Easy Homemade Ketchup – no sugar added, low-carb, keto

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If you’d like to make your own homemade ketchup but it sounds like too much work, you are going to love this recipe. This Easy Homemade Ketchup Recipe tastes great, takes only five minutes to whip up, and not heating up the kitchen at all!

With this no-cook ketchup recipe, you can ditch the HCFS, loads of sugar, and suspicious “natural flavors” of the store-bought ketchup brands without spending a load of time!

homemade ketchup in glass bottle

Yes, today I’m sharing a Homemade Ketchup Recipe with you, and it’s so simple, you aren’t going to believe your eyes.

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Making Favorite Foods Healthier

Since we’ve been on a candida diet, I’ve worked hard and remade some of our favorite foods into sugar-free alternatives.

We’ve ended up with some great recipes like my Homemade Chocolate Chips, Dairy-Free Ice Cream, Homemade Jello, Gummy Candy, and Homemade Marshmallows, plus Homemade Unrefined Powdered Sugar and more.

This Homemade Ketchup Recipe, however, has been one of the better additions to our repertoire of processed food re-dos.

Partially because we love ketchup so much, but also because it is just so simple.

My family LOVES ketchup.

Ketchup, typically being loaded with high fructose corn syrup, is one of those foods that needed a redo.

Well, truth is, my boys and I love ketchup, while my hubby is more of a mustard and hot sauce fan. Over the years I’ve tried to make homemade ketchup a number of times, but I’ve always fallen short.

Either the recipe was “off” or it just took way too much time to replicate and keep on hand.

One of the recipes I tried was so loaded with oil that it has a thick solid layer on it after I stored it in the fridge. That one sure didn’t go over too well with any of us.

Ick.

homemade ketchup ingredients

Why You Need this Recipe

If you’ve ever checked out homemade ketchup recipes on the internet, you know what I mean by them taking too. much. time.

The majority of ketchup recipes have you blending tomatoes or tomato paste with a bunch of spices and simmering for a looooong time. And then sometimes you have to put the spices in a little spice bag and simmer that way.

If I can avoid things like “little spice bags” tied up with string and lots of simmering and still get a good product, I’m all for it.

That’s just the life of a busy whole foodie mama, you know?  

pouring molasses into bowl of ketchup ingredients

I need simple recipes like this.

homemade ketchup in glass bowl

Why Make Homemade Ketchup

The main reason to make your own Homemade Ketchup is to have control over the ingredients. And you’ll save money too since organic, healthier, or low-carb varieties can super pricey.

Even organic varieties of store bought ketchup have loads of sugar in them. Since we’re all on a low-to-no-sugar diet, that doesn’t work for us.

Not to mention the added “natural flavors”.  That can be a catch-all for everything from basic spices like parsley extract, but it can also be code for “MSG-type” substances.  

I’d rather just make my own.

With this super simple ketchup recipe, you literally toss all the ingredients together and a minute or two you have homemade sugar-free ketchup ready, almost as quick as you can say either “ketchup” or “catsup”.

homemade ketchup in glass bottle

By the way, did you know that both words are derived from the Chinese word “ke-tsiap” which is a “fish sauce?  Look at that–a recipe and a linguistic lesson in one post :).

On with the easy homemade ketchup recipe…

I was on my perpetual hunt for a good easy homemade ketchup recipe when I finally found one that worked pretty well, but it needed a few changes. Now, it’s perfect.

french fries on baking pan with one dipped in homemade ketchup

Serving Ideas

Of course you can put this easy no cook ketchup on everything you’d normally eat with ketchup–burgers, fries, hot dogs.

However, my kids are so happy that we have ketchup around much more frequently now, and my youngest seriously dips EVERYTHING in it.  And you can too. For awhile he was taking to dipping his carrot sticks in it and today he was dipping crackers in it too!

These Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets would be great dipped in this too.

Other Processed Food Alternatives:

Following are some other fabulous processed food alternatives that I think you will find helpful for healthifying your home.

Powdered Sugar Substitute
Homemade Chocolate Chips – possibly the best chocolate chips you will ever have
Homemade Marshmallows
Our Favorite Salad Dressing – Five Ways
Sugar-free Maple Baked Beans – ready in under an hour!

Recipe Notes

  • Sweetener: Any sweetener (healthier or low-carb or otherwise) can be substituted for the low-carb sweetener and/or stevia. Read How to Substitute Sweeteners for tips/ratios. Vegetable glycerine is another great option. If you’d prefer to use only one sweetener for both, that’s fine too.
    Yacon syrup or a dash of stevia extract can work too–or even monk extract.
    Use 1/2 – 3/4 the amount of honey or maple syrup.
  • Measuring Tips: The measurements for some of the ingredients are small (like 1/64 teaspoon / 1 drop, 3/16 teaspoon). You can either eyeball it (the recipe will likely be just fine as long as you don’t really overdo it) or you can buy these handy measuring spoons. I use them for measuring stevia all the time.

Special Diet Options

  • Paleo: Use 1/2 – 3/4 the amount of honey or maple syrup for paleo.
  • THM: This recipe is a “fuel pull” for those on the Trim Healthy Mama plan.
  • This recipe as is, is keto / low-carb.
collage of homemade ketchup in a bottle and french fries dipping in ketchup for easy homemade ketchup post

How to Store

You should store this delicious, and oh-so-easy-to-make ketchup in your fridge in an air-tight container.

It should last a week, but perhaps up to 3 weeks, but I personally wouldn’t push it that far and I doubt it will be around that long anyhow.

If you really want to make a lot more of it, or store it for longer, you can store it in the freezer for 6 months–making sure there’s very little air in the container will help it to store there without freezer burn. If you can make the container truly air tight you can likely freeze it for longer than that.

Freezing this in ice cube trays is a great idea so you can take them out once frozen and store in an airtight freezer bag. Just take out whatever you want, whenever you want!

homemade ketchup in glass bottle

Easy Homemade Ketchup – sugar free and low-carb options

With this Easy Ketchup Recipe you can ditch the High-Fructose Corn Syrup, loads of sugar, and suspicious “natural flavors” of the store bought brands.
4.81 from 26 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dressings, Seasonings, etc.
Cuisine: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, THM:S, Vegan
Keyword: homemade ketchup recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 9kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 7 ounces tomato paste (approximately 3/4 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon low carb sweetener (or to taste – use 1/2 tablespoon honey for paleo)
  • 1 drop stevia (1/64 teaspoon – 1/2 scoop; or to taste; see stevia usage info here)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon granulated garlic (if using powder, use 3/8 teaspoon)
  • 3/4 teaspoon granulated onion (if using powder, use 3/8 teaspoon)
  • 3/16 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 tablespoon molasses (optional. I typically use blackstrap)
  • 1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2/3 cup water

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a bowl.
  • Stir to blend completely.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

  • Storage Notes: Note that this ketchup should last a week, but perhaps up to 3 weeks in the fridge, but I personally wouldn’t push it that far. Two weeks is more likely how long it will keep for. For long storage of up to 6 months, store in the freezer in an air-tight container.
  • Sweetener: Any sweetener (healthier or low-carb or otherwise) can be substituted for the low-carb sweetener and/or stevia. Read How to Substitute Sweeteners for tips/ratios. Vegetable glycerine is another great option. If you’d prefer to use only one sweetener for both, that’s fine too.
    Yacon syrup or a dash of stevia extract can work too–or even monk extract.
    Use 1/2 – 3/4 the amount of honey or maple syrup.
  • Measuring Tips: The measurements for some of the ingredients are small (like 1/64 teaspoon / 1 drop, 3/16 teaspoon). You can either eyeball it (the recipe will likely be just fine as long as you don’t really overdo it) or you can buy these handy measuring spoons. I use them for measuring stevia all the time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 9kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 128IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg | Net Carbs: 1g

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Drop a comment below and let me know what you think about this ketchup!

 

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Recipe Rating




 

247 Comments

    1. I just updated the post with more info for subbing sweeteners. The Lakanto that is linked isn’t typically considered to be artificial as something like aspartame or sucralose would be.

  1. 5 stars
    Love this recipe and use it all the time, especially for making French dressing and sloppy joes. I can’t have garlic or molasses, so we leave that out and use only regular and caramel stevia drops to sweeten. The rest is pretty much as written. So thankful to have good recipes like this!

    1. Caramel stevia drops – genius!!! You could double up on the onion too – I really really want to make French Dressing – and the latter!!

    1. 5 stars
      Love this recipe and use it all the time, especially for making French dressing and sloppy joes. I can’t have garlic or molasses, so we leave that out and use only regular and caramel stevia drops to sweeten. The rest is pretty much as written. So thankful to have good recipes like this!

  2. 5 stars
    Without all the ingredients, it turned okay. I’ll shop for the Stevie products you recommend – I have the small pckgs. of powdered. I’ve been off sugar for 3 mos. and recently made meatloaf – it needed catsup! What I put together will
    do till I get to the store.

  3. Can this recipe be made and put in the freezer for later use? If so how is the best way to store it there?

    1. Hi there–I’m not a food storage expert but you should be able to freeze it just like any other homemade ketchup recipe. I’m reading that you can store it typically 3 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer and that some people freeze it in ice cube trays and then break up the cubes and freeze. So I think it’s up to you. I haven’t tested any of these methods with this recipe.

  4. This recipe sounds wonderful but we can’t have the molasses 🙁 I realize it provides a richness that would be missed. But have you heard from anyone else who made it without the molasses? Thanks!

      1. No. We’re on the “Know The Cause” diet which is anti fungal (no sugar in any form, no wheat, dairy, legumes). So at least for the next month or so we’re following it very closely.  Thanks!

      2. I have substituted Swerve brown sugar when without mollasses and recipes turn out okay. I would eliminate the Syevia sweetener and add if you felt more is needed.

    1. I’m reading 2-3 months but it will depend on how much salt and other ingredients you use. I am reading about 2-3 months, but I think that is on the long side. I would guess more like one but would be careful about that as well. We use ours up so fast I never notice!

  5. 5 stars
    Thank you looking for great recipes for candida diet to substitute for other store bought things that are not good for the body. During the cleanse. And after stages 123 and 4 thank you

    1. You are so welcome. There are many more here and I am working w/ a company that is coming out w/ a candida protocol soon. Feel free to stop back and inquire about it. I’m hopeful but it sure is a complicated thing!

    1. Hi there. I can’t really make shelf life claims but I think it should last a few weeks. Just keep an eye on it and don’t eat it if it smells or looks “off”. Enjoy!

  6. Great, I am going to make this since I really like ketchup on a lot of my food. But I don’t like the high fructose corn syrup.

  7. 5 stars
    I finally made a batch of this ketchup! I was out of allspice, so I used same amount of gram masala. Oh my goodness, this is the best tasting ketchup EVER! So quick and easy…DELISH !!!

  8. The linked vegetable glycerine does not look like it is labeled or sold as a USP/food grade item. I’d be unsure of using that particular product in this recipe.

    1. Hi Becky – I contacted NOW Brand and they assured me that their glycerine is all the same and if I remember correctly they discontinued their one labeled for food. I just updated the Recipe Notes above the recipe to give some other options for those who would rather purchase another type. Hope that helps :).

  9. How can you say this is “no sugar added” when it clearly calls for sweetener. Usually when someone is looking for a no sugar added recipe, they are not talking about just cane sugar or corn syrup, imo. I’m looking for a truly sweetener-less (including artificial sweeteners) recipe, something that uses an ingredient that is naturally sweet.

    1. Hi there. We make it with stevia which isn’t an artificial sweetener nor is it sugar. Hope that helps! Sorry for the delay in responding–I didn’t have the ability to respond to comments for a long time and just got it back so trying to catch up. 🙂

  10. Thank you so much. I have candidia and have been trying different recipies for several years. This one fits the bill. Now all I need is a burger roll lol.

    1. Wonderfullymadeanddearlyloved dot com has an air fryer classic sandwich bun recipe that looks good. Keto and diabetic friendly too.

    1. It’s in the works actually! I have this recipe that has one but the photo is horrid and the recipe is pretty good, but I have an amazing one coming soon – you might wish to subscribe here to get it when it’s ready: https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/

      I will be updating my EO research soon too hopefully :).

      Here’s the BBQ recipe: https://wholenewmom.com/recipes/oven-barbecued-chicken/

      Sorry for the delay–I got behind on comments and then we had a glitch on the blog where I lost a bunch but we got them back finally :).

    2. @ Monica: if you are low/no carb and are looking for recipes, try ketodietapp.com…she has hundreds of keto recipes including ones for sauces and BBQ is one of them