🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Substitute for Ketchup: Complete Guide to Best Alternatives

Discover the best substitutes for ketchup in any recipe. Learn about tomato paste, barbecue sauce, marinara sauce, and other alternatives with proper ratios and cooking tips.

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Quick Answer

The best substitutes for ketchup are tomato paste with sugar and vinegar, barbecue sauce, or marinara sauce. Use 1:1 ratio for most substitutes, adjusting sweetness and acidity based on your recipe requirements.

Best Substitutes

Tomato Paste + Sugar + Vinegar

1:1

Homemade ketchup using concentrated tomato paste with added sweetness and acidity to match ketchup's flavor profile. Most similar to ketchup in taste and texture.

Best for:

cooking and bakingmeatloafsloppy joesbarbecue saucewhen you want to control sweetnessmaking large batches

Mix 1 part tomato paste with 1 part water, 1-2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp vinegar, and salt to taste. Simmer until thickened. Adjust sweetness and acidity to your preference.

Barbecue Sauce

1:1

Sweet and tangy sauce with smoky, complex flavors that works well as a ketchup substitute in many recipes. Adds depth and smokiness.

Best for:

grilled meatsbarbecue dishesmeatloafsloppy joeswhen you want smoky flavormarinades and glazes

Has similar sweet-tangy profile but with added smokiness and spices. May be thinner than ketchup. Works well for meat dishes and grilling applications.

Marinara Sauce

1:1

Italian tomato sauce with herbs and garlic that can be used as a ketchup substitute in cooking applications. Adds Italian flavor profile.

Best for:

pasta dishespizza saucemeatloafwhen you want Italian flavorscooking applicationssoups

Thinner than ketchup and has Italian herbs (oregano, basil). Add sugar and vinegar to make it more ketchup-like. Best for cooking rather than as a condiment.

Tomato Sauce

1:1

Plain tomato sauce without added seasonings that can be enhanced to work as a ketchup substitute. Most neutral option.

Best for:

cooking applicationsmeatloafsloppy joeswhen you want neutral tomato flavormaking homemade ketchuppasta dishes

Much thinner than ketchup and lacks sweetness. Add sugar, vinegar, and spices to make it more ketchup-like. Reduce by simmering to thicken if needed.

Sriracha

1:1

Spicy chili sauce with garlic and vinegar that can work as a ketchup substitute for those who enjoy heat and Asian flavors.

Best for:

when you want heatAsian-inspired dishesspicy condimentsdipping saucesburgerswings

Much spicier than ketchup with garlic and vinegar notes. Add sugar to make it sweeter. Works well for those who like spicy condiments.

Hot Sauce

1:1

Spicy vinegar-based sauce that can be enhanced to work as a ketchup substitute for heat lovers. Adds spice without sweetness.

Best for:

when you want heat without sweetnessspicy condimentsdipping saucesmarinadeswingsburgers

Much thinner and spicier than ketchup. Add sugar and tomato paste to make it more ketchup-like. Choose milder varieties if you want less heat.

Cooking Tips

  • 💡Ketchup adds sweet and tangy flavor to dishes - perfect for balancing spicy or salty foods
  • 💡Use ketchup substitutes in meatloaf, meatballs, and burgers for moisture and flavor
  • 💡Mix ketchup substitutes with mayonnaise for a quick thousand island dressing
  • 💡Add ketchup substitutes to barbecue sauce for extra tang and sweetness
  • 💡Ketchup substitutes work well in baked beans, sloppy joes, and chili
  • 💡Store homemade ketchup substitutes in the refrigerator for up to 6 months

Frequently Asked Questions