Best Low Carb Ketchup: For Dieters and Diabetics

The best thing about low carb diets is that you can still enjoy a juicy burger. The downside is that you can't slather it in regular ketchup. The problem is that regular ketchup is loaded with high fructose corn syrup. Luckily, some low carb ketchup alternatives are now available. It used to be that you could only get low carb ketchup from specialty companies like Jok n' Als. But now, even Heinz is making products for dieters and diabetics alike. So how do they stack up?

Hands down, Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup (Also known as Heinz One Carb Tomato Ketchup) is the best low carb ketchup you can buy today. With one carb per tablespoon, it's sweetened with sucralose instead of sugar or high fructose corn syrup. As an additional bonus, this low carb ketchup also has 2/3 fewer calories than the regular version. The ingredient list is simple and reassuring; tomatoes, vinegar, salt, onion powder and spices top the list. The color is just a bit deeper than regular ketchup but the texture is pure Heinz goodness. This is one low carb ketchup that's great on whatever you'd normally use ketchup for. You can put it on your burger, dip your eggs in it, and because sucralose is heat stable, you can even use Heinz One Carb Ketchup for recipes like homemade BBQ sauce. You could serve it to company and no one would know.

Jok n' Als low carb ketchup isn't as good as Heinz, but it's definitely tasty. It has a tart flavor and a bit of a kick. This may be due to the chili seasoning that's in the mix. Unlike the disgusting faux ketchup that Walden Farms is selling, Jok n' Als low carb ketchup could be served to your family without causing complaints.
But if you don't want to buy your low carb ketchup, you can make your own with a minimum of fuss. You won't even have to cook it. You can find recipes for making your own low carb ketchup online, but the basics are the same. Take six ounces of tomato paste, eight ounces of Hunt's tomato sauce, three tablespoons of vinegar. Add to that onion powder, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon and garlic powder to taste. Sweeten with Splenda and keep refrigerated. (Of course, if you do want to cook your homemade low carb ketchup you'll get a richer, roasted flavor that you may enjoy more on your food.)

As you can see, you don't have to eat bland burgers or go without ketchup just because you're a diabetic or low carb dieter. There are a number of great low carb ketchup options, and you should try each one until you find a favorite. Bon appetite!