Believe it or not, Alabama White Sauce (also known as white BBQ sauce) is a recent discovery for me. As a longtime fan of ketchup-based BBQ sauces, I was skeptical…until I tried it. It’s beautifully balanced: creamy mayo, tangy apple cider vinegar, a kick from horseradish and Worcestershire, and some sweetness from brown sugar. With garlic and onion powder rounding it out, this sauce truly has it all. Honestly, I’d slather it on just about anything. Alabama knows how to make a BBQ sauce!
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Easy Recipe for Alabama White Sauce
This delicious sauce has been a Southern secret since 1925, when it was believed to have been created at Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. Unlike our homemade BBQ sauce, this Alabama white sauce recipe is mayonnaise-based and is tangy, peppery, and deliciously creamy. It’s most famous for being slathered on smoked chicken or pork, but I love how versatile it is. You can use it as a marinade, dipping sauce, or to baste grilled meats.
If you haven’t tried white BBQ sauce before, I promise you’re in for something totally different compared to your usual BBQ fare!
Alabama White Sauce
Servings 12 servings (2 Tbsp per serving)Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise ($0.90)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar ($0.15)
- 1 Tbsp prepared horseradish ($0.27*)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard ($0.04)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce ($0.04)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.04)
- 1 tsp garlic powder ($0.04)
- 1 tsp onion powder ($0.04)
- 1 tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.16)
- ½ tsp salt ($0.02)
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper ($0.04)
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Place all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until fully combined.
- Use it right away or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
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Equipment
- Medium Bowl
Notes
Nutrition
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Gather all of your ingredients.
Make the sauce: To a medium-sized bowl, add 1 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp prepared horseradish, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp black pepper, ½ tsp salt, and ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper.
Whisk well to combine, and serve! You can also store it in the fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
Top Tip!
What I love about making homemade sauces is how easy it is to make them your own. So have fun and customize this recipe to your taste! Add more vinegar for extra tang, a little extra cayenne for heat, or an extra spoonful of horseradish for a sharper bite. It’s super flexible, so tweak it until it’s just right for you.
Serving Suggestions
Alabama white sauce is a match made in heaven for grilled or smoked meats. It’s bright and zippy, with just enough bite to cut through rich, smoky flavors. Chicken is the classic pairing (you’ll often see whole smoked birds dunked right into a vat of the stuff), but it’s just as tasty drizzled over dry rubbed grilled drumsticks and thighs, chicken wings, or grilled chicken breast. I also think it’s incredible on pork chops, pulled pork sandwiches, and even grilled veggies!
This creamy sauce also makes an amazing salad dressing and is perfect for dipping fresh vegetables or chips. You can even use it to make a totally different spin on coleslaw or potato salad! As soon as I tried it, I started finding excuses to use it on just about everything.
Storage Instructions
This homemade Alabama white sauce tastes even better after a night in the fridge, once the flavors have had time to meld. But it’s still delicious if you want to dig in right away! Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks. Give it a stir before enjoying again.
