Make a quick, wholesome ketchup you won’t mind letting kids eat by the spoonful. This easy homemade ketchup uses unrefined sweetener and simple pantry ingredients. It contains no corn syrup or preservatives and comes together in under two minutes.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I trust.

Have you ever reached for ketchup at a BBQ only to find a single sad squirt left in the bottle?

That happened to me once—twelve hungry people on the porch, burgers ready, and one nearly empty bottle of ketchup sitting in the fridge.

I stood there with the fridge door open and thought: homemade ketchup. But I didn’t want to simmer a pot or fuss over a stove.

This recipe requires no cooking. It’s a no-cook, whisk-and-go ketchup that I made in under two minutes and brought out to the porch with the other condiments—no one guessed it wasn’t store-bought.

Homemade ketchup

Over the years I’ve adjusted this blend to suit our taste. I love it for the simple, real-food ingredients, the squeezable consistency, and the money saved by making ketchup at home.

Basic ingredients you likely already have:

• 12 oz tomato paste (two 6 oz cans)
• 1/4 cup unrefined sweetener (coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup)
• 2 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons mustard (reduce to 1/2 tsp if using powdered mustard)
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan or sea salt
• 1/2–1 cup filtered water (or some whey from yogurt to add probiotics)

Using a bit of yogurt whey in place of some water adds a mild probiotic boost—kids won’t notice, and it’s an easy way to increase nutrition.

How to make ketchup

This no-cook method is fast and flexible. Adjust water to get the thickness you prefer.

1. Place the tomato paste in a large bowl or a pourable measuring cup and whisk until smooth.
2. Add the sweetener, spices, and mustard, whisking as you combine them.
3. Pour in the vinegar and whisk. Then slowly add the water or whey a little at a time, stirring constantly, until you reach your desired consistency.
4. If you want spreadable ketchup, use less water. For a squeezable bottle texture, add a bit more water until it’s pourable but not runny.
5. Transfer the ketchup into a jar or a cleaned, reusable squeeze bottle and seal tightly.
6. Store in the refrigerator.

I sometimes refill an empty organic ketchup bottle with this mixture—the convenience of the original bottle with homemade ingredients.

Now you can whip up quick homemade ketchup in a pinch

Whether you’re serving a crowd or avoiding an extra grocery trip, this recipe is fast, customizable, and tastes familiar. It’s an easy way to skip processed ingredients and still enjoy the classic flavor everyone expects.

Stay home, stay safe, and skip the grocery store. You can totally make your own ketchup instead.

Quick Homemade Ketchup

Yield:
2 cups

Prep Time:
2 minutes

Total Time:
2 minutes

Whip up a quick ketchup using unrefined sweetener and pantry ingredients. No corn syrup, no preservatives, ready in under two minutes.

Ingredients

• 12 oz tomato paste
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons vinegar (white or apple cider)
• 2 teaspoons mustard (or 1/2 tsp powdered)
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan or sea salt
• 1/2–1 cup filtered water or whey

Instructions

1. Whisk the tomato paste in a large bowl or measuring cup until smooth.
2. Add the sweetener, spices, and mustard, whisking to combine.
3. Stir in the vinegar, then slowly add water or whey until the ketchup reaches your preferred consistency.
4. Pour into a jar or reusable bottle and seal tightly.
5. Refrigerate.

How long does homemade ketchup last?

Stored in the refrigerator, homemade ketchup keeps about three weeks. It can be frozen for up to six months.

Can I use other sweeteners?

Yes. Swap coconut sugar for cane sugar, honey, or maple syrup. If using stevia, start with 1/2 teaspoon and add gradually to taste.

Are your kids always asking for snacks?

Try simple, kid-friendly recipes they can make themselves—easy options help keep hungry hands satisfied without extra trips to the store.

Easy peasy.