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This Whole30 BBQ sauce is a delicious Whole30 condiment. Perfect on ribs, pulled pork, or chicken, this Whole30 BBQ sauce is spiced with chipotle powder and lightly sweetened with coconut aminos. A jar of this Whole30 BBQ sauce in the fridge will mean plenty of simple, flavorful Whole30 dinners!
In Memphis, BBQ is the panacea for any social event.
Going to a corporate retreat? There’s gonna be pulled pork there. Toddler’s birthday party? For sure, there will be foil trays of dried pulled pork sandwiched between drippy cole slaw and white bread buns to fill you up. 5k?Bring a bib, ’cause there’s gonna be BBQ sandwiches next to the beer tent at the finish line. Somebody died? Good thing you’re wearing black, ’cause, yeah, BBQ again.
But I’m not really from Memphis, even though I say I am. I missed the BBQ training of most Memphian childhoods, opting for tacos or whatever we ate in Phoenix before we moved back home to where our family was. I missed the instillation of preference for sweet, smoky, and saucy over bright, spicy, and fresh. But there is one type of BBQ I always, always inhale…
Ribs. Ribs, y’all. A big ass rack of ribs dredged in a spicy, savory spice blend, served up with a roll of paper towels, a clinical Wet-Nap, and a couple bottles of house-made BBQ sauce. One’s spicy, one’s not. And guess which one I always choose to end up dabbed across my cheeks, a spot on my chin, a speckle on my white top (Dammit! Why didn’t I wear black/borrow the baby’s bib?).
Always, always the spicy. That smoky, spicy, rich, heady, almost decongestant sauce makes up for the time lost in my youth, bonding with other kids at field day and are we best friends now cool. Those extracurricular-sponsored banquets with drippy sandwiches, daring you to pile coleslaw on top of the delicate mess. Those family reunions at the park with one uncle walking up looking proud, holding 4 giant foil tins stacked high, filled with all the fixin’s for a familial feast.
Being on a Whole30, it can be challenging finding rich dishes that don’t feel like Whole30 versions of anything: no sweet potatoes, no avocados, no eggs to be found. BBQ sauce is one of those weirdos: you can either hunt down Tessemae’s BBQ Sauce locally or pay top dollar to ship it home. Even then, I feel a bit iffy on the ingredients, dates clocking in a bit high for my liking. I’m surprising a date-based BBQ sauce is compliant at all, considering just how candy-sweet they are.
My Whole30 BBQ sauce with chipotle? It’s simple and easy to throw together, sweetened very lightly with coconut aminos and turned smoky with chipotle chili powder. It goes perfectly with grilled Whole30 ribs, which I’ll be sharing with you so very soon! This Whole30 BBQ sauce makes a perfect easy summer Whole30 dinner: stir it into some shredded chicken and stuff the mixture inside steamed sweet potatoes. Brush it onto pork chops after frying them in a cast-iron skillet. Drizzle it over carnitas and place on a bed of lettuce for a BBQ sandwich-inspired salad (Serve with ranch dressing, obviously).
To make this Whole30 BBQ sauce, I used…
Whole30 BBQ Sauce with Chipotle (Paleo, Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ghee or refined coconut oil
- 1 cup diced Vidalia onion
- 7 tablespoons coconut aminos ¼ cup + 3 tablespoons
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Place medium saucepan on stovetop over medium heat. When pan is warm, add 1 tablespoon ghee and continue heating pan until ghee has melted, swirling and titling pan occasionally to distribute ghee across surface.
- When ghee has melted, add 1 cup diced Vidalia onion to saucepan. Stir to incorporate, then sauté diced onion approximately 5 minutes or until onions are softened and translucent.
- When onions are ready, add 7 tablespoons coconut aminos, 3-4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon cumin powder, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 6-ounce can tomato paste, 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken stock, and 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar.
- Increase heat under saucepan to medium-high and whisk ingredients together until well incorporated. Once incorporated, bring mixture to boil.
- When mixture begins to boil gently, reduce heat under saucepan to low. Simmer mixture 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until sauce has thickened.
- Transfer BBQ sauce to airtight container. Serve immediately, or allow sauce to cool, then refrigerate in airtight container until ready to serve.
- If desired, for a smoother texture, gently transfer sauce to a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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Could this be frozen?? Love the recipe!
Yes! You can definitely freeze it in an airtight, freezer-safe container or ziploc bag for up to 2 months!
Do you recommend a substitute for the tomato paste to make it AIP?
I just found this! http://savorynature.com/2014/02/14/notmato-paste-nightshade-free/
During a Whole30, (65), I needed something new for my chicken on the grill; thank goodness I found your BBQ sauce! I’m a big fan of chipotle and this recipe is amazing! I use it whether or not I’m doing a Whole30, and my husband loves it as well! Thank you!
PS When low on regular BBQ sauce , my husband mixed this with “the other” and…wowza!
Is there any substitute for the chipotle chili powder? I cannot find it at any stores near me!
Thanks!
You can try smoked paprika, it just doesn’t carry the same heat as chipotle powder does!
Is this spicy?
The chili and chipotle chili powders can sometimes get spicy, but if you’re worried about too much spice, you can always add less!
Any recommendations to substitute the chipotle chilli?
I made this last night and it was delicious! I also added some date paste to sweeten it a bit and cool the heat.
just made it last night! everyone is soooo happy 🙂
how long do you think a jar of this will last in the fridge?
Woohoo!! I would say at least 2 weeks
Looks good, but it’s not vegan.
It is vegan 🙂 Of course as noted you will use coconut oil instead of ghee.
How much of this would you recommend to make for a rack of ribs? I am going to make this and your rib recipe this weekend! If I could take off work to go home right now and make them I would they look so good!!
One batch would be perfect for a rack of ribs! You’re too funny ?
I made them and they were AMAZING! My husband who supposedly doesn’t like ribs at most of it himself so I think he has been converted. Great recipe as always!
Ha! I love when that happens 😀 I’m so glad you liked the recipe, Hayley, and thanks for coming back to let me know!