Do you like A1 Steak Sauce? If you are anything like me, you probably have a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, you love the taste and probably grew up with it as a staple in your house but on the other hand, you hate the low-quality ingredients that they choose to use to make it.
A1 INGREDIENTS: (From Kraft Foods Website)
Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Raisin Paste, Crushed Orange Puree, Spices and Herbs, Dried Garlic and Onion, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum
Yum! Not. The first three in red are particularly troublesome – add that to the amount of corn syrup that is in this sauce (as it’s the 3rd ingredient!) and it’s not on the list of foods I want to keep in my house or encourage my son to eat. At least the manufactured version!
I searched the internet and found many A1 copycat recipes. After trying a bunch, this one from Two Dogs In The Kitchen (and her dogs are cute!) came the closest. After tweaking this recipe just a bit, I feel like it’s pretty darn close to the old original!
NOTES:
- I know of two brands that have Organic, Gluten Free Worcestershire Sauce – this one and this one. Not sure why the last one is only showing up in food service size on Amazon but here is a link from the company site as well.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Paleo Steak Sauce. Homemade A-1. Free of Artificial Ingredients and Preservatives, this Homemade Steak Sauce Takes less than 20 Minutes to Make!
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup gluten free Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup organic ketchup
- 1/4 cup. dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup organic raisins
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 cloves garlic smashed
- 1/8 large yellow onion cut into chunks
- 1 small navel orange or 1/2 large orange, cut in half
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In a saucepan, combine all ingredients except for the orange.
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Squeeze the juice from the orange into the saucepan and then add in the juiced orange segments.
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Bring to a boil, lower light to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. At 5 minutes, remove orange segments and discard.
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Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer (make sure to strain into a measuring cup or other container!).Use a spoon or spatula to push all the liquid out of the chunky bits.
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Return sauce to pan and bring back to a simmer. Reduce, stirring occasionally, for an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until level of thickness is reached. Note that sauce tastes different when warm so let cool completely before adjusting spices. Enjoy!
Recipe Makes 1 1/2 Cups Steak Sauce
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
Adapted From: Homemade A1 Steak Sauce From Two Dogs In The Kitchen
Ashley says
March 27, 2019 at 5:53 pmloved it! I made it without the orange only because I didn’t have one on hand but it stilled turned out super good. I did add a little arrowroot to thicken it up more. Thank you for sharing!
Alyssa Brantley says
March 28, 2019 at 11:45 amLOVE the idea of arrowroot to thicken! Thanks for the feedback and rating Ashley!
Tracy says
February 7, 2019 at 10:27 pmI’ve been on paleo for about a month and am slowly weening my husband into it. I cannot use A-1 due to allergies, but my husband uses tons of it on steak, meatloaf, and sometimes even mashed potatoes. I made this recipe (with homemade worcesthershire and homemade ketchup) this afternoon and this evening I served him a big juicy steak with one small glass bowl filled with A-1 and an identical bowl filled with this sauce. He tasted the A-1 first and said, “this is A-1.” He tasted this sauce and said, “this isn’t A-1 but it’s really good.” After his meal, his final conclusion was that it was close, but tasted too cinnamon-y. That was my error in making the ketchup, which I hoped wouldn’t make a real difference. He’s agreed that for now we can mix this (25%) with A-1 (75%), and slowly ween him off of it, or when I make a new batch of this with a fresh batch of ketchup, he’ll try the blind taste test again. Thank you for a great recipe!
EverydayMaven says
February 14, 2019 at 9:33 amHi Tracy! That is so AWESOME!!! This made my day 🙂
lisa says
June 17, 2018 at 6:43 amwhite distilled vinegar and balsamic both contain corn so if you buy organic ketchup or make your own and use white vinegar you have added corn- dijon mustard would use it as well.
Evan says
January 13, 2018 at 5:14 pmDelicious steak ingredient post here i love it thank you for the guide!!!
Jie says
April 8, 2017 at 6:31 amThe best way for all the flavors to mix is to have those ingredients ferment for a day or two before straining it….
Steve says
March 4, 2016 at 6:20 pmIs this sauce whole 30 compliant?
EverydayMaven says
March 10, 2016 at 12:05 pmHi Steve – nope, the ketchup has sugar in it!
Lisa says
January 21, 2017 at 12:57 pmI am planning on making this sauce for use on the whole30, but I’m going to make my own ketchup.
EverydayMaven says
January 24, 2017 at 11:07 amNice! Hope you love it 🙂
David says
February 17, 2018 at 3:03 pmWorcestershire has molasses(sugar) in it.
Paul says
October 22, 2017 at 2:44 pmNo most Ketchup has High Fructose Corn Syrup and Sugar
Sarah says
March 2, 2018 at 6:50 pmNot if you make your own.
Roger says
June 23, 2015 at 10:36 amThe recipe calls for 1/8 large yellow onion, but the first picture clearly shows 1/4 of an onion. Can you clarify?
EverydayMaven says
June 23, 2015 at 1:27 pmHi Roger – it’s 1/8 large onion for sure – I think it’s a weird angle for the photo. Thanks!
Hoot says
April 27, 2015 at 1:04 pmLover of A1 steak sauce.
Made it the proscribed way per the recipe the first time. Killed me to toss the little bits of flavor goodies after straining.
Second time, I ran everything through my food processor until it was a puree except the orange skins. I still discarded those.
Now, it is easier to make and I don’t need to do the strainer step. I hated discarding all those little bits of goodness after straining!
Lindsay says
December 30, 2018 at 2:37 pmGreat idea! I was just thinking about that. Thanks.
Willow Coyote says
April 5, 2015 at 11:51 pmJust made this yesterday and followed instructions to the letter. It made a lovely sauce and I will put it to good use; however, it is definitely not an A1 reproduction, the only reminiscent taste element in it being the Worcestershire sauce. Thanks for a nice sauce recipe, just the same.
EverydayMaven says
July 14, 2014 at 10:59 amI absolutely eat molasses and honey!
Susan says
March 5, 2014 at 12:56 pmDo you have to use Gluten free Worcestershire sauce?
EverydayMaven says
March 6, 2014 at 9:07 pmOnly if you are Gluten Free! Just a word of caution though, get a natural brand of Worcestershire sauce if you can – the ingredients in the “traditional” brand are not that great!
Trey says
February 26, 2016 at 8:23 ami don’t understand the gluten free thing, they have already proven that its psychosomatic several times over.
this sauce turned out really good, thanks for the recipe! not quite a-1 but it improves on the flavor, sort of like a no-name bbq sauce you find in the co-op that turns out to be better than anything you’ve had before.
Shelby says
March 21, 2016 at 12:42 pmI don’t know who “they” are but in my case “they” are welcome to stay with my niece after she has been “glutened”. Not a pretty site. And there are absolutely physical differences in me when I have been off gluten for awhile and then eat it. It is not psychosomatic. The difference in the way I feel off of gluten (and now grains most of the time) is amazing. Go off it for a month and come to your own conclusions but if you aren’t willing to conduct your own experiment then please don’t downplay what is very real to so many.
PaleoHubby says
July 11, 2016 at 8:45 amMy wife has Celiac. She does not have the good fortune of an IBS reaction to tell when she gets it. Instead gluten is like a silent poison in her body, detroying her GI and other ailments. Bc it went untreated since she was in 6 th grade, she has now developed another Auto-Immune desease. This is not in her head! Eating GF and Paleo she has gotten off the super terrible drugs prescribed. And u think that food additives are bad…. The funny thing abt Auto-Immune desease sister that once u get them, u have them for life. Her diet changes have helped her manage things better w/o expensive chemicals that shorten her life
Cat says
July 1, 2017 at 10:56 pmYou sir are a loving Husband. It was an honor to read your post. I wish you and your family great health and intense happiness.
Heather says
October 23, 2017 at 7:48 amWow..i have changed my diet as well and because of the AIP diet I have come off 15 years of autoimmune drugs. Thank you for your post..i am in the same predicament as your wife and constantly looking for tasty additions to my strict diet.
Programmer says
August 31, 2017 at 3:23 pmthis gluten thing is all about what the government has done with flour messing with it and adding in synthetic vitamins and minerals etc etc. Celiac I believe there is a problem with it. Ancient grains people. Find wheat that the government has not tainted and you might find out why people survived on these grains for millennia and suddenly all of America has a gluten intolerance. So I agree with gluten free based on what’s coming out of production, but not as far a an original species. Too many people suddenly with issues like this beyond celiacs or your normal amount of people allergic to something. Seriously, big manufacturer supplied everything for 30 plus years has caused all of this. Try growing your own vegetables, grains, and what a body needs and guess what?
Programmer says
September 2, 2017 at 8:34 amoh, and the reason for being here, the sauce is great! Have made it many times off this site and many others with the same recipe. This site though has made the effort of helping get rid of all the gunk ingredients. Good Job!!
We end up with a pretty spicy version using home grown chilies we’ve grown and dried and ground into essentially cayenne powder. Hotter works well with this recipe. Nice website, nice pics of your recipe. Thanks.
Steve says
June 27, 2017 at 6:13 pmThere is a medical test that proves you have Celiac disease… so I guess it’s all in the doctors head when he reads the test results, the lab technician when he runs the test, me when the doctor explains to me the damage it will do to my child’s intestines and my child’s mind when they feel the effects of their reactions to gluten? Please educate you’re self before you tell people that the medical disease you have isn’t real. Do you go around to people in wheelchairs and tell them to stand up it’s all in their head?
Amanda says
January 28, 2014 at 3:01 pmThis recipe is currently simmering on my stove! It smells great! Can’t wait until it’s finished and the steaks are done!! Thanks for this recipe!!
EverydayMaven says
January 28, 2014 at 7:54 pmYum! I am jealous. We had burgers for dinner and wish it was steak. Hope you liked it!
Tally says
November 16, 2013 at 2:44 pmHow long would this be good for ?
EverydayMaven says
November 17, 2013 at 4:39 pmA couple of weeks to a month!
Hannah says
October 22, 2013 at 4:14 pmI do have the Worcestershire posted: http://www.bluekaleroad.com/2012/09/a-worcestershire-sauce-to-love.html I just ran out so it’s time for a new batch – just in time to make homemade steak sauce. 🙂
EverydayMaven says
October 23, 2013 at 10:04 amOhhhh, going to check that out now – thanks Hannah! xoxo
Kyusoku Bihaku says
October 18, 2013 at 7:40 amaha … The steak seasoning! .. made up with the idea to create a new menu at home.. thanks for sharing!
Norma Chang says
October 17, 2013 at 12:37 pmDon’t use much A1 sauce, but if I do need some this is the recipe I will using for sure.
EverydayMaven says
October 18, 2013 at 7:48 amIt lasts for a long time in the fridge as well Norma 🙂
Ashley - Baker by Nature says
October 17, 2013 at 7:27 amHomemade steak sauce is GENIUS!
EverydayMaven says
October 18, 2013 at 7:48 amI am pretty happy with it Ashley – now all I want is steak and burgers to put it on though lol!
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts says
October 16, 2013 at 6:29 pmAlyssa,
In addition to the idea of homemade steak sauce (now that I’ve got some steak in the freezer that’s a cool thing)
I’m excited to see the inclusion of an orange. It’s nearing Band Fruit Fundraiser time and I’m on the lookout for recipes using citrus.
Thanks!
Hannah says
October 16, 2013 at 4:41 pmI am making a batch of this soon, Alyssa! It sounds divine and I can’t wait. As we keep saying…homemade condiments are the best! I know my family will happily slather it on their steaks. I make homemade Worcestershire sauce and we love it – no crazy ingredients.
EverydayMaven says
October 18, 2013 at 7:47 amDo you have your homemade Worcestershire sauce posted?!?
john@kitchenriffs says
October 16, 2013 at 3:07 pmGood stuff! A-1 isn’t a regular in our house, but occasionally we do want a steak sauce. Now I know what to make! Thanks so mluch.
BLUEFIREFLY says
October 16, 2013 at 8:15 amThank you for this recipe!!!! A-1 was a staple growing up in my South Texas kitchen and I love it on my hamburger patty as well as steak! Now if you could come up with something to match my Pick-A-Peppa sauce that would be wonderful!
EverydayMaven says
October 18, 2013 at 7:42 amYou’re welcome!! 🙂
Heather // girlichef says
October 16, 2013 at 3:55 amI admit, I love A-1…and so does my oldest son. I’ve always wanted to try a copycat recipe, but figured no way could they actually have the special A-1 taste. Now that I know the source, I will give it a go. Thanks Alyssa! 🙂