This BBQ sauce is nightshade free, AIP, Paleo, and low-carb. Use it just as you would regular BBQ sauce!

Who says you need tomatoes to make a delicious sauce?

Truth is, I was nervous to make BBQ sauce for a long time. Honestly, I don’t know why I was so afraid. It just seems like a food you can only get off the grocery shelf. Way too complicated to make at home, right?

Wrong! Boy was I wrong!

I’ve gone way, way too long without BBQ sauce… so many times we’d grill steak or chicken and the fam would have several BBQ sauces to choose from and I just ate mine plain. And at the time, I was happy to, because I’d rather feel good than suffer through the effects nightshades have on me.

But, what really got me was when we’d cook up some wings and again the fam would have sauce galore and me, well none… *sigh*

So I got to work on creating a BBQ sauce I’d be able to eat and enjoy, and let me tell you, I’m so here for it!

This sauce came out better than I expected. Plus it was ridiculously easy!

Ingredient Highlight

Pumpkin Puree

So many sauces use a tomato base, so when you’re avoiding nightshades you must find some alternatives. In this recipe, pumpkin puree does the trick! Honestly, you won’t miss the tomatoes at all!

Coconut Aminos

I almost always have coconut aminos on hand. It’s kind of like an AIP soy sauce, without the soy, of course! It’s great on cauliflower rice, or in sauces (like this BBQ sauce) or marinades like this teriyaki salmon.

Liquid smoke

Be cautious when buying liquid smoke because many brands have unhealthy additives. I use the brand Encore (the woodland hickory smoke) which I found at Farmboy (a Canadian grocery store), but this one by Wright’s looks good as it does not contain any additives!

Can’t find liquid smoke, or prefer not to use it? No worries, just replace the salt in this recipe for smoked sea salt, and it still tastes great!

Yield: Aprox 1.25 cups

Hickory BBQ Sauce (AIP/Paleo/Low-Carb)

Prep Time:
5 minutes

Cook Time:
5 minutes

Total Time:
10 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree 
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp liquid smoke*

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan.
2. Stir over medium heat.
3. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
4. Enjoy!

Notes

*If you don’t have liquid smoke, replace the salt with smoked sea salt!