Homemade Ketchup

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Nothing is better than homemade ketchup; making your own ketchup is so EASY to make at home and making it yourself allows you to control what goes in it.

Mm mm, nothing is better than homemade ketchup; making your own ketchup is so EASY to make at home and making it yourself allows you to control what goes in it.Homemade Ketchup

Paired perfectly with my Grilled Potatoes or air fryer sweet potato fries! Also try homemade Spicy Chipotle Ketchup.

Ketchup is as American as apple pie, that sweet-sour combination on french fries are irresistible and who doesn’t love it on their burgers! But have you ever checked the label of your favorite brand of ketchup? High Fructose Corn Syrup is used to sweeten most brands of ketchup although I did find organic Heinz ketchup in my health food store that does not contain HFCS’s, but it was half the size at a higher price.

So I thought it would be fun to try making my own and tested and played around with a few recipes until I found one that I loved with some slight changes using honey as my sweetener and cutting back on the sugar and tested it out on some grilled fries (recipe coming!) and the results were delicious…

Mm mm, nothing is better than homemade ketchup; making your own ketchup is so EASY to make at home and making it yourself allows you to control what goes in it.

Mm mm, nothing is better than homemade ketchup; making your own ketchup is so EASY to make at home and making it yourself allows you to control what goes in it.

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Homemade Ketchup

4.76 from 62 votes
1
Cals:20.6
Protein:0.4
Carbs:5.4
Mm mm, nothing is better than homemade ketchup; making your own ketchup is so EASY to make at home and making it yourself allows you to control what goes in it.
Cuisine: American
Mm mm, nothing is better than homemade ketchup; making your own ketchup is so EASY to make at home and making it yourself allows you to control what goes in it.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Yield: 22 servings
Serving Size: 1 tablespoon

Ingredients

  • 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup honey, or agave
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat; whisk until smooth.
  • When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often.
  • Remove from heat and cover until cool.
  • Chill and store refrigerated in a covered container.

Last Step:

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Notes

Adapted from Food.com
Ketchup will last for at least seven days in the refrigerator. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 tablespoon, Calories: 20.6 kcal, Carbohydrates: 5.4 g, Protein: 0.4 g, Sodium: 140.7 mg, Fiber: 0.4 g, Sugar: 4.7 g

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260 comments on “Homemade Ketchup”

  1. Thank you very much for sharing this recipe, it is much appreciated. I am allergic to the nightshade family, and am using this to replace ketchup in the many recipes that call for it.

  2. Recipe is fantastic! I made homemade tomato paste and omitted the water. I also cut back on the vinegar, used about a 1/4 cup and backed off the honey to 1/8 cup.
    Perfect! Thank you for this amazing recipe

  3. Avatar photo
    Joan McDaniel

    I didn’t have honey so I added extra sugar. I didn’t have tomato paste so I used a small can of tomato sauce. It tastes like catsup! Very good recipe, when you realize you left catsup off the grocery list.

  4. Delicious, used organic everything and Stevia instead of sugar added some cayenne pepper, Dan-o’s spicy and Slap your Momma for some heat!

  5. Really good recipe for the first one I’ve ever tried. Easy. I couldn’t wait to eat it I ate it warm lol yum!

  6. Easy and delicious. I did also add Worcestershire and chili powder as my niece and I prefer a more savory ketchup. I also used white balsamic vinegar since it does have the same tang as regular white.

    1. What did you do differently? Because you had to have done something to make this simple recipe “inedible”.

  7. Awesome recipe!! I did some adjustments!! Less vinegar, little more water and a splash of Worcestershire!!
    Delicious!! My Grand loves it!

  8. Very fast and easy and pretty close to the real deal. I was able to find everything or a close substitute on hand at home.

  9. This is really good. I didn’t alter the above recipe at all. Everyone’s tastes are different or more sensitive but I thought the vinegar was the perfect amount. Wow. I’m gonna hang onto this! I can’t wait until it cools down to in order to try it but as I’m cooking? Delicious!

  10. Love the simplicity of this tasty Ketchup recipe! Thank you for sharing! Next time, I ‘ll reduce the vinegar to 1/3 cup and add more to taste, if needed!
    Would love if you are able to update and note the number of fl. oz this recipe makes–I’m estimating it’s about 1-1/3 cups total of ketchup.

  11. Was delicious! Didn’t realize that it was so easy to make ketchup. I did substitute date syrup for the sugar.

  12. This was so delicious! It was a bit tart. I could taste the white vinegar a little. The next time I make it I will cut back on the vinegar by maybe a tablespoon or two. But I so enjoyed this. Very simple and didn’t take long to make at all.

  13. Avatar photo
    Brenda E Desselle

    Delish! Will make more now that I got this recipe. Of course I did not have the garlic or honey, so made a couple of changes. I used brown sugar instead, added some red pepper flakes and Worcestershire sauce. No matter, thanks so much as I used ketchup on just about everything,

  14. I made burgers today and discovered I was out of ketchup. I found this wonderful, easy recipe and it saved the day. I used Cento tomato paste which is already a little sweet (and delicious).  I put in half the vinegar as I don’t like strong vinegar taste.  I tasted it before and after adding sugar. It doesn’t need the sugar. It was great without. I didn’t wait until it was cooled, and it was still delicious. I found elsewhere that it should last about three weeks. The amount it made was perfect for me.

  15. Avatar photo
    Lorraine A Bruschini

    It’s Memorial Day and I could not find my Ketchup that I know I bought. I found this recipe and I am glad I did! It is delicious! My significant other said it’s better than Heinz! Thanks for sharing and saving the day!

  16. I think it’s a FABULOUS addition to my meals… I don’t usually use powdered spices… I grated fresh garlic…and chopped up some green onions…tossed them in with a splash of EVOO.. then added the other ingredients… I omitted the sugar…and stuck with honey….

    Quite honestly… I don’t see myself buying ketchup/catsup anytime in the future!!!
    Thank you sooooooooo much…(I believe THIS is the highlight of my entire week {I MUST get out more…lol} I’m THRILLED!!!
    Blessings to you all💕💞💕

  17. The first review I read for this recipe almost made me skip it so glad i didn’t pay it much mind. I ran out of ketchup and was grilling burgers. This recipe came in handy.  My daughter felt like it came up short on the acidity so I will just add a bit more vinegar. The consistency was thicker than I like so the additional vinegar will help that too. I stored it in a small mason jar. Not using a squirt bottle adds class to our meals. 

  18. Oooo this one did not go over well with my family.   I should have tested it before starting because I normally like “healthier” options for foods and I thought it was nasty too. Threw the rest in the garbage. I really wish that people would review something after teaching it per the recipe instructions. This rating is very misleading and I followed the recipe to the letter.

  19. Avatar photo
    Donna Desrochers

    This recipe was good but I left out the sugar and I used imported Italian puréed tomatoes.  Best ketchup ever!!

  20. Came together quickly, tastes great. I added a dash of worcestershire sauce. I’ll never buy ketchup again. 

  21. My husband and I loved this recipe! I want to make large batches of this ketchup and put in our basement where it is cool. How long does this ketchup keep? 

    1. Most ketchups can be stored if proper canning methods and can safe recipes are followed for a year to a year and a half! 🙂 

    1. Avatar photo
      Cadynna Adair

      Right under the prep time – yields 22 servings.
      Under the nutrition information 1 serving = 1 Tbsp
      This gives you 22 Tbsp = 1.375 cups 1-3/8cups

  22. Avatar photo
    Tina Clippinger

    Oh my!   Delicious!   I have a baked bean recipe that calls for 1/2C catsup which I didn’t have.  I found this recipe & will now forever be spoiled for this wonderful catsup.  I did add a bay leaf.  So good!

  23. Yes!  I wasn’t looking to make ketchup until I was completely out with a very large bbq gathering in an hour. Lol. 

    I made ketchup and chipotle ketchup.  

    You saved the day Gina
    Thank you 

  24. It certainly does look like a very good recipe inded. Although the cooking, simmering and stirring are not difficult, when I make it I will double or quadruple the ingredients. The cited yield would not last me long enough.

    1. Substitute homemade simple syrup for the honey to bring down the coat even more. Substitute tomato juice in an aluminum can for the tomato paste and water so that you can recycle the can.

    1. Avatar photo
      Tina Clippinger

      You’ll need to substitute something for the sweetness to offset acid of the vinegar.  Molasses, brown sugar, maple syrup may be interesting.

  25. You say to use 1/2 c of white vinegar but you don’t say which acid level. Using my white vinegar of 9% acid this tastes awful. It was so sour that I tripled the honey and the salt to save the recipe. It also needs more than 1/4 of water if it is going to be cooked for as long as the directions state.

    1. Avatar photo
      Puffinnuggins

      Also u don’t need to cook it for more than a few minutes to dissolve the sugar. U can cook longer to reduce and make thicker its at a simmer only so slightly medium high or just medium will do. High heat will cause timing issues.

    1. Avatar photo
      Tina Clippinger

      I wondered the same, Frank.  I did flavor tests throughout the cooking time.  It needed that cook time for the flavors to come together, the tart to balance out, and the general flavors to fuse.

  26. I accidentally bought Distilled White Vinegar, but it didn’t matter, it is DELICIOUS. Im throwing away my store bought bottle!

  27. Tried this yesterday. It is excellent. I actually made two changes. The first was that I only used the honey. I didn’t add the additional sugar as I wanted to taste it first. It was quite tangy, which I think the additional sugar was meant to balance out. However, I thought it was sweet enough. What I chose to do instead was sprinkle on a bit of baking soda, maybe the equivalent of 1/4-1/2 tsp. It immediately started to fiz which showed it was working and it was successful in neutralizing the acid in the tomatoes. No additional sugar was needed. Thank you for posting this recipe. I never seem to use up all the little cans of tomato paste before they get to old. This was a perfect solution to use them up and I feel better knowing what is in my ketchup! <3

  28. This is delicious and so easy. The only change I will make in future is to cut down on sweetener since I like my ketchup a little tangy. I will never buy store ketchup again.

  29. I just made a batch. Since my husband was told he was pre-diabetic, we haven’t had ketchup in the house. He now uses mustard as his condiment of choice, but he really missed the ketchup.
    I used agave (a lower glycemic index than honey) and substituted a tsp of birch xylitol (a natural sugar with a lower glycemic index) for the sugar. It tasted pretty good. Kudos to the chef. Thanks for posting,

  30. Great little recipe. I mixed vinegars (rice, white wine, red wine and apple cider vinegars) instead of only using white wine vinegar. I also used 50/50 maple syrup and honey, instead of only honey.
    I’d say overall it’s slightly too sweet. Maybe due to the maple. Next time I wouldn’t add that extra dose of sugar that’s in the recipe, until I’d tasted it first. 

  31. I just made this and after removing from the stove it tastes like pure honey with a hint of tomato. I can’t imagine eating this so I know my very picky toddler won’t. I followed the recipe exactly with no adjustments or substitutions. The consistency and color looks like ketchup but the flavor is far from ketchup. Is this the normal taste while it’s warm? I’ve popped it in the fridge and am hoping it’s much less sweet and the flavors blend better by tomorrow.

    1. Avatar photo
      Swan Richards

      I am not sure why you would comment, let alone rate this, before you completed the instructions? It clearly says to remove from heat and cover til cool (which continues the process) and then chill before serving?!

      1. I literally intended to do the same thing DIANNA did before reading this comment; except I was going to rate it 2 stars. Your comment saved me from making the same mistake.

        After reading, I let the recipe fully cool down on the stove to room temperature, then I chilled it in the fridge for 2-3 hours.

        This Homemade Ketchup recipe is a legit 5-star. I apologize for being impatient and almost giving it an unjust review.

  32. Thank you so much for this great recipe! I was out of ketchup and didn’t want to go to the store for just it because of the COVID 19 quarantine. So I googgled it and yours came up. Thanks, Melaney from SoCal

    1. Yes! Like Melaney, I also made it out of necessity – not being able to get to the store due to the quarantine. I was able to use home made tomato paste from my bumper crop of tomatoes last summer…so my ketchup also has garlic, oregano and basil flavoring. This recipe is easy and delicious. I may never buy Heinz again.

  33. Thank you soo much for a simple and easy recipe with minimal ingredients.
    I tried a couple of recipes before and was reluctant to try another, but really wanted to give my kids junk free ketchup. Saving your recipe and making double or even triple batch next time 🙂

  34. I was looking for a simple recipe for ketchup to go along with my sweet potato fries.. I had tomato paste, so I searched “ketchup recipe tomato paste” and came across this recipe. I read the ingredients and I actually had everything on the list of ingredients. I never made ketchup before, and after seeing all the other “extra” ingredients found in other recipes – cloves, mustard powder, cumin…What???? – I was a little skeptical about this one. Simple was what I wanted and it looked simple enough. I collected my ingredients and dumped them into the saucepan as instructed. The tomato paste i used had been in the freezer, but I added it as a frozen block into the pan. I used apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar, because it was what I had. I added a little more sugar because I like my ketchup a little sweet…like Hunt’s. THE RESULT: Hunt’s is exactly what it tasted like. Oh My Goodness!!! This recipe was super simple and WONDERFULLY KETCHUPY (Yes, that’s a word :-). I ate more of the fries than I had anticipated. I blame the ketchup. 🙂 This recipe has now been added to my I-love-this-recipe folder. I will definitely make this ketchup again. Check the rating…this recipe is Highly Recommend. Oh, and I bookmarked skinnytaste.com. Much deserving. Thanks. 🙂

    1. Hi, Joylynn. 🙂 Yes you can. I did, and in the same amount. I just posted my review of this recipe…it’s right before yours. I loved it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 🙂

  35. Avatar photo
    BARBARA E MARSH

    My husband is on a very low sodium diet. I needed ketchup for a brisket recipe, but I was out of the no salt added ketchup. I made this recipe leaving out the salt. Much better tasting than the commercial brands. The best part is that I know that I can zip up the flavor with additional spices that I have on hand.

    1. sounds amazing! i need your brisket recipe 🙂 i’m actually about to whip some up- but i can’t find my go-to recipe 🙁 
      about to make this ketchup and hope for the best 😅

  36. Wow, this was so easy!! Very flavorful homemade ketchup. I ran out during quarantine and didn’t want to go grocery shopping, but now I’m a homemade ketchup convert! Thank you so much for the recipe!

  37. I made this today and it turned out great! I did add a bit more water and was able to make almost a while mason jar. Great recipe! Thank you! 

  38. Wow! This recipe came out great. I have two little kids and wanted to make a ketchup without high fructose corn syrup, and to use in our homemade BBQ and sloppy joe sauces.

  39. Why not just buy organic ketchup, relish, mustard, pickles, etc…..they are no more expensive than conventional…Trader Joe's organics are super cheap and will last awhile and you don't have to make it….

  40. @Candice – "he adult digestive system will kill the bacteria in the honey before it reaches the fetus, and therefore is safe.
    It is dangerous for infants under age 1, because their digestive systems aren't acidic enough to kills the spores and it can cause botulism."

    Why would I use honey then, Stevia or Agave is better, who wants botulism?

  41. And you have to watch out on your sea salt too. It needs to be a light pink or light taupe color. If it is white like regular table salt, that sea salt has been refined to

  42. Stevia goes through 40 steps to process this from the plant relying on chemicals like acetone, menthanol, ethanol, acetonitrile and isopropanol. some of those are carcinogens. How can a chemically derived extract be deemed safe??

  43. My son goes through SO much ketchup, he puts it on almost everything. I was buying Non-HFCS Ketchups and they were running me $2.44+ per bottle, the cost was really adding up so I am SO happy I finally found you!! I always make the batch double so I don't have to make it as often and I store it in Mason Jars. The only thing I switched was I used Stevia in place of sugar and I used Sea Salt for the Salt but it is still delicious!

  44. I make mine with splenda. Sorry I hate stevia. I also add some braggs vinegar, and cinnamon, curry powder, soy sauce and a tiny bit of cyanne pepper. Yum for me.

  45. I made a great cocktail sauce for shrimp using 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of horseradish, and a cup of ketchup. Excellent! It got great reviews and I had no leftovers. Thanks for this ketchup recipe.

  46. The contents in this homemade ketchup is going to be way better than buying it processed. As for the pros and cons for agave and honey take the info with a grain of salt. I am so looking forward to making this. Thank you.

  47. Could you reduce the amount of honey/sweetener? I tend to like my ketchup with a "tang" (less on the sweet side) but don't want to compromise consistency.

  48. I'll have to try this because I'm so tired of no longer being able to buy Heinz in glass bottles. Everything is in plastic (and usually unrecyclable plastic at that)!

    I will elect for honey myself.

    That said, there may be healthier alternatives, but in the end it's all sweetener. Just sayin'.

  49. Avatar photo
    Ernest L Sewell, IV

    Hands down the best homemade ketchup recipe! I multiply everything x4 and make a big batch. It's also a good base for homemade BBQ sauce when it calls for ketchup.

  50. I was curious what the simmering does for it and what to look for to know it is done besides 20 minutes passing. Thanks!

    1. Avatar photo
      Ernest L Sewell, IV

      It's to get the flavors working together, and cook the raw ingredients (like honey). It also intensifies the flavors. (Sorta like asking why cook anything?) You don't wanna boil it of course, just enough to work out any raw dangers in it.

  51. Could you please tell us how long it lasts in the fridge please? And thank you very much for the delicious recipe.

    1. Avatar photo
      Christine Mann

      in a comment above she said it lasts about a week. I mentioned freezing it in ice cube trays and then popping them into ziploc bags for easy access. They'd be quick to defrost 🙂

  52. Thanks for this great recipe, Gina! I made it the other day, and even the boyfriend thinks it tastes great! In the summer, I buy a lot of local organic honey in my area. I end up spending a pretty penny, but I know it's healthier and I can use it year-round when winter settles in. I love the idea of only a few ingredients in a homemade ketchup and replacing a condiment that is usually ridden with corn syrup and other unnamable things! Thank you again!

    Here's the link to my homemade ketchup blog post:
    http://bellewoodcreativity.com/wp/2013/02/24/homemade-ketchup/

  53. Hunt's doesn't contain HFCS. That's a major brand so it's not difficult to find. It's very affordable as well.

  54. Avatar photo
    athena rodicio

    Does anyone know how long this will last in the refrigerator and is it okay to store in one of the plastic ketchup bottles? I haven't done canning before but could I with this recipe?

  55. Avatar photo
    xX Lindsey Xx

    I made this yesterday and it was delicious!
    I made a veggie burger wrapped in lettuce with some of this homemade ketchup on it and I loved it! I was just wondering if I could try to can it?

  56. I found you via pinterest…thank you for the recipe. We made it tonight as we are running low on our current stach of HFCS free ketchup and I had all the ingredients for this on hand. It is just a bit sweet for but otherwise perfect. Next time I'll omit the sugar alltogether and put a little less honey but the flavor is spot on. My girl loves it. I don't think I'll be buying ketchup anymore.

  57. Thank you for sharing the recipe you took so much time to develop. As an editor, I would like to share my expertise with you. In the first sentence of the second paragraph, it should read "that sweet-sour combination ….. is…" as combination is a single subject and takes a singular verb. Now, off to make some homemade catsup, finally. Thanks again!

  58. Just by reading the comments, you can tell everyone's tastes vary greatly. If it's too acidic, cut back a bit on the vinegar. If it's too sweet, cut back on the sugar! This is a very low-cost recipe, and once you get it just right for your tastes you'll be saving money in the long run. I can't wait to try this!

  59. Hi Gina!

    Is it possible to freeze the Ketchup made for later use? Its just my husband and I and I know we may not go through it all in a few weeks, and I don't want to waste. Thanks!

    1. Avatar photo
      Christine Mann

      I haven't made this yet so i cant say for sure on the finished product, but I often freeze some tomato paste when there's too much for one meal and it is totally fine to thaw and use later. I'm totally gonna try freezing it too 🙂

  60. Ok, so I am obsessed with ketchup. I put it on almost everything and I ONLY like Heinz (I think Hunt's tastes weird). I've also tried the reduced sugar kind, and other varieties but I don't like any of them. Only the original Heinz recipe.

    So to those Ketchup lovers who have already tried this, does this take like Heinz at all? I'd rather not make it if I'm going to be disappointed. I'm sure it is great – because all of Gina's recipes are great – but if it doesn't taste like Heinz, then it won't be for me. Please let me know!

    1. Everyone's tastes are different. The best way to tell is to try for yourself. All the ingredients are low-cost, so you won't lose out on much if you decide it's not what you are looking for. If anything – give it to a friend or neighbor with the recipe attached.

    2. I love Heinz too. I thought this Ketchup was good. I was in a rush to make it and didn’t see that I was supposed to cook it, LOL. It is good maybe a little more vinegary than Heinz, I’m not sure. Try it, I think you will like it.

  61. just made this and it was kid approved! I tried many different recipes for ketchup, but this one is the keeper!

  62. When bring it to a boil then low in an attempt to get a simmer, all I get is harsh bubbles and lots of splatter. Any idea on how to combat this? -JP

  63. Just made this ketchup and it was awesome! This is so easy and way more cost effective than store bought, and I have peace of mind knowing exactly whats in this.

  64. WOW Gina, I just found your blog when I was looking for a homemade ketchup recipe, which, by the way is delicious. You have such a breadth of tasty looking AND healthy recipes and I can't wait to try them!

  65. Avatar photo
    Tiffany @ No Ordinary Homestead

    Looking forward to trying this recipe! HFCS in ketchup just makes me insane! I've also linked to your recipe in my new blog post: http://www.noordinaryhomestead.com/11-sauces-condiments-you-can-make-at-home/ Hope you stop by some time when you get a chance!

    1. Yeah, a little. I added more tomato paste and seasonings to get it to a more tomato-y flavour; the vinegar kinda obliterated it as written.

  66. Thanks for this recipe. I'm going to try it when ours runs out. Off subject- where did you find that colorful whisk?

  67. Avatar photo
    Colin Wiseman

    Ketchup, it's about as American as say tea and crumpets 😀

    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_was_ketchup_invented

  68. Can't wait to try this. Because of the abundance of homegrown tomatoes, I definitely want to use those instead of canned tomato paste. Love to capture the fresh taste of summer to pressure can and use all winter long 🙂

  69. Thank you for great recipe. I cooked homemade ketchup from your recipe. I just modified sugar to something else but my son really loves it. Aesook

  70. Avatar photo
    Lisa Montalva

    My daughter and I are ketchup lovers. I use ketchup in a lot of my recipes as well because its great alternative for my readers when they don't have all the spices that are needed. Please share your recipes with my readers. I have over 1 million visitors per month. Lisa Montalva

  71. Avatar photo
    Jen @ WeddedEverAfter

    this was great! I can't believe how easy it is. I am going to whip up another batch and use cayenne pepper and garlic powder to make it a bit spicy…Maybe some red pepper flakes..
    I found I didn't have to use teh sweetner when using the agave it was sweet enough for my taste!

  72. I found this recipe to be way too sweet for me. The flavor was great, but I think I'll halve the amount of sweeteners the next time I make it. 🙂 Thank you for the recipe.

  73. Made this tonight for my "indoor cookout." It was just as amazing as all your recipes are. I've lost 25 lbs in the past 3 months thanks to working out & changing my eating habits. I've included many of your recipes. Thanks so much Gina!!

  74. Avatar photo
    Krystal Lovelace

    Is there a way to make it without vinegar?? I've also been looking for homemade mustard without vinegar. Any suggestions?

    1. Avatar photo
      Keren and Joe Jackson

      Look up lacto-fermented ketchup. I believe you make that without vinegar, using whey instead. It takes longer to make, though.

  75. I tried this tonight but read the recipe wrong so I used a can of tomato sauce. I couldn't figure out why it wasn't thickening up! Haha, I'm going to have to try it again!

  76. This is great, Gina!! Do you have a recipe for chocolate syrup? We love it, but I rarely buy it because of the HFCS.

    1. Nesquik syrup has no HFCS, I switched to it from Hershey's several years ago for that very reason. I have also made chocolate syrup myself. I would definitely be interested to see Gina do her magic on a make at home version.

  77. LOVE your site!!! I am out of tomato paste. Could I successfully sub tomoato sauce? Maybe omit the water? Any suggestions to make this work? Thanks!

    1. I tried it w/ 1/2 15oz can of tomato sauce and omitted the water. Delicious! I am sure it would be better w/ tomato paste, but worked well.

  78. This is a great recipe! We like it better than store bought. I even used it in my homemade cocktail sauce. =)

  79. I'm spending the summer showing my 9 year old you CAN make a lot of things you would normally buy at the store. This recipe is basic in both flavored an ingredients so she can do most of it herself…thanks

  80. I'm sure this recipe is great but if you're looking for a good ketchup without HFCS, Trader Joe's is the way to go. Their organic ketchup has only 6 ingredients in it and is only $1.99 for a 24 oz bottle. Also comes in at 1 pp+ for 1/4 cup.

  81. Made this yesterday after receiving the recipe. I do not use ketchup but my husband loves it – he gave it two thumbs up! He really like the flavor and asked that it become The Ketchup we use : )

  82. Avatar photo
    Robyn @ Blueberries and Oats

    I can't wait to try this recipe! I hate how almost all ketchup has freaking HFC in it. Gross!

  83. You are making me long for my Mama's ketchup that she made from our garden tomatoes back in the 1950s. Her recipe included a touch of cinnamon! I don't know where that cinnamon came from but it is delicious. Test in a small amount sometime. You might like it! Keep the good recipes coming! Thanks!

  84. I just saw a cooking segment that said Heinz will be marketing a new ketchup made with Balsamic vinegar. I think I will try this here.
    I love your recipes!

  85. Are you going to do your own BBQ sauce too? I've been wanting to try that and get better tasting stuff without all the extra junk in the store bought versions.

  86. Avatar photo
    LiteraryLadybug

    Is there a recipe for those thick cut french fries I see in the picture?!?! I could just gobble those up! Thank you for the wonderful recipes! Love them!

  87. I appreciate the fact that you are using honey or agave as sweetener…. but I'm curious why you feel it's necessary to put in ANY white sugar at all. I realize it's only 1 tsp…. but is there something that sugar does to the texture or something that you wouldn't get otherwise? I've always wondered about the chemical reaction of sugar in foods. Just wondering if you could substitute a tsp of stevia instead. I'd love to know why you chose sugar. Thanks!

    1. Avatar photo
      Gina @ Skinnytaste

      The sugar I used was raw, but I didn't specify because that's just the sugar I use in my coffee. You can certainly use stevia instead.

  88. How do you always seem to know just when I need a recipe, lol? Cutting out regular sugar and HFCS, and I just found a recipe for one of my favorite BBQ sauces and was wondering how I could do it without store-bought ketchup. Now I know!! (and it may be used for some sauce for ribs for Father's Day!)

  89. Great recipe, can't wait to try it! And I'm going to price it out so I see how much money I save as well. Has anyone tried making this in big batches and freezing it?

  90. could you replace the honey or agave with Stevia as the sweetener. Try to stay away from all of those and use stevia instead. Thanks,

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      Gina @ Skinnytaste

      Perhaps? But not sure how it would taste. Maybe you can cut it back and a bit and add stevia to balance.

  91. Avatar photo
    Jessica@AKitchenAddiction

    Love the idea of knowing exactly what is in my ketchup! Perfect time for all of the bbq's and picnics that are going on!

  92. I have started buying the Hunt's without HFCS too. I'm in the midwest and they sell it at Walmart and SuperTarget. It's the same price as the regular Hunt's which is great! Still, this seems like it would be cheaper then the $1.50 I paid yesterday for a new bottle! 🙂

  93. Avatar photo
    Carrie @ Season It Already!

    We never have ketchup in our house because we so rarely eat it. I think I could make a much smaller batch of this if we are ever in need because those are ingredients we always have on hand. Thanks!

  94. In order to use fresh tomatoes instead of tomato paste – would you just have to render it down? Love your site! Thanks

  95. Wonder how to make without using any canned items – no matter what it is, a canned item comes with it's chemicals, preservatives, and all things unnatural. Home grown tomatoes on the vine; must be some way to transform them into ketchup.

    1. You can make your own tomato paste! There are tons of recipes online, like this one: http://greekfood.about.com/od/doityourself/r/domatopoltos.htm

    2. Avatar photo
      theglencoegirl

      thanks!! that was my question!!! we have tons of garden fresh tomatoes and we don't use and canned tomatoe products!!

  96. Awesome! Some flavored ketchups would be great too.

    I've been really really happy with the reduced sugar hienz though 😉 no HFCS's. And I see they also have a "simply Heinz" that contains no HFCS either. (boy they make a lot of different ketchups! Lol who knew!

  97. I did find a 100% Natural Hunt's Ketchup that says NO High Fructose Corn Syrup….and there is none listed on the label! The price was not out this world! Just thought I'd share!Thanks for this great recipe!!!Elizabeth

  98. I am holding a weekly cooking "camp" for my 8-year old twin daughters this summer. They are going to pick and choose what they want to learn to make, but for our first lesson we are going to make this ketchup and fries (which will be baked or grilled). Thank you, Gina!! You make my life easy =)

  99. I might try subbing some of the Vinegar for Malt Vinegar.
    And also might try adding
    -Chipotle Powder
    -Cayenne Pepper Powder
    -Chipotle in Adobo
    -Garlic

  100. It sounds like it would be fun to make your own ketchup! And just think of all of the different flavours you could make!

    1. I was wondering about canning the ketchup also. I would also like to know how long it will stay good in the refrigerator. THANKS!

  101. Avatar photo
    Val @ Tips on Healthy Living

    I was just thinking the same thing. It's nearly impossible to find ketchup without HFCS and organic is so pricey. I like my ketchup on the vinegar/sour side so I might add a little more vinegar and a little less water.

    1. You know, I just looked at the ketchup we have this morning and realized it was the Hunt's brand 100% Natural with no HFCS (though it isn't organic). I actually bought it on sale so it was cheaper than all the other brands. But even when its not on sale, its not super expensive like the organic ones. Might be a good alternative for some, though I definitely want to make my own. Especially, like you said, to customize the flavor! I'm so excited to try this!

    2. Avatar photo
      The NEW Mommiez Blend

      I have bought that kind for a while now because it was HFCS-free. BEWARE! The last time I picked it up it was no longer HFCS-free and says preservative free. Sure enough, read the label and HFCS is in there 🙁 Grr. Thumbs down Hunt's!

    3. This just happened to me, too! I've been buying Hunts with no HFCS and I went to grab another bottle and sure enough, it has it now. 🙁 Boo…making own today.

  102. Avatar photo
    Autumn@GoodEatsGirl

    AWESOME!!! I need to try this….my kids eat ketchup like it is going out of style, and making it for them would be such a great thing!

    1. Agave is really terrible for you! It's actually worse than HFCS. See this post: http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/. It's frustrating how the agave makers managed to market it to people to think that it's healthy!

  103. Avatar photo
    Michelle Levine

    You have been nominated for a blog award! Check it out
    http://eatandsipinthecity.com/2012/06/11/eat-and-sip-in-the-city-receives-the-pink-tree-award/

  104. Awesome! I have a love for ketchup, but a hatred for all of the added sugars. I will definately be trying out this recipe!

    http://greaselovinggirl.blogspot.com/

  105. Oh wow! That recipe seems awesome!
    I sooooo love ketchup.
    I think I'm gonna try this during my summer holiday!!
    Thanks for sharing!!

  106. I use the recipe from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook for ketchup. It uses carrot puree as a sweetener. You can Google deceptively delicious ketchup recipe to find it, if you don't have the book.

  107. Avatar photo
    Samantha_dessertaholic

    This is great! I love knowing what's actually in the food/condiments, ect that I put into my body. It's also a plus that this can be made on the stove, since it's been 80+ degrees here almost every day! Definitely looking forward to that fry recipe, considering how bad fries really are for you.

  108. Avatar photo
    Millie Snyder

    This is a great idea, ketchup is an ingredient I often overlook even though its so commonly used. This recipe makes my mind go back to my experience at the restaurant "Ketchup" in L.A. I ordered their fries (everyone had been raving about them) and the dish came with 5 different home-made ketchups- some more sweet, some salty…etc. My favorite was one that had cinnamon infusions! I guess the lesson here is that we shouldn't underestimate ketchup! 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe.

  109. having a toddler, I have never purchased so much ketchup as I do now. I JUST got home from grocery store and thought "I wish I knew how to make my own" while I was grabbing yet another bottle of ketchup there. Thank you so much!!!

  110. Avatar photo
    Ellen B Cookery

    Thanks for this recipe. I use ketchup as a binder when cooking ground meat. I can't use eggs due to my daughter's allergies. I could sure use the cost savings from the price of Heinz' organic ketchup, which is what I use.

  111. Thanks so much for recipe! My teenage, hockey player, son is trying to GAIN weight (I wish) and his trainer said to avoid ketchup in his diet because of all the sugar. This is perfect!

    1. Avatar photo
      Gina @ Skinnytaste

      Well it still has honey so you want to always have ketchup in moderation. Luckily a little goes a long way.

  112. Avatar photo
    Raven Blackmane

    How long will it keep in the fridge?

    And I'm turning to your site for yummy healthy foods to be a fit pregnant lady!

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      Christine Mann

      You could try freezing it in ice cube trays and then pop them into ziplocs, quick to defrost 🙂

    2. Avatar photo
      Christine Mann

      oh- and great recipe btw thanks so much! I'm going to try this with the Stevia instead. I can't have honey or sugar 🙂 Have a fabulous week! 🙂

    3. Avatar photo
      Ernest L Sewell, IV

      I did this recipe x4, and made a huge batch. That was months ago, and it's still fine in the fridge. (Although I think we're about to finish it off this weekend w/ our pending cookout.)
      In fact, the next time I make it, I plan to cook it about 15 minutes, then can it, seal it, and cook it in a water bath for another 10 minutes. It'll keep a lot longer this way, and you'll have ketchup for a year or more.
      This really is the perfect recipe, and is better than most ketchups out there. We will just never buy ketchup again.

    4. I had been looking online for lactofermented ketchup recipes because I had read that they last a couple of months in the fridge. I found a recipe that looks pretty easy in which they use either whey (drained from yogurt) or vegetable starter culture to culture the homemade ketchup. Here is the link to the recipe, which includes a video:
      http://www.foodrenegade.com/homemade-lactofermented-ketchup-recipe/

  113. i wonder if you could add the honey at the end of the process because if you use raw honey heating it will kill all the good proteins in it.

    1. This is awesome! It is so hard to find non HFCS Ketchup! How long do you think this last in the refrigerator?

    2. Just remember, raw/unpasteurized honey poses a health risk for pregnancies, children 12 months & under and maybe be an issue others with compromised immune systems. I use raw honey too (preferred), just be aware of your target eater.

    3. A few hints to make this better?
      1. Agave is pure sugar. Good honey is a much better choice.
      2. Use 1/2 packet of Stevia instead of sugar.
      3. Use kosher salt instead of table salt.
      This way you have a more diabetic friendly recipe with no preservatives except the white vinegar.

    4. Avatar photo
      Candice Warby

      Jennifer, raw honey is not unsafe for pregnant women. The pasteurization process of honey is no different, because the process is used to prevent crystallization, not kill bacteria. The adult digestive system will kill the bacteria in the honey before it reaches the fetus, and therefore is safe.
      It is dangerous for infants under age 1, because their digestive systems aren't acidic enough to kills the spores and it can cause botulism.

    5. Candice, I think it is a matter of why take the risk? In my nursing program we are taught that pregnant women should stay away from honey.

    6. Thank you for the info on the agave! I have been using it in place of honey. Didn't realize honey was better. Excited to try this!

    7. Avatar photo
      Helen - my lil adventures

      If agave is pure sugar, why is processed granular sugar any better? Just curious.

    8. Agave nectar making mostly fructose with glucose and it comes from a plant-making it a bit healthier.
      Table sugar also known as Sucrose is an crystallized Chemical/Compound with no nutritional value.
      The name Sugar is s description for sweeteners. Agave is a pure sugar but a natural sugar in stead of a chemicals- we all wish it still came from Sugar cane.

    9. Made mostly of*
      FYI I'm was saying all that to be a know it all, just passing info from nutrition's Class

    10. Avatar photo
      Elizabeth WaterRollsUphill

      Sugar is sugar is sugar. ALL sugar is bad for you, excepting fructose when packaged with the fiber it came with (ie. whole/pureed fruit) and even fruit shouldn't be consumed in large quantities. There are also concerns regarding hormone disruptions with agave, while all of the science isn't in yet, I'm not willing to risk it with my own children and husband.

    11. Avatar photo
      Coriander Bloom

      The fear for honey makes me laugh. Yet people are totally cool with vaccinating their barely 1 minute old. Smh. I think your recipe is completely great, no fear here.

    12. I just recently started using agave. I read that it was low glycemic and it sounded like it might be good. I'll have to look into it more because I didn't read anything about hormone disruption. :/

    13. I just recently started using agave. I read that it was low glycemic and it sounded like it might be good. I'll have to look into it more because I didn't read anything about hormone disruption. :/

    14. Xylitol would also be a good substitute for sugar or honey if you don't like the taste of stevia, like me.

    15. I will make with honey, and I would not ever be feeding a baby under 12 mos old ketchup anyway.. Seems like a bit of common sense.