Keto Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugar-Free) (2024)

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This recipe for sugar-free keto tomato sauce is full of flavor and can be used in so many recipes. All while only using 5 ingredients!

Keto Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugar-Free) (1)

While tomatoes are keto-friendly, store-bought versions of tomato sauce can be full of hidden sugars, carbs and who knows what else that isn’t good for you.

This is a simple keto tomato sauce recipe that you can use in any way you like. Use this sauce on a cauliflower pizza crust, low-carb eggplant parmesan, or a keto pizza casserole.

The sauce can easily be prepared ahead, saving you time in the kitchen.

How to make keto tomato sauce

Step 1: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, saute the garlic in the olive oil. Saute for a minute until the garlic is fragrant. Make sure the garlic doesn’t brown and become burnt.

Keto Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugar-Free) (2)

Step 2: Turn the heat down and add the tomatoes, oregano, vinegar, and salt to the saucepan. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 30 – 40 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce and thicken.

Keto Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugar-Free) (3)

Step 3: Use the sauce immediately if desired or store for later use.

Make a batch and store it!

You can use this sugar-free tomato sauce immediately if desired or it can be stored for later use. To store the sauce, allow it to cool to room temperature first. Once cooled, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

You can also freeze the sauce after it has cooled to room temperature. Freeze in bags or a container for up to 6 weeks. Defrost before use.

Keto Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugar-Free) (4)

Spicing it up!

Because this keto marinara sauce only uses 5 simple ingredients, it’s a great base that you can add other flavors to.

It tastes fantastic as it is, of course, but you can change the flavor profile by adding additional spices such as basil or parsley. You can also adjust the heat by adding red pepper flakes or even chopped chili peppers.

A sweet sugar-free tomato sauce?

The fact that this sauce is sugar-free doesn’t mean that it can’t be a little sweet! There are many no-carb sweeteners that you can eat on a keto diet.

I have made this sauce with a little bit of Stevia sweetener and it turned out great. Monkfruit sweetener is also a great option. Just be careful and add a little at a time as both sweeteners are quite strong.

Other healthy low-carb recipes to try

If you liked this recipe, here are some other low-carb recipes you might enjoy:

  • Keto Gravy
  • Keto Ranch Dressing
  • Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

You can also check out the roundup I created ofHealthy Dinner Recipes for Diabeticsfor even more great recipe ideas.

When you’ve tried this keto tomato sauce recipe, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Keto Tomato Sauce

4.56 from 52 votes

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Keto Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugar-Free) (5)

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This is the best recipe for a keto tomato sauce that is full of flavor and can be used in so many recipes. All while only using 5 ingredients!

Author: Christel Oerum

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

You can use this tomato sauce immediately if desired or it can be stored for later use. To store the sauce, allow it to cool to room temperature first. Once cooled, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

You can also freeze the sauce after it has cooled to room temperature. Freeze in bags or a container for up to 6 weeks. Defrost before use.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts

Keto Tomato Sauce

Serving Size

3 tbsp

Amount per Serving

Calories

58

% Daily Value*

Fat

5.8

g

9

%

Saturated Fat

0.9

g

5

%

Trans Fat

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

0.6

g

Monounsaturated Fat

4

g

Cholesterol

mg

%

Sodium

6

mg

%

Potassium

128.2

mg

4

%

Carbohydrates

1.5

g

1

%

Fiber

0.5

g

2

%

Sugar

1

g

1

%

Protein

0.7

g

1

%

Vitamin A

IU

%

Net carbs

1

g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Diabetic

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Keto Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugar-Free) (2024)

FAQs

How do you sweeten tomato sauce without sugar? ›

If the reason you're wanting to “sweeten” the sauce is because the tomato is too tart [highly acidic] then a pinch of baking soda should do the trick. Or if you really like your sauce sweet for the sake of sweetness, then add a carrot or bit of sweet potato while it's cooking.

Why is tomato sauce not keto? ›

For instance, many store-bought tomato products, such as tomato paste, tomato sauce, salsa, tomato juice, and even canned tomatoes, contain added sugars. This significantly raises their total carb content, making them more difficult to fit into a ketogenic diet.

Does homemade tomato sauce need sugar? ›

A little sugar can make the rest of the flavors shine a little brighter, akin to adding vanilla to a chocolate cake. The goal is to amplify the natural sweetness of the tomatoes, not to turn the sauce sugary, so start with a pinch and work up if needed.

How do you remove sugar from tomato sauce? ›

Add some lemon juice: The tartness of lemon can help cut through the sweetness. Squeeze in a little lemon juice and taste as you go until you achieve the desired balance. Vinegar: Balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar can also work wonders in reducing sweetness.

What can I use instead of sugar in pasta sauce? ›

Simmer 1 cup of shredded carrots or use sweet red pepper instead of green bell pepper. Sauté the vegetables in olive oil to express the sugars before adding them to the sauce. These vegetables will add a natural, mellower sweetness to your sauce than sugar or honey.

Can you eat too many tomatoes on keto? ›

In this case, only 10 percent of your calorie intake should comes from carbs, leaving you to 20 to 30 grams of carbs per day to stay in that state. One tomato is barely a quarter of that limit, so there's little to stress about. Go ahead, have a tomato, or three.

Is Ranch OK on keto? ›

Since most people following the diet are restricted to between 20 and 50 grams of net carbs per day, and the average ranch dressing is between 2 to 3 grams of net carbs per serving, it can be easily paired with a variety of healthy foods while on a ketogenic diet.

Will tomatoes kick you out of ketosis? ›

You can totally eat tomatoes while on a keto diet. In addition to being low carb, they're full of vital vitamins, nutrients, and healthy plant compounds. Just be sure to keep your carb count in check, since they aren't a zero-carb food. Constipation.

Do authentic Italians put sugar in their spaghetti sauce? ›

Do Italians put sugar in spaghetti? - Quora. Usually no. But putting (a very small bit) of sugar or even a tiny pinch of baking soda in the tomato sauce can help if it is too acidic, but this is only done if the person cooking it is really in a rush.

Why do Italians put sugar in tomato sauce? ›

Up until the early 1900s, the U.S. had a limited tomato supply, and it didn't stack up to Italian standards. It is widely held that Italian immigrants began adding sugar to their sauce to make up for the overly acidic tomatoes they were forced to work with in their new home.

Why do Americans put sugar in tomato sauce? ›

The natural sugars in tomatoes themselves, such as fructose and glucose, contribute to the sauce's overall sweetness. Even in traditional home-made tomato sauce made from scratch, a little sugar is often added to balance the flavours.

Why do you put baking soda in tomato sauce? ›

Great tomato flavor is all about balancing acidity and sweetness. Too much of either can leave you with asauce that tastes one-dimensional. Many sources recommend adding a pinch of baking soda to a sauce that's overly tart, which raises the pH and makes it less acidic.

How do you make tomato sauce less bitter without sugar? ›

Another method is to add about a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda per quart. It won't add flavor as sugar will, but it will neutralize the acid. Don't overdo it as it will make the sauce taste salty.

How do you counter sugar in sauce? ›

Adding lime juice can to your dish can balance out the sweetness. In case, you don't want too much of tanginess in the dish you can also add vinegar white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar.

How do you sweeten tomato sauce naturally? ›

Think of cooking as simulating a ripening process - when you cook a fresh tomato it intensifies it and sweetens it. Canned tomatoes are already cooked so that process is halfway there. Fruit and carrots are a very natural way to add mild sweetness, and carrots are my personal favorite for this.

How do you make tomato sauce sweeter? ›

For a richer, sweeter flavor, mash a few roasted garlic cloves and stir them in as the sauce simmers. 8. Liven things up with a little acid. Try apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, capers, chopped olives, or lemon juice.

Do Italians add sugar to tomato sauce? ›

"A pinch of sugar is a Southern Italian trick that was used when the sauce was made with end-of-season tomatoes that did not get ripe, or the tomatoes were so tart they needed to be balanced," Chiarello explained to Epicurious.

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