Homemade Ketchup Recipe
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Homemade ketchup rocks, and it’s easy to make too!
What childhood is complete without oodles of ketchup??
This is simply one item you cannot remove from a child’s diet. Kids want to feel normal when “hangin’ out” with their friends, regardless of their age. So asking them to pass on the ketchup when all their friends are chowing down on the stuff with a bucket of fries is pretty unreasonable.
So with this scenario in mind, I set out to create my own ketchup recipe. While it may not be the “corn syrup-laden Heinz Ketchup” brand, it comes close enough to put a smile on my son’s face. In fact, his favorite way to eat it is with apples!
Yes, I have a strange child. But he’s just so gosh darn cute that I find it an easy “quirk” to overlook as long as I get a smile like that any day.
HOW LONG DOES HOMEMADE KETCHUP LAST?
So a batch of this doesn’t last long around here, but I’ve had it last as long as 3 weeks. Just to be safe, however, I would say don’t keep it over 2 weeks.
CAN YOU FREEZE HOMEMADE KETCHUP?
Yes, you can! While ketchup will only last about 2-3 weeks in the fridge, you can make a big batch and freeze it up to 6 months!
HOW TO THICKEN HOMEMADE KETCHUP
If your ketchup is too runny, I promise it’ll be okay. You can use a little bit (about 1 tbsp.) or organic cornstarch or arrowroot powder (my personal favorite). But don’t just stir it into your ketchup! You’ll want to dissolve it in a bit of water first. Once it’s totally dissolved, you can add it to your ketchup.
MORE HOMEMADE CONDIMENTS:
HOMEMADE KETCHUP RECIPE:
Homemade Ketchup
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce, no sugar added
- 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste, no sugar added
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. allspice
- ¼ tsp. cloves
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Using a large mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients together until smooth.
- Allow to sit in the fridge overnight to give flavors time to meld.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe updated 11/3/17.
How long does this ketchup keep for?
Rachel – I’ve never been able to keep it around long enough to find out. But without preservatives, I’d say no longer than a week or two at the most. If it goes bad, you should be able to smell it.
Could this be canned?
Marie – I know nothing about canning. You may want to go to a canning web site and email them the recipe to ask. Sorry!
Hi Tiffany, love your site and really appreciate the great recipes. Do you have a clean BBQ sauce recipe?
Brenda – It’s on my very long, to-make list. I’ll see if I can get to is soon. Thanks for asking!
This is great, Tiffany!… and so easy to make. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks.
Sharon – Great! Let me know how you like it!
PS your son is very cute.
Sharon – Awwwe, thanks!
ketchup and apples-well, o.k.,lol but I agree that the ketchup does sound wonderful and yes the smiles are worth it!!!
Trude – You betcha! Those smiles are priceless!
Edie – That’s wonderful! Enjoy!
Yes, I have a BBQ sauce here that is similar.
Reya – Please contact me directly via email: thegraciouspantry@yahoo.com
Maybe a couple weeks.
Thanks so much! Cocktail sauce has been on my list for a while. I’ll see if I can move it up the list.
Your best bet is to make it yourself from fresh tomatoes. Here’s a link I found with everything you need to know: http://www.pickyourown.org/canning_tomatosauce.htm
Yes, this will freeze well. And yes, it will smell funny when it’s bad. It will turn sour.
I’d say about 6 months.
Have you found a prepared horseradish that is clean? I’d love to know the brand if you have. Haven’t been able to find one yet…
Do you have a recipe for clean cocktail sauce?
Candace – Not yet, but it’s on my list.
would you be able to can this recipe? i am new to canning and dehydrating, just thought it might work for storage.
Tracy – I wish I knew, but I know nothing about canning. You’d have to show the recipe to a master canner to find out.
Isn’t the goal of clean eating to use fresh ingredients? Using store bought tomato sauce and tomato paste would keep the recipe from being clean in that regard, no?
Healthy – No. Clean eating is about avoiding PROCESSED foods. But we’re talking about the kind of processing you can’t do in your kitchen. So for example, it’s perfectly fine to buy peanut butter because the process is just as you would make it yourself at home.
I never comment on things and I’m so sorry but I had to on this! Canned tomatoes in any form are one of the WORST things you can eat! Make with fresh tomatoes! !
Heath – Totally a personal choice though. By clean eating standards, it’s fine. The rest is all about how strict you want to be. But I totally get where you’re coming from.
Made this last night for my daughter, the pickiest eater (19 yrs old). She LOVED it! I made a half batch because I didn’t want to waste it if she didn’t like it. Was pleasantly surprised. Will never buy store bought ketchup again. I do my best to buy organic everything and make everything from scratch when possible, so I will make my sauce from scratch next time. 2 thumbs up on this one.
Isabella – Wow! That’s fantastic! So glad she liked it! 😀
I’m totally making this for my multi allergic 2 year old who cannot have vinegar or lemon juice (which is all I have found in other ketchup recipes)! What kind of tomato sauce did you use in this? Is it basically just purred tomato? Thanks.
Ashley H – I just bought a can of regular tomato sauce with nothing else added. Costco has a good one.
I just came across your site, and I’m loving it! My family is in the process of moving, and while we’re at it, I’m going to do my best to help us all eat clean. I just wanted to say, it’s so funny that your son eats (ate?) apples and ketchup. My 4 year old daughter does, too! I’ve never known any other child that does that!!
Heather – Wonderful!! Don’t pack the slow cooker. It can be a lifesaver during a move and really cuts down on pots and pans. As for my little man, he hasn’t eaten that in a while, but he sure did love it back then! But I can’t say much, I liked lettuce and mustard sandwiches for a long time. No meat, no nothing. Just lettuce and mustard. So I guess it runs in the family for him. 🙂 Good luck with the move!
What kind of honey is used in this recipe?
Fran – You can use any honey you prefer. I usually buy clover honey, but I’m not sure now if that’s what I used or not. Really, any clean sweetener will do.