the base. To read more about other ways to thicken your BBQ sauce check out How to Thicken BBQ Sauce.

How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce

*Please read detailed and printable recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.

showing step 1 of tomato puree in a skillet
STEP 1: Add tomato puree to your pan.
step 2 showing bbq sauce ingredients in pan along with tomato puree
STEP 2: Next, add sugar and spices to your pan.
step 3 showing ingredients mixed in pan
STEP 3: Mix all ingredients together.
step 4 showing bbq sauce simmering thickening up
STEP 4: Simmer on low till it thickens.
step 5 showing bbq sauce being added into a jar
STEP 5: Once done, add sauce to a jar for storage.
step 6 showing BBQ brush dipped in BBQ sauce
STEP 6: Dip and use on any vegan BBQ recipes!

Substitution, Cook, and Storage Tips:

  • Be sure to refer to the notes above of The 5 Components of What BBQ Sauce is Made Of to jazz it up and make it your own. The steps are the same but you can mix and match the ingredients based on what you like and what you already have.
  • Adjust the number of spices and sweeteners to your liking. Add more sweeteners if you like it sweeter, spices if you like it hot, or mustard if you like it tangier. 
  • This recipe will keep in the refrigerator for 7-14 days in an air tight sealed jar. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. I like freezing them in portions using silicone ice cube trays.
BBQ sauce being poured into a jar

More BBQ Recipes

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BBQ sauce in a pan with wooden ladle

How to Make BBQ Sauce (Vegan Flavor Prep Basics)

This Vegan BBQ Sauce combines the sweet-and-tangy taste of St. Louis with the thick, rich body of Kansas City sauce! It's simple to make and easily customizable with ingredients you already have on hand.
4.78 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Keyword: Easy BBQ Sauce, Homemade BBQ Sauce, Vegan BBQ Sauce
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 28 tablespoons
Calories: 27kcal
Author: Gina Marie

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce canned tomato puree note 1
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce note 2
  • ½ cup sugar-free brown sugar note 3
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar note 3
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice (or orange juice) optional
  • 1 teaspoon tapioca or corn starch note 4
  • 1 tablespoon water note 4
US Customary - Metric

Equipment

Medium Skillet or Pot

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a medium-sized pot (except tapioca or corn starch) and mix well. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat continue simmering for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as you go.
  • After 15 minutes have elapsed, take 1 teaspoon of tapioca or corn starch with 1 tablespoon of water and mix well. Then add the starch slurry into the pot of the BBQ sauce. This is to help thicken the sauce. Allow to simmer for 5 more minutes then remove from heat. For an even thicker and deeper color and flavor, allow to simmer for 15 more minutes.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour sauce in a mason jar or airtight container. Serve at room temperature or place in the refrigerator, stored for later use.

Video

Notes

This is one of those sauces that you’ll need to taste and adjust as you go. You can start off with less sugar or vinegar if you know you lean more towards sweet or tang and adjust as you go. The same is with the seasonings. Taste as you simmer your sauce and make the recipe your own!
Note 1: Ketchup can be substituted for tomato puree if you want smoother, store-bought texture of BBQ Sauce. Be sure to adjust sugar, vinegar, and macros as ketchup is typically already flavored. If using tomato puree, be sure the can/bottle states tomato puree and NOT tomato sauce. 
Note 2: Vegan Worcestershire sauce contains no anchovies.  I am typically able to find this at my local whole foods. It is also available for purchase online. You can also make your own by following this vegan Worcestershire sauce recipe.  
Note 3: If using regular brown sugar only, start with ½ cup and increase from there based on your taste buds. If using sugar free brown sugar only, also start with ½ cup and increase from there if needed based on your liking. 
Note 4: Tapioca or corn starch is optional if you find your sauce not thick enough. 
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Make BBQ Sauce (Vegan Flavor Prep Basics)
Amount Per Serving (1 tablespoons)
Calories 27
% Daily Value*
Sodium 46mg2%
Potassium 145mg4%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Sugar 5g6%
Vitamin A 50IU1%
Vitamin C 0.8mg1%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Be sure to PIN IT on Pinterest, leave a comment below, rate it, and mention @_VeganWithCurves using #veganwithcurves hashtag on Instagram so I can see it!

Update Notes: This post was originally published on June 17, 2019, but was republished with new photos, updated recipe, step by step instructions, tips, and a video June 4, 2022.

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© Gina Marie Hoskins. Vegan With Curves. All Rights Reserved. Unless noted otherwise, all images, recipes, & content are copyright protected and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. My images and written content are NOT to be used without prior permission. Read full Copyright Disclosure.

© Gina Marie Hoskins. Vegan With Curves. All Rights Reserved. Unless noted otherwise, all images, recipes, & content are copyright protected and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. My images and written content are NOT to be used without prior permission. Read full Copyright Disclosure.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 3 stars
    A bit too sweet. I might reduce the brown sugar by half next time. I added the some liquid smoke (1/4 tsp) to add some smoky flavor..

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    These came out delicious, but unfortunately due to my oversight, I put all of the lentils in the food processor, and they came out too moist and didn't hold their shape. I put some in a pan, those fell apart more so than the ones that I baked. I did use a jar of Stubb's barbeque sauce and even though it doesn't specify vegan, the ingredients are wholesome with less sugar and no high fructose with a bit of zip. I will definitely be adding these to my meal planning repertoire, thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe is so good. I love the ingredients!

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    This BBQ sauce was amazing! The pineapple juice added a delicious flavor I'm not used to in our regular bbq sauce. Can't wait to use it on some grilled veggies!

    Reply

    • So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  5. 5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe; we made this for a family BBQ, and it went down a treat with everyone 🙂

    Reply

    • Yay! thank you for the feedback!

      Reply

  6. 5 stars
    So tasty and easy to make. This is a great recipe!

    Reply

    • thank you!

      Reply

  7. 5 stars
    WOW what a simple sweet and tangy BBQ sauce ! I have finally found one I love ! Thanks do much.

    Reply

    • You are welcome!

      Reply

  8. 5 stars
    I love making homemade BBQ sauce, but have never added tomato puree to the mix. I bet it give the BBQ sauce a thicker consistency. Will have to give it a try!

    Reply

    • Yes the tomato sauce def gives it a thicker consistency! Let me know how it turns out for you!

      Reply

  9. Hello,
    what kind of molasses are you using for this recipe, please?
    Blackstrap, dark or light?
    Thank you,
    Slavka

    Reply

    • Whatever you prefer it really does not matter. Whichever one you like best.😊

      Reply

  10. Is there something I could sub for agave nectar? Maple syrup?

    Reply

    • That will work!

      Reply

  11. Hi! How much liquid smoke should be used - it’s listed twice in the ingredients list shows it twice. Can’t wait to try this with the bbq lentil meatballs.

    ~Andrea

    Reply

    • Oops sorry about that! I fixed it. You only need 1/4 teaspoon.

      Reply

  12. How big of a can of tomato puree is needed?

    Reply

    • Sorry about that. About 15 ounces

      Reply

  13. Hello, I am looking forward to trying this recipe, I'm relatively new to eating vegan meals and I'm finding all the different types of lentils confusing. What type of lentils are used in this recipe? red? green? brown? etc

    Thanks,
    Abbie

    Reply

    • Hi Abbie. So this BBQ sauce recipe doesn't use lentils. I'm not sure what recipe you are referring to but my BBQ Lentil Balls recipe uses brown lentils if that is what you are referring too.

      Reply

  14. 5 stars
    Made this today! The sauce is so good. Gonna give it a try with Tasty’s recipe for vegan pulled pork burgers

    Reply

    • Awesome! So glad you loved the recipe!!

      Reply
4.78 from 9 votes

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