2 Minute Vegan BBQ Sauce Recipe (So Easy!)

Name: 2 Minute Vegan BBQ Sauce Recipe (So Easy!)
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups ketchup* (I used Primal Kitchen unsweetened ketchup); 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar; 2 tbsp mustard; 1 tbsp coconut aminos*; 2 tsp smoked paprika; 2 tsp sea salt; 1 tsp cumin; Fresh Black pepper

posted by Britt Berlin on Jun 27, 2022 (last updated Jun 21, 2023) 3 comments »

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5 from 2 reviews

Stop buying store bought barbecue sauce and make this quick and easy vegan bbq sauce instead! Made in just one bowl, no cooking, and ready in just 2 minutes!

Sauces are the stars of the show during grilling season, and you’ll most definitely want to have this quick and easy vegan bbq sauce recipe ready to go!

Why make this homemade bbq sauce? Well, for starters:

Most barbecue sauces are not vegan-friendly (more on that below)
The barbecue sauces that are vegan-friendly and use high quality ingredients are often very expensive
This vegan barbecue sauce is no-cook and ready in just 2 minutes (seriously, it’s that easy! No need to thicken with heat!)
It’s naturally gluten free
You most likely have the necessary ingredients already in your pantry!
The taste of this homemade vegan barbecue sauce is unmatched; it’s so flavorful without using a ton of ingredients and spices (put away your onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, etc.!)
This vegan bbq sauce can be used for TONS of vegan dinner recipes (especially bbq jackfruit pulled pork!), and immediately too
Absolutely everyone will love this vegan sauce recipe- whether or not they’re vegan!

Is BBQ Sauce Always Vegan?

Store bought barbecue sauces can be great, but they are not always vegan (think Heinz and some of sweet baby ray’s barbecue sauce recipes); some brands do contain anchovies or honey, both of which are not considered vegan.

Another reason why a store bought barbecue sauce might not be vegan-friendly is because it contains conventional sugar (many sugars in the U.S. are not vegan; however, if you purchase organic sugar, it is vegan).

Of course, there are some barbecue sauces that are entirely vegan, such as:

Annie’s
Primal Kitchen
Tessamae’s

However, we’re going to make this extremely easy vegan bbq sauce that honestly will make you never purchase a bottle again- it’s so flavorful and delicious, and just as easy as going to the store.

Vegan BBQ Sauce Ingredients:

Here’s what you need to make this homemade barbecue sauce that’s naturally vegan and gluten free:

Ketchup: I used Primal Kitchen unsweetened ketchup. We’re adding in maple syrup as well to help thicken the mixture, so I highly recommend using an organic unsweetened ketchup. I also like to use Primal Kitchen ketchup specifically because it has flavors, like garlic and onion, in there, so we don’t need to add any onion powder to our actual vegan bbq sauce recipe. You can, of course, make your own ketchup with tomato paste and other ingredients, but that’s more time- we want a quick and easy vegan bbq sauce ready to go!
Maple syrup: In lieu of brown sugar (or high fructose corn syrup), maple syrup will help to thicken our vegan bbq sauce without heating it, while also adding a touch of sweetness and keeping this vegan bbq sauce refined sugar free. I used Crown Maple syrup, which is my favorite!
Coconut aminos or vegan Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire is another one that might not always be vegan nor gluten free, which is why coconut aminos is a great substitute. One brand that I know and love that’s always vegan and gluten free for their Worcestershire sauces is The Wizards’ Organic Vegan Gluten Free Worcestershire sauce. It’s owned by Edward & Sons, who makes the most amazing coconut cream. If you can’t find this vegan Worcestershire sauce, don’t worry- you can just use coconut aminos (as I’ve done here in the photos). You can also use soy sauce, however make sure it’s gluten free Tamari soy sauce if you are gluten free.
Spices: This is the smoked paprika, cumin, and sea salt. I highly recommend using smoked paprika over regular, as it will add a more smokey flavor without having to use liquid smoke!
Apple cider vinegar: To brighten the flavor and add a touch of tanginess.
Mustard: To help enhance all of our flavors!

vegan barbecue sauce ingredients on a table

Overview: How to quickly make vegan bbq sauce:

The beauty of this vegan bbq sauce: no need to simmer in a saucepan or cook on medium-high heat; we’ll just mix everything together and serve!

Simply add all of your ingredients to a bowl. Whisk together. Then use in your intended recipe, like to marinate tofu or make these amazing vegan bbq jackfruit “pulled pork” sandwiches.

What to use this vegan barbecue sauce in:

Here are a few of my family’s favorite ways to enjoy this vegan bbq sauce:

As a marinade for grilled tofu
On top of homemade lentil mushroom burgers
In our vegan bbq jackfruit pulled pork
As a dipping sauce for French fries
As a marinade with roasted sweet potato wedges
Drizzled onto loaded twice baked potatoes
As a quick dip for raw veggies
Drizzled over vegan bacon
On any vegan sandwich that you want to upgrade!

Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!