The 26 Best Low-Sugar Condiments for Tons of Flavor

June 3, 2024

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If your refrigerator door is lined with bottles, jars, and tubes of colorful condiments, there could also be a fair bit of added sugar lurking there, too. Condiments tend to be sneaky sources of refined sugars, including some of our favorites for summer barbecues (we’re looking at you, ketchup). But the good news is: There are dozens of lower-sugar options for condiments available at the grocery store.

What counts as a “low sugar” condiment?

“A condiment or sauce is typically considered ‘low sugar’ if it contains 5 grams of sugar or less per serving,” says registered dietician Lauren Manaker, adding that it’s important “to be attentive to the serving size, as this can significantly impact the total sugar intake from a seemingly low-sugar product.” In other words, if a condiment only has 1 gram of sugar per serving, but the serving size is 1 teaspoon, factor in how much you actually use. It can add up if you really pile it on.

Here are 26 of the best condiments to add flavor to your favorite dishes without a sugar crash.

1. Haven’s Kitchen Aioli

Haven’s Kitchen makes plant-based, highly versatile sauces, dips, and condiments. The brand’s latest launch is a line of creamy dairy-free aiolis in tasty flavors like herby yuzu, jalapeño, and sunshine chili (made with aji amarillo pepper). Each has 1 gram or less of added sugar per 1-tablespoon serving.

Buy it: Haven’s Kitchen Aioli

2. Hodo Chili Crisp Dip

This spicy, creamy dip from Hodo is made with soymilk and infused with the tingling sensation of Sichuan peppercorns and umami-packed shitake mushroom powder. With just a gram of sugar per 2-tablespoon serving, you can happily spread this condiment on burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches.

Buy it: Hodo Chili Crisp Dip

3. Yaza Labneh

Don’t forget to check the dairy aisle for delicious and versatile low-sugar condiments. Labneh is a thick and tangy strained yogurt from the Mediterranean that’s packed with probiotics and no added sugars.

Buy it: Yaza Labneh

4. Lee Kum Kee Chili Oil

This simple chili oil will spice up your favorite dishes, especially noodles, dumplings, and soups, without adding sugar. (You can also add some to a salad dressing, or drizzle a little on fried eggs.) It’s made with just two ingredients: soybean oil and dried chili peppers.

Buy it: Lee Kum Kee Chili Oil

5. Paro Tarka Oil

If you love chili crisp, you have to add this South Asian version to your collection. Tarka is made with crunchy garlic, red chili peppers, cumin seeds, ginger, and curry leaves swimming in a base of creamy ghee that brings all of those spices to life. Have it on your avocado toast, eggs, or noodles, or mix with yogurt for a creamy-spicy dip.

Buy it: Paro Tarka Oil

6. Fly By Jing Chengdu Crunch

Here’s another low-sugar twist on chili crisp from Fly By Jing. It has a super-crunchy texture from fava beans, pumpkin seeds, and yellow split peas, and a slightly sweet-savory flavor that you’ll want to drizzle over everything (plus, it only has 1 gram of sugar per tablespoon).

Buy it: Fly By Jing Chengdu Crunch

7. Momofuku Black Truffle Chili Crunch

OK, last chili crunch, we promise. This one, from restaurant Momofuku, is infused with black truffle for a funky, sophisticated touch. It’s also nice and crunchy with plenty of heat from several types of chili.

Buy it: Momofuku Black Truffle Chili Crunch

8. Chosen Foods Ranch Dressing

Ranch is always a crowd pleaser, and with good reason — besides salad, it’s fantastic with wings, pizza, sweet potatoes, you name it. This brand uses healthy avocado oil instead of inflammatory vegetable oil.

Buy it: Chosen Foods Ranch Dressing

9. Nutty Gourmet Pistachio Walnut Spread

Nut butter makes a great condiment that’s full of healthy fats, but many contain added refined sugar. This brand contains just pistachios, walnuts, and sea salt. Use it as a base for sauces or dressings, spoon it on your oatmeal, or mix it into yogurt for a parfait.

Buy it: Nutty Gourmet Pistachio Walnut Spread

10. Filip Berio Truffle Pesto

The popular olive oil brand Filip Berio has expanded into condiments, and this umami-rich truffle pesto will become a staple for pizza or pasta nights and more. It’s made with cashews, pine nuts, and savory Grana Padano for a taste of Italy whenever the craving strikes.

Buy it: Filip Berio Truffle Pesto

11. Frank’s RedHot

The original hot sauce that’s the base for Buffalo wings is delicious anywhere you like hot sauce. Plus, it has no added sugar, just cayenne peppers, vinegar, salt, and garlic powder.

Buy it: Franks RedHot

12. Cilantro Chili Bitchin’ Sauce

You can’t go wrong with any of the delicious flavors of Bitchin’ Sauce, and despite the name, these sauces are as family-friendly as they come. They have a creamy, rich almond base and plenty of added flavor from fresh garlic, spices, and herbs — plus, no added sugar.

Buy it: Cilantro Chili Bitchin’ Sauce

13. Somos Pico De Gallo Salsa

Pico de gallo is a great veggie-based condiment that adds natural sweetness without loading you up on sugar. This shelf-stable salsa from Somos is fresh-tasting with a kick of heat from jalapenos, and it (it has just 1 gram of sugar per 2-tablespoon serving.

Buy it: Somos Pico De Gallo Salsa

14. Better Body Foods Avocado Oil Mayo

This creamy, rich mayo has just a few wholesome ingredients, almost no sugar, and contains avocado oil instead of vegetable oil. Slather it on a sandwich, toss it into a potato salad, or stir it into a slaw.

Buy it: Better Body Foods Avocado Oil Mayo

15. Maille Dijon Mustard

No condiment list would be complete without a good mustard, and this jar is classic for a reason. With just mustard seeds, vinegar, and salt, it has a rich flavor and that signature bite you can only get in a good Dijon. Whisk it into dressings and sauces, spread it on a sandwich, or add a small bowl to a cheese plate.

Buy it: Maille Dijon Mustard

16. Fila Manila Adobo Sauce

This ready-to-eat sauce brings all the flavor of a long-simmered Filipino adobo to your plate. Use it as a simmer sauce, dip, or simply drizzle it over cooked rice for a flavor-packed side dish. The sweetness in it comes from dates.

Buy it: Fila Manila Adobo Sauce

17. Good Foods Spicy Queso Blanco Style Dip

Even the most ardent cheese lovers will dunk into this dairy-free dip from Good Foods with glee. It’s fluffy and light, thanks to its unique cauliflower base, with a bit of heft from almonds and cashew butter. You’ll also love the kick from fresh jalapenos.

Buy it: Good Foods Spicy Queso Blanco Style Dip

18. Fun Sesames Lemony Tahini Blend

This tahini sauce is made with just five simple ingredients, including fresh lemon juice and garlic, and no added sugar. The texture is drizzle-able and spreadable, great with flatbread, roasted veggies, and grilled chicken or fish.

Buy it: Fun Sesames Lemony Tahini Blend

19. Primal Kitchen Unsweetened Ketchup

Most store-bought ketchup is packed with sugar, but this alternative is more tomato-forward. It has just 1 gram of sugar per 1-tablespoon serving, with the sweetness coming from balsamic vinegar.

Buy it: Primal Kitchen Unsweetened Ketchup

20. Le Sauce Classic Green Peppercorn

Le Sauce makes several tasty condiments that elevate any homemade dish. This green peppercorn condiment tastes like it came from the kitchen of a high-end French restaurant, thanks to a base of real cream spiked with mustard, white wine, and shallots. It has just 2 grams of sugar per ¼ cup.

Buy it: Le Sauce Classic Green Peppercorn

21. Sir Kensington’s Moroccan-Inspired Garlic Everything Sauce

This sauce is truly made for anything. The handy squeeze bottle makes it as convenient as possible to drizzle this garlicky and herby Moroccan-inspired sauce over everything from roasted veggies to grain bowls and more.

Buy it: Sir Kensington’s Moroccan-Inspired Garlic Everything Sauce

22. Tabasco Original Sauce

Yes, your favorite old-school hot sauce is totally sugar-free (it’s made with just three ingredients: red peppers, vinegar, and salt), so go ahead and shake it over everything from tacos to eggs.

Buy it: Tabasco Original Sauce

23. Halo + Cleaver Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce

This fruit juice-sweetened barbecue sauce pairs tomato puree with apple and pineapple, along with tamarind paste and spices, for plenty of depth. You get all that satisfying BBQ sauce flavor, with just 4 grams of sugar per 2-tablespoon serving (vs. 9 to 14 grams in other brands’ offerings).

Buy it: Halo + Cleaver Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce

24. Silver Spring Foods Prepared Horseradish

Horseradish is delicious on a fully-loaded steak sandwich, but no need to stop there. This no-sugar pickled condiment adds a shock of tingling spice to Bloody Marys, sauces, dressings, mashed potatoes, and more.

Buy it: Silver Spring Prepared Horseradish

25. Chosen Foods Burger Sauce

Chosen Foods recently launched a line of low-sugar condiments that are great for summer grilling. We especially love this creamy tomato-based burger sauce, which happens to have less than 1 gram of sugar per 1-tablespoon serving, but also plenty of sweet-tangy-zesty flavor.

Buy it: Chosen Foods Burger Sauce

26. Tennessee’s Best Mild Chow Chow Relish

Many relishes are crazy sweet, loaded with high fructose corn syrup, but this small-batch offering has just 2 grams of sugar per 1-tablespoon serving, and great tangy flavor thanks to a mix of veggies, vinegar, spices, and a little sugar. Keep it on hand for cookouts all summer.

Buy it: Tennessee’s Best Mild Chow Chow Relish

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