Easy Homemade Ketchup

Name: Easy Homemade Ketchup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/3 cup white vinegar; 1 medium-sized onion (chopped); 4 cloves garlic (chopped); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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Jump to Recipe

This homemade ketchup recipe is made with crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, vinegar, and simple pantry spices for a rich, flavorful condiment that’s easy to make. It cooks down into a thick, smooth ketchup with a classic flavor that tastes so good on burgers, fries, sandwiches, and more.

A spoon lifts thick easy homemade ketchup from a glass jar on a wooden board.

I love making this easy ketchup recipe, it tastes so much better than store-bought. This recipe comes together in one pot and uses simple ingredients you likely already have on hand.

I often use homemade canned crushed tomatoes, but store-bought works great too. It also makes a great base for my homemade BBQ sauce.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make homemade ketchup, this is a great one. It comes together quickly and lasts for weeks in the fridge.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Homemade Ketchup
Cook Time: About 1 hour
Yield: About 3 cups
Main Ingredients: Crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, vinegar, sugar
Dietary Info: One pot, gluten-free, family-friendly, budget-friendly, vegetarian
Difficulty Level: Easy

Why You’ll Love This Easy Ketchup Recipe

Easy to make: This homemade ketchup recipe comes together in one pot with simple steps and everyday ingredients.
Rich tomato flavor: The crushed tomatoes, onion, and garlic give this homemade tomato ketchup a fresh, flavorful taste.
Smooth and creamy texture: Blending the ketchup at the end creates a smooth consistency that’s perfect for dipping or spreading.
Great for everyday meals: Serve it with burgers, fries, hot dogs, sandwiches, or anything that needs a flavorful condiment.
Gluten-free recipe: This gluten-free ketchup recipe is made with simple ingredients and no complicated additives.

Ingredients

1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of white vinegar
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

How To Make Homemade Ketchup

Pot of crushed tomatoes with an orange plaid towel on the counter.

Pot with crushed tomatoes, chopped onion, and minced garlic.

Pot of homemade ketchup ingredients with tomato sauce, chopped onion, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper ready to simmer.

Add the crushed tomatoes, water, sugar, vinegar, onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper to a medium-sized saucepan.

Pot of tomato mixture with chopped onion and garlic being stirred with a spoon.

Pot of thick red homemade ketchup being stirred with a spoon on a gray counter beside an orange plaid towel.

Bring everything to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.

Once boiling, reduce the heat and let the ketchup simmer for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency.

Homemade ketchup in a pot while an immersion blender smooths the thick red sauce.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and use a stick blender to puree the mixture until smooth.

A large glass jar holds thick red homemade ketchup on a wooden board beside an orange plaid towel.

Let the ketchup cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Simmer longer for thicker ketchup – If you prefer a thicker ketchup, let it simmer a little longer until more liquid cooks off.
Blend carefully while hot – Use caution when blending hot liquids. An immersion blender works best for this recipe.
Adjust the sweetness – You can slightly reduce or increase the sugar to suit your taste.
Strain for extra-smooth ketchup – If you want an even smoother texture, press the ketchup through a fine-mesh strainer after blending.
Flavor improves after chilling – The flavor gets even better after the ketchup has chilled in the fridge for a few hours.

More Easy Dips and Sauce Recipes:

FAQ’s

Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 to 3 weeks.

Yes. Simply simmer it longer until it reaches the consistency you prefer.

Yes, but the cooking time may need to be adjusted since fresh tomatoes contain more water.

Yes, this is a gluten-free ketchup recipe as long as your ingredients are certified gluten-free.

Yes, it freezes well. You can freeze it in small containers for longer storage.

Homemade ketchup can loosen slightly after blending. Simmering longer helps create a thicker consistency.

Open glass jar of thick homemade ketchup on a wooden board beside an orange plaid towel.

Easy Homemade Ketchup

This easy homemade ketchup is a smooth, flavorful condiment made with crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, and simple spices. It's so easy to make and perfect for burgers, fries, sandwiches, and dipping.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 40

Total Time 45

Serving Size servings (about 3 cups)

Ingredients

1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 medium-sized onion chopped
4 cloves garlic chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a medium-sized saucepan and stir.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 40–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
Use a stick blender to carefully puree until smooth.
Cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Notes

For extra smooth sauce, press through a fine mesh sieve.
Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks or freeze.

Nutrition

These values are from a nutritional database and automatically calculated, and should only be used as an approximation.

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Kim

Kim Mills is a homeschooling mom of 6 and lives on an urban homestead in Ontario, Canada. Blogging at Homestead Acres she enjoys sharing tips to help you save money, grow and preserve your own food.