Table of Contents
On the search for the best keto hot sauce, checking the serving size and carbohydrates per serving shows that most hot sauces or low carb so it usually boils down to which has the most flavor, how spicy it is, and how that pairs for dishes and various occasions. 8
Below is 14 mouth watering hot sauces to choose from and they’re ranked by the Scoville scale to indicate which are mild, and which will leave your mouth on fire.
However, it’s important to note that buffalo sauce oftentimes has extra ingredients that can result in more carbs so there is also a low-carb/keto buffalo sauce recipe to try at home.
Best Keto Hot Sauce for Every Occasion (Ranked)
When Wingstop keto options just aren’t quite cutting it or you want to make your own spicy wings or burgers at home, it’s helpful to know the flavors and spice levels of your keto hot sauce options and the nutrition value of each.
Not only is hot sauce good for weight loss but it can satisfy your hunger and spiciness cravings. Something to be aware of when choosing a hot sauce and checking the Scoville rating is that hot sauce and other spicy food increases hyperuricemia risk, meaning that it elevates uric acid levels in the blood; the more spicy or pungent the food or sauce, the higher the risk of developing hyperuricemia.1
Source: Shyam via Unsplash9
Thankfully, further research determined that BMI works as a mediator between spicy foods and hyperuricemia, indicating that the healthier one’s BMI the less risk factor there is and that consuming spicy foods will be less likely to cause increased uric acid in the blood of those with a healthy body mass index.2
Those unfamiliar with the Scoville scale should know that this is a spice level index to gauge how hot various foods, sauces, spices, and peppers are. The Scoville scale has an incredibly wide range from zero on up, with bell peppers ranking around 100, most hot sauces falling in the 400-300,000 range, and pure capsaicin from chili peppers hitting 16 million.
The Scoville levels are distinguished below and measured by Scoville Heat Units (SHUs).
- Mild (100 to 2,500 SHUs)
- Medium (2,500 to 30,000 SHUs)
- Hot (30,000 to 100,000 SHUs)
- Extra Hot (100,000 to 300,000 SHUs)
- Extremely Hot (300,000 to 1,000,000 SHUs)
- Flaming Hot (1,000,000 SHUs and Above)
Now that we’ve covered the Scoville system, let’s jump into some of the most popular and tasty keto hot sauces for every occasion (ranked).
14. Texas Pete’s Original Hot Sauce
Texas Pete offers the mildest hot sauce on our list with just enough spice and tanginess to add some kick to a meal without setting your taste buds on fire.
Flavor: Bursting with tangy pepper taste that neutralizes quickly
Ingredients: Vinegar, Aged Peppers, Salt, Water, Xanthan Gum, and Sodium Benzoate
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 115 mg Sodium
13. Frank’s Original RedHot Sauce
Frank’s brings just the right combination of flavor and heat to any meal, side, or snack with their premium aged cayenne pepper sauce.
Flavor: Savory with low level heat that will add both flavor and a kick
Ingredients: Distilled Vinegar, Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Salt, Water, Canola Oil, Paprika, Xanthan Gum, Natural Butter Type Flavor and Garlic Powder
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 200 mg Sodium
Find Frank’s Original RedHot here
12. Louisiana Hot Sauce
A more savory and salty hot sauce, Louisiana still packs plenty of spiciness to add complexity to any burger, popcorn, or soup.
Flavor: Initial burst of heat, then a more subtle and savory taste
Ingredients: Aged Peppers, Vinegar, and Salt
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 200 mg Sodium
Get your own bottle of Louisiana hot sauce here
11. Tia Lupita
Tia Lupita’s hot sauce is well-rounded and complex in flavor, great for anything from sandwiches, fried chicken, tacos, and anything else that would be complemented by some spiciness. Tia Lupita has honed her recipe and includes no binders, preservatives, added sugar or gluten; this hot sauce is also all natural, non-GMO, and has minimal salt.
Flavor: Deep, rich, complex flavor
Ingredients: Red Jalapenos, Water, Organic Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Garlic, Oregano, Black Pepper, Cumin
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 25 mg Sodium
Purchase Tia Lupita’s hot sauce here
10. Trappey’s Red Devil Cayenne Pepper Sauce
Trappey’s Red Devil cayenne pepper sauce has a big name and great taste but perhaps a milder heat than you’d expect with that name. Rest assured that this hot sauce still offers a kick of medium heat and no shortage of flavor for your taste buds to enjoy.
Flavor: Predominantly vinegar flavor with some subtle heat that follows
Ingredients: Distilled Vinegar, Water, Red Cayenne Pepper, Salt, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 150 mg Sodium
Trappey’s Red Devil hot sauce can be found here
9. Valentina Salsa Picante
Thicker than Tabasco but with a less vinegar-centric taste, Valentina’s hot sauce has just the right amount of zest. Made in Guadalajara, Mexico, Valentina is free of carbohydrates, fat, and cholesterol and goes perfectly with burritos, eggs, tacos, elote, and more.
Flavor: Zesty with a slight vinegar taste
Ingredients: Water, Chili Peppers, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Sodium Benzoate
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 64 mg Sodium
Check out Valentina Salsa Picante here
8. Cholula
This hot sauce is commonly found in restaurants and pubs and comes in convenient travel size options as well. Cholula is another hot sauce made in Mexico, and is a great sauce for many trending diets due to being sugar-free, carb-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and ketogenic.
Scoville Ranking: 2000 (Mild)
Flavor: Mild spiciness, savory
Ingredients: Water, Peppers (Arbol & Piquin), Salt, Vinegar, Garlic Powder, Spices, and Xanthan Gum
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 110 mg Sodium
Purchase your own travel size or full size Cholula
7. Sriracha
Sriracha is another very commonly found hot sauce in diners and households; with a full and tangy flavor and some heat from the sun-ripened chili peppers used, Sriracha is always a great go-to for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Flavor: Salty and vinegary undertones with a kick of spicy peppers
Ingredients: Chili, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Distilled Vinegar, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulfate, Xanthan Gum
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 5 Calories
- 1g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 80 mg Sodium
Sriracha hot sauce available here
6. Tabasco Original Flavor Pepper Sauce
Tabasco’s original hot sauce is vegetarian, non-GMO, and easy to transport with several size varieties. Tabasco pepper sauce has a very balanced and well-rounded flavor profile combining sweet and spicy perfectly.
Flavor: Tangy, salty, sweet, and spicy
Ingredients: Distilled White Wine Vinegar, Red Peppers, and Salt
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 45 mg Sodium
Get your personal bottle of Tabasco here
5. Tapatío
Extra warm, full, and savory flavors can be found in each bottle of this hot sauce due to the delicious combination of red peppers and garlic. Tapatio has a unique smoky taste that makes it feel extra authentic.
Flavor: Tangy, salty, and smoky
Ingredients: Water, Red Peppers, Salt, Spices, Garlic, Acetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 110 mg Sodium
4. Bravado Spice Company’s Pineapple & Habanero Hot Sauce
The Bravado Spice Company has several amazing flavors to choose from and their pineapple and habanero hot sauce is a great place to start. The pineapple perfectly balances the heat from the habanero for a tangy sweet yet spicy taste you won’t forget.
Scoville Ranking: Unlisted Ranking (Medium)
Flavor: Bursting with tropical notes and well-balanced by the spicy habanero
Ingredients: Pineapple, Habanero, Bell Pepper, Garlic, Vinegar, Sea Salt, Distilled Vinegar
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 15 mg Sodium
Try Bravado’s bottled tropic heat
3. Bravado Spice Company’s Crimson Hot Sauce
Bravado Spice Co offers a more original type of hot sauce with their crimson sauce that’s all natural and both gluten-free and vegan. Getting up there in heat, the spice is paired nicely with garlic and vinegar to provide a fuller flavor.
Flavor: Bold, powerful jalapeno flavor that packs a punch
Ingredients: Arbol Chilis, Red Jalapenos, White Wine Vinegar, Garlic, Sea Salt, and Sugar
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 5 Calories
- <1g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 55 mg Sodium
Check out Bravado’s Crimson hot sauce here
2. Bravado Spice Company’s Black Garlic Carolina Reaper
Our second-hottest sauce is Bravado’s black garlic and carolina reaper flavor duo; this sauce is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and very low in sodium. Bravado pairs well with anything from lo mein and fried chicken to steak or pork chops–as long as you can handle the heat.
Flavor: Rich and savory with a higher spice level, mellowed just enough by the garlic
Ingredients: Vinegar, Red Serrano Peppers, Carolina Reaper, Roasted Garlic, Maple Syrup, Black Garlic, Black Pepper, Sea Salt
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 0 Calories
- <1g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 20g Sodium
Test your taste buds with Bravado
1. Dave’s Gourmet Original Insanity Hot Sauce
Featured on the first season of Hot Ones, Dave’s gourmet hot sauce is truly insane with by far the highest Scoville ranking of all of our reviewed hot sauces. Dave’s includes not just hot peppers but hot pepper extract as well to really turn up the heat.
Scoville Ranking: 180,000 (Extra Hot)
Flavor: Balanced flavors of spices, peppers, vinegar, and garlic with a major kick of heat
Ingredients: Tomato Sauce, Onions, Hot Pepper Extract, Hot Peppers, Vinegar, Spices, Soy Oil, Garlic, Salt
Serving Size: 1 Tsp
- 5 Calories
- 0g Net Carbs
- 0g Fat
- 0g Protein
- 55 mg Sodium
Singe your tongue with Dave’s Insanity hot sauce
Best Low Carb Hot Sauces for Each Occasion
Before delving into the best keto hot sauce for each occasion, let’s check out a couple of health benefits of hot sauce.
Research done on the impact of chili peppers on dietary intake came out with differing reviews on whether or not spicy foods affected satiety, but capsaicin–a component of chili peppers–was proven to increase calorie burning. Chili peppers therefore may be effective in weight regulation if consumed regularly.3
Capsaicin can also provide relief for neuralgia (nerve pain), muscle strains, and pain linked to rheumatoid arthritis and may promote vascular and metabolic health including reducing the likelihood of diabetes, obesity, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and stroke.4
Those who enjoy dousing everything they eat with hot sauce will likely be pleased to learn that research done on Chinese adults indicates that spicy food consumption and GI cancer risk have a negative relationship–meaning that the more spicy food consumed, the lower the risk of gastrointestinal cancers-especially in those who refrained from smoking and drinking often.5
Additionally, chili peppers may promote longevity when regularly integrated into one’s diet–a study on over half a million people throughout various countries indicated that those who did not regularly consume chili peppers had a lower likelihood of dying of cardiovascular disease (by 26%), cancer (by 23%), or other causes (by 25%).6
With the importance of capsaicin, chili powder, and general spiciness being clear, let’s check out which hot sauce to go with depending on the snack or meal.
Source: Dolores Preciado via Unsplash10
- Top Hot Sauce to Add Some Kick to Your Burrito: Bravado Spice Co.’s Black Garlic Carolina Reaper and Valentina Salsa Picante are our top choices for burritos due to their complementary flavors that bring the perfect amount of heat.
- Take Tacos to the Next Level With This Hot Sauce: Tapatio, Cholula, and Trappey’s Red Devil sauces are all great low-carb options for spicing up any taco without overpowering it and adding just the right amount of savory flavor.
- Bring Bangin’ Burgers to the BBQ Accompanied by This Hot Sauce: Bravado’s Pineapple & Habanero hot sauce is our top choice for adding a perfect duo of sweet and spicy for a well-rounded and delicious meal.
- #1 Hot Sauce to Spice Up Chicken Wings: If you can handle the heat, give your taste buds a shock with some Dave’s Insanity sauce glazed over chicken wings. If you’ve never tried Dave’s and are worried about the heat level, put it in a side dish for dipping instead or mix it with some low-carb ranch to neutralize the kick.
- Drizzle This Hot Sauce to Add Some Heat to Your Sandwich or Sub: If mustard and mayo aren’t cutting it, your sandwich will be far from bland after squirting some of Tia Lupita’s jalapeno-infused hot sauce. Sriracha and Louisiana hot sauces are the runners-up for this category.
- Best Hot Sauce to Fold Into Scrambled Eggs: Cholula has our vote for best hot sauce to start your day with an extra kick; add a few drops to your scrambled eggs to wake up your taste buds. Frank’s RedHot pairs well with breakfast quiches or eggs as well.
- Top Hot Sauce to Drizzle Over Popcorn: Buttery popcorn is great but when you’re craving that extra zing, Sriracha is the way to go; the sun-ripened chilis will add an amazing savory flavor to already delicious popcorn.
- Best Hot Sauce to Heat Up a Cocktail Sauce: Cocktail sauce could always use some added heat or tanginess and our favorite option for hot sauce is Valentina’s salsa picante with some bursting vinegar, salt, and chili pepper notes combining into a mouthwatering sauce.
- Prime Hot Dog Hot Sauce: Don’t forget to bring Texas Pete’s out to the grill when preparing hot dogs this summer. This subtly spicy sauce won’t burn your taste buds but will give them a little zest.
- Our second choice is Frank’s for your franks.
- Ideal Hot Sauce to Toss With Roasted Cauliflower: Trappey’s Red Devil sauce is the best hot sauce to toss in with roasted cauliflower for a healthy yet flavorful snack; with mild heat and fantastic flavors of red cayenne pepper, salt, and vinegar, this combo will bring just the right level of heat.
- Mix This Hot Sauce Into a Spicy Cream Cheese Dip: Louisiana hot sauce is the perfect hot sauce to mix into a keto low carb cream cheese to create a savory dip for chips, veggies, or whatever else you want to try. Bravado’s pineapple habanero sauce is another good choice for upping the flavor and providing a complex taste.
- Most Flavorful Hot Sauce to Lather on Kebabs: Grab a bottle of Bravado’s crimson hot sauce and head outside to grill up some incredible tasting kebabs with bell peppers, meats, onions, tomatoes, pineapple, or anything else you’re craving.
- Great Flavor Hot Sauce for Elote: If you prefer your elote or street corn a bit on the spicy side, opt for Frank’s RedHot sauce; it will bring just the right amount of tang and spice and complements the corn flavor well.
- Kickin’ Hot Sauce for Dippin’ Fries, Celery & More: Fries tend to be perfect as they are, but if you like a little added kick of flavor, Tabasco or Tia Lupita are incredibly savory and give just the right amount of zing; put a little of either these in a small serving cup for the easiest dipping sauce preparation.
Avoid These Hot Sauces on Keto
Not only does hot sauce help you lose weight but it tastes amazing too–just be sure the types you’re consuming are ketogenic. In your search for the best keto hot sauce, always read nutrition labels to check the carb content and serving size.
Strive to keep carbs as close to zero as possible, because the more carbs per serving, the more likely just a few servings can bump you out of ketosis. Be sure to avoid these hot sauces on keto and always ensure to check nutritional information before opening a bottle.
Source: Fabienne Hübener via Unsplash11
Good & Gather’s Sweet Chili Thai Sauce has a complex and tangy flavor that can be enjoyed on other weight loss diets but is unfit for keto due to its high 5g net carbs per teaspoon and 4g added sugars.
Harissa is a much thicker consistency and is native to the Maghreb of northwest Africa. Made with serrano peppers, oil, coriander, cumin, caraway, and garlic, unfortunately this sauce is 2g net carbs per teaspoon so should be avoided or had in moderation.
Bone Suckin’ Honey and Habanero Sauce contains both honey and molasses which can get dangerous for those trying to maintain ketosis. Just a teaspoon has more than 2g net carbs and 2g sugar so should be enjoyed only occasionally and in small servings if at all.
Low Carb Keto Buffalo Sauce Recipe
The keto diet may lower health risks–namely the risk factors of cardiovascular disease and cancer, but also includes decreasing likelihood of hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
This may occur because of the ketogenic diet helping suppress inflammation and oxidation; however, it has only been studied in the short-term and it remains to be determined if the ketogenic diet can have a long-term positive impact on decreasing risk of these health issues but results are promising.7
Aside from these health benefits, those who are thinking I will never lose weight can be comforted in knowing that the keto diet is also very helpful in both losing weight and maintaining that weight loss in addition to being easily combined with other weight loss solutions.
Anyone planning how to lose weight for summer may want to try out our ketogenic buffalo hot sauce recipe for themselves.
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Serving Size: 1 Tbsp
Recipe Yields: 16 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Stick Salted Butter
- 1/2 Cup Trappey’s Red Devil Hot Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- ½ Tbsp Xylitol
- 1 Tsp Chili Powder
- 1 Tsp Paprika
- 1 Tsp Sea Salt
- ½ Tsp Black Pepper
Step 1: Melt stick of butter in a pan on the stovetop
Step 2: Turn heat to low once butter is melted and slowly stir in all other ingredients
Step 3: Enjoy paired with your dish of choice
| Nutritional Information for Homemade Keto Buffalo Sauce | |
| 0.5g Total Carbs | 26 Calories |
| 0.5g Net Carbs | 5.5g Fat |
| 0g Fiber | 0g Protein |
Although most store-bought hot sauces are low-carb or completely carb-free, some ingredients can be problematic–especially when multiple sweeteners are included. Always check the ingredients and nutrition label or make your own keto hot sauce with your favorite spices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes Keto Hot Sauce Clean Keto vs Dirty Keto?
What distinguishes clean keto vs dirty keto is that–even though both are low in carbs–dirty keto means that some of the ingredients are unhealthy or highly processed.
Are All Hot Sauces Carb Free?
Most hot sauces do have zero carbs but not all are, so always be sure to check the nutritional facts to be sure ketosis is maintained.
What Holds the Highest Ranking on the Scoville Scale?
The hottest hot sauce we reviewed was 180,000 SHUs but resiniferatoxin, produced by the resinifera plant, is the hottest chemical known with a Scoville rank of 16 billion SHUs.
References
1Luo, Q., Ding, R., Chen, L., Bu, X., Xiao, M., Liu, X., Wu, Y., Xu, J., Tang, W., Qiu, J., Ding, X., & Tang, X. (2022, July 6). The Association Between Spicy Food Intake and Risk of Hyperuricemia Among Chinese Adults. Front Public Health, 10. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9298505/>
2Dong, X., Li, Y., Yang, K., Zhang, L., Xue, Y., Yu, S., Liu, X., Tu, R., Qiao, D., Luo, Z., Liu, X., Wang, Y., Li, W., Zheng, Z., & Wang, C. (2020, October 29). Mediation effect of body mass index on the association between spicy food intake and hyperuricemia in rural Chinese adults: the Henan rural cohort study. BMC Public Health, 20(1629). <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7596996/>
3Siebart, E., Lee, S.-Y., & Prescott, M. (2022, December 14). Chili pepper preference development and its impact on dietary intake: A narrative review. Frontier in Nutrition, 9. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9795841/>
4McCarty, M., DiNicolantonio, J., & O’Keefe, J. (2015, June 17). Capsaicin may have important potential for promoting vascular and metabolic health. Open Heart, 2(1), e262. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4477151/>
5Chan, W., Millwood, I., Kartsonaki, C., Du, H., Guo, Y., Chen, Y., Bian, Z., Walters, R., Lv, J., He, P., Hu, C., Li, L., Yang, L., & Chen, Z. (2021, January 23). Spicy food consumption and risk of gastrointestinal-tract cancers: findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(1), 199-211. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7938514/>
6Shmerling, R. (2020, December 10). Will eating more chilis help you live longer? Harvard Medical School. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from <https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/will-eating-more-chilis-help-you-live-longer-2020121021555>
7Mohammadifard, N., Haghighatdoost, F., Rahimlou, M., Rodrigues, A., Gaskarei, M., Okhovat, P., Oliveira, C., Silveira, E., & Sarrafzadegan, N. (2022, August 25). The Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Shared Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. Nutrients, 14(17), 3499. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9459811/>
8OpenClipart-Vectors. “Bottle Hot Tabasco – Free vector graphic on Pixabay.” Pixabay, 10 January 2015. Accessed 22 April 2023. <https://pixabay.com/vectors/bottle-hot-tabasco-sauce-food-576342/>
9Shyam. “dried chilies photo – Free Food Image on Unsplash.” Unsplash, 17 May 2018. Accessed 22 April 2023. <https://unsplash.com/photos/n5epMMlUUNo>
10Dolores Preciado. “cooked food on stainless steel tray photo – Free Food Image on Unsplash.” Unsplash, 6 August 2021. Accessed 22 April 2023. <https://unsplash.com/photos/Vu_fjfasu-4>
11Fabienne Hübener. “three red chili on gray surface photo – Free Food Image on Unsplash.” Unsplash, 29 May 2018. Accessed 22 April 2023. <https://unsplash.com/photos/rPPMQ-Z6jto>