Barbecue Sauce

Recipes
by  Laura Bennett
 
 August 15, 2020
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Our great nation's spectrum of barbecue sauce varies regionally
from the Carolinas to Kansas City and down to Texas. Tomato-
based is the most common—usually in the form of ketchup.
Other bases used in this continental condiment include vinegar,
mustard, and even mayonnaise (don't knock it 'til you try it).

Like anything else, homemade barbecue sauce tastes fresher than

store-bought, plus you get to control how much kick or
sweetness goes into it. Making your own sauce is also a good
way to guarantee it is gluten-free.
Keep in mind, barbecue is meant to be cooked low and slow—
think 225 degrees F for eight hours or more. If there's sugar in
the sauce, it will burn when subjected to the high heat of grilling.
So if you are grilling, you may want to add the sauce after the
meat is cooked. Many of these recipes go great over pulled pork.
Just remember to warm the sauce before adding to cooked
chicken, pork, or even grilled veggies.
Read on for our favorite variations of barbecue sauce from
across the country.

Kansas City-Style BBQ Sauce

Michelle Lee Photography / Shutterstock
Kansas City, Missouri is known for its sweet, tangy, syrupy
sauce. Molasses gives this ketchup-based sauce a sweeter,
heavier consistency. Add some brown sugar and various other
spices, then reduce and you've got yourself some KC barbecue
sauce, baby! Serious Eats' five-star Kansas City-Style Barbecue
Sauce Recipe starts with sauteed onion and garlic before adding
ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, chili powder,
black pepper, and cayenne pepper to simmer for about half an
hour until thickened. A spin in the blender ensures a smooth
sauce that will keep in the fridge for up to a month.

Eastern North Carolina-Style BBQ Sauce

bonchan / Shutterstock
Eastern North Carolina's pork-centric style of barbecuing is
known for using every part of the hog except the squeal. Thin
and spicy, Carolina-style barbecue sauce is vinegar-based. Not
only does vinegar's astringent flavor helps balance out the fattier
pork, but it also acts as a great acid for slow cooking. The
eastern and western side of North Carolina have different
opinions when it comes to ketchup—Eastern North Carolina
believes barbecue sauce should be tomato-free, while the other
side of the state falls on the other side of the subject. However,
both can agree to use a rub and mop the sauce on as it slow-
cooks over wood.
To make Eastern North Carolina Barbeque Sauce, mix salt,
cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and light brown sugar with
hot pepper sauce and apple cider vinegar, stirring until sugar and
salt have dissolved. Prep this sauce a few hours before basting or
serving on meat so the flavors have time to marry.
Lexington-Style Barbecue Sauce

Chef Terrell / Shutterstock

Barbecue sauce from the center of North Carolina, also known as
the Piedmont, does contain some ketchup. Lexington-style
focuses on the pork shoulder. Also known as a "dip" or "mop
sauce," it's still thin, penetrating, peppery, and full of vinegar,
just slightly pinker than it's Eastern counterpart. This Lexington
Dip BBQ Sauce Recipe comes from a man named Meathead at
AmazingRibs.com. He adds apple juice to this tangy sauce,
which is a trick he picked up from George's in Nashville, NC,
which was named “Best in the Carolinas” by Rachael Ray
magazine.

Mustard-Based Barbecue Sauce

TalyaAL / Shutterstock
Pork is also the popular preference in South Carolina, where the
sauce tends to be mustard-based, thanks to an early crop of
German settlers. This thin, spicy, stringent Spicy Mustard BBQ
Sauce is perfectly paired with pulled pork sandwiches.

North Alabama White Sauce

Dan via Flickr
Mayo-based barbecue sauce? Shut the front door. Made famous
by Decatur's own Big Bob Gibson, Alabama white sauce is erved
thick and creamy or thin and drizzly. Mayonnaise is thinned out
with vinegar and lemon juice, plus a kick of pepper. Horseradish
gives Hey Grill Hey's Alabama White Sauce recipe a kick in the
pants. Instead of pork, try it over smoked chicken.

Texas-Style Mop or Basting Sauce

Rebecca Fondren Photo / Shutterstock
Beefy barbecue cuts like brisket reign supreme in the great state
of Texas, where savory sauce gets mopped onto the meat as it
cooks. Thin and spicy, the consistency is similar to tomato soup
which can penetrate the meat, not unlike a glaze. Beef stock is
often included in mop sauces, like this Texas Barbecue Juice
Recipe, which also calls for a cup of the state's beloved Lone
Star beer (but any lager will do). Green bell pepper is a unique
ingredient in this recipe, as is fat. Unlike the rest of the recipes
on this list, this mop sauce uses rendered fat or butter. For a
sugar-free, keto version, check out Bon Appeteach's BBQ Texas
Mop Sauce!

Memphis-Style Barbecue Sauce

jdpphoto / Shutterstock
Memphis is a rib city. Dry ribs are rubbed with oil and spices,
while "wet" ribs are doused in a vinegar and tomato-based sauce
before, during, and after cooking. Also popular in St. Louis, this
runny sauce has a sweet-and-sour profile with an added pop of
pepper. Robyn Stone from Add a Pinch uses her special Stone
House Seasoning—a mixture of salt, pepper, and garlic—to
make her Tangy Memphis BBQ Sauce.
If you like Robyn's Memphis-style sauce, try her Spicy Peach
BBQ Sauce Recipe, which is sweetened with fresh peaches and
peach preserves, or her Mama’s Coca Cola BBQ Sauce.

Asian Barbecue Sauce

Pani_Elena / Shutterstock
A little more versatile than it's American counterparts, Asian
BBQ sauce is as delish served on shrimp or swordfish as it is
pork or chicken. This Asian Barbecue Sauce recipe from
Epicurious calls for some specialty ingredients, including hoisin
sauce, Asian fish sauce, rice vinegar, fresh ginger, and Chinese
five-spice powder.

10 Keto Crockpot
Recipes
by  Brittany Baxter
 
 June 11, 2020
Sweet Cs Designs
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Crockpots make cooking everyday weeknight meals hassle-free.
Toss your ingredients inside, set-it, and forget it until you return
later for your slow-cooked meal. Meal prep doesn't get much
easier than that. But, when you're new to the keto lifestyle,
finding delicious, low-carb, high-fat recipes suitable for your
crockpot may seem like a challenge. We've compiled a list of the
most satisfying keto crockpot recipes for every meal that will
make sticking to your keto diet a total breeze.

1. Crockpot Low Carb Keto Taco Casserole

Wholesome Yum
Taco Tuesday is back, with this incredibly flavorful keto taco
casserole, at just four net carbs per serving, plus toppings!
Quickly saute fresh ground beef on the stovetop and toss in the
crockpot. Blend with your favorite taco seasoning, along with
diced peppers, onions, and drained diced tomatoes. Enjoy a
savory taco bowl, jam-packed with your preferred taco-toppings!
2. Keto Low-Carb Chili

Wholesome Yum
If you thought a piping hot bowl of warm chili was off-limits on
your keto diet, think again! This outstanding hearty bowl of low
carb keto-chili is brimming with tender meat, and chockful of
diced tomatoes coated in warming spices and savory sauce. You
don't have to worry about slipping out of ketosis when enjoying
this chili as it doesn't include beans, which contain a fair amount
of carbs. Prepare this low carb keto chili in the instant pot for an
even faster meal!

3. Keto Crack Chicken In The Crockpot

Mess For Less
You don't have to be on a low-carb or keto lifestyle to enjoy this
addicting chicken dish. Creamy and cheesey, this easy crockpot
keto-friendly meal will have everyone in the family asking for
seconds! A packet of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning is what
truly gives keto crack chicken its wow status. Serve your tasty
crack chicken in lettuce boats (romaine lettuce) or with keto-
style bread or a delicious side veggie.

4. Creamy Keto Tuscan Soup

Sweet Cs Designs
If you're daydreaming of a bowl of Olive Garden's popular
Zuppa Toscana soup, then you'll love the tasty low-carb twist
this next recipe has in store!

Creamy keto Tuscan soup is loaded with roasted red peppers,

and spinach instead of kale, and contains no potatoes so low carb
dieters can indulge. This savory soup can be prepared on the
stovetop, in a slow cooker, or the instant pot for added
convenience.

5. Keto Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Ditch The Carbs
Sugar-laden store-bought barbecue sauce is a major no-no when
it comes to keto dieters, making many believe that pulled-pork is
off-limits. But we're here to tell you that you can prepare a
magical keto sauce that will offer up an authentic barbeque
flavor, that's just as good if not better than the real deal. All
you'll need is coconut aminos, tomato paste, vinegar and some
various seasonings to create some mouthwatering keto pulled
pork.
Don't forget the bun! Serve your keto pulled pork with keto two-
minute burger buns, only three net carbs made from almond
flour, baking powder, oil, and eggs. Not a fan of almond flour?
Try preparing the popular high-fat, high-protein bread
alternative, the keto chaffle made from a single egg and a half of
cup of cheese using a waffle maker.
6. Crockpot Crustless Pizza

Moms With Crockpots

Indulge in a keto-friendly crustless pizza this Friday night with
the help of your crockpot. Start by layering browned ground beef
at the bottom of the crockpot, along with some fresh mozzarella,
followed by some marinara sauce. Top it off with some
additional cheese and your favorite pizza toppings for an
unforgettable cheesy treat!

7. Keto Mongolian Beef

This Moms Menu
Set it and forget it, when preparing this classic stir-fry
favorite, keto mongolian beef. Pan-seared flank steak is
sweetened with soy sauce or coconut aminos, a brown sugar
substitute such as Sukrin Gold, as well as liquid stevia to taste.
The addition of garlic and ginger brighten the dish while optional
red pepper flakes offer a peppery kick. Serve this family-friendly
favorite over cauliflower rice, diced broccoli, or shirataki
noodles in place of rice.

8. Slow Cooker Dark Chocolate Cake

All Day I Dream About Food
Save from for dessert! This sinfully delicious slow cooker dark
chocolate cake is both low carb and keto-friendly with only four
net carbs per serving. This chocolate cake is so rich and moist
that you'll want to prepare this immediately, to ease your
chocolate cravings. Almond flour, almond milk, and sugar
alternatives such as Swerve make this decadent chocolate cake
keto-friendly. Add a handful of your favorite sugar-free keto-
friendly chocolate chips to the crockpot for a fudgier, richer
cake, then top off your warm slice with a dollop of
heavy whipped cream!

9. Keto Lemon Crockpot Cake

Low Carb Yum
For those that prefer fruity desserts, over chocolate, this
sunshiney keto lemon crockpot cake is a slice of heaven with
delicious citrusy lemon flavor! Almond and coconut flour, as
well as sugar alternatives such as Swerve, make this summery
low-carb cake keto-friendly. Top your cake with fresh berries
and a dollop of heavy whipped cream for an added treat.

10. Keto Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

Keto Diet App
Help yourself to a healthy serving of delicious and hearty keto
slow cooker breakfast casserole. Pre-prepare this breakfast dish
the evening before and have it ready to go for a stress-free
morning. This keto breakfast casserole is chockful of nutritious
ingredients to help you start your day off right.

Fluffy, tender eggs are blended with salty bacon, red bell
peppers, shallots, white mushrooms, kale, and Parmesan cheese
for an explosion of flavor. Keto slow cooker breakfast casserole
is versatile. Feel free to switch up the vegetables and proteins to
your preferred tastes.