Low Carb Barbeque Your Dad Is Sure To Love

Healthy Slow Cooker BBQ Recipes

Now that you've made your commitment to follow a low carb lifestyle, there may be someone who might resist getting on board - Dad. This could likely be because Dad is a barbecue fanatic, and barbecues and low carb don't necessarily sound like they would go together well.

The problem might be when you look at the label on a bottle of barbecue sauce. You'll see quite a bit of added sugars, in all sorts of versions. The good news is, there are ways to make delicious barbecue sauces and rubs right in your own kitchen. You don't need to buy the bottled stuff.

And, it's not all that difficult. Okay, you may find recipes with twenty or more ingredients, but you don't need those. Most barbecue sauce and rub recipes rely on just a few basics for that spicy sweet flavor you love. Let's take a look at a couple recipes that are simple and delicious and very easy to make.

Saucy Low-Carb Barbecue

If you want a finger-licking good sauce for ribs or chicken, you need several flavor profiles - tangy, spicy, and sweet. So, you will need some sugar, but not a lot. With the combination of just a drizzle of honey and some cloves, you have the sweet flavor you need without all the carbs in bottled sauces. Remember, you decide how sweet, spicy, or tangy you want your sauce to be. This recipe is very easy to tweak, too.

1 Tbsp grated onion
1 tsp grated garlic
1 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp kosher salt
drizzle honey to taste
pinch ground cloves to taste
dash hot sauce to taste

Just mix it all together, taste and adjust. You can let the meat marinade in the sauce. You can also brush this on while the meat cooks if you're grilling or baking. There is not as much sugar in it as a bottled sauce, so it won't burn as easily. You can also put the meat in the slow cooker, add the sauce and a little broth, and cook on low until the meat is tender.

Dry Rub Low-Carb Barbecue

For those times when smokehouse type barbecue is in order, this dry rub will give you both a nice crust and smoky flavor, thanks to the smoked paprika.

1 Tbsp coarse ground black pepper
1 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix well, then rub gently into the meat. You can let it sit for a little while to marinade. You can also set the meat in the slow cooker on low heat, add a little broth, and let cook slowly until tender.

Even though there's a bit of sugar in both of these recipes, the amount of carbs is very small per serving. If Dad is a big barbecue fan, he doesn't have to call a halt to his fun. When you clean the bottled barbecue sauce out of your pantry, hand him these recipes. I doubt he, or you, will be disappointed with the results.