Easy, homemade ketchup made in 1 pot with simple ingredients! Naturally sweetened, tangy, and bright with tomato flavor! Perfect for burgers, fries, and beyond!
If using crushed tomatoes and you want very smooth ketchup, place all ingredients in a small blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Otherwise, proceed to step 2.
Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir until well combined, then turn the heat on medium low. Stir gently until everything comes to a light simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low.
Let simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until slightly reduced and darkened in color, stirring every 10-15 minutes to prevent sticking.
Once reduced, use a teaspoon to remove a spoonful from the saucepan, and let it cool on the counter — you want to taste it cooled for accurate adjustment! Taste and adjust if desired, adding salt to taste, more vinegar (1 Tbsp at a time) for tang, more maple syrup for sweetness, or more onion powder for more savory notes.
Enjoy with French fries, vegan burgers, breakfast sausage, and beyond! Will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 2 months (frozen into ice cube molds).