Get your smokers and grills ready for summer with this classic Carolina mustard bbq sauce recipe from South Carolina. It goes perfectly with pork or grilled chicken.
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe (Carolina Gold)
South Carolina has a rich and proud history in barbecue. Growing up, I only knew of tomato-based barbecue sauces. Sadly, they were all I'd ever been introduced to.
Little did I know there were so many other types of barbecue sauces out there, and a practically infinite variation of them, but each with their own unique base. This mustard-based barbecue sauce is one of them.
Mustard, you say? In barbecue sauce?
Absolutely. If you've never encountered a barbecue sauce recipe made with mustard, you're in for a taste bud awakening because it is truly a revelation.
Behold - Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce.
A History of Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Mustard-based bbq sauce is tied back to the Germans who populated South Carolina in the 1700s.
Germans are fond of their mustards, which accounts for its early introduction, but its overall flavor is the reason for its enduring popularity. I've seen many variations of this sauce, with a smattering of other ingredients included.
This is the version I personally enjoy at home. It pairs ideally with pork - think ribs, pork chops, pork shoulder that's been smoked to tender perfection.
You'll find it all over South Carolina, though it has found its way up through North Carolina as well, and is offered along with other barbecue sauces at many BBQ restaurants.
North Carolina is known more for their ketchup based bbq sauces with molasses and brown sugar and their vinegar based sauces as well, but they've made plenty of room for this mustard bbq sauce, which is also known as Carolina Gold Barbecue Sauce.
It's great stuff, my friends!
It's also incredibly easy to make. First off, you only want to use yellow mustard. No brown mustard here, my friends. You MUST go with the classic recipes. Trust them in the south. They know what they're doing.
Toss in your ingredients and whisk away. A little bit of heating and you have a sauce ready to go. I like to make mine a day ahead to allow the flavors to mingle a bit. The choice is yours.
What Does Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce Taste Like?
This mustard bbq sauce is a wonderful mix of sweet and tangy and spicy. You get a double whammy of tang from the mix of apple cider vinegar along with yellow mustard, which has a respectable level of tang on its own.
You'll find a wonderful sweetness from the brown sugar and honey, a welcomed savory taste from the seasonings, as well as enticing spicy notes from the cayenne.
If you'd like to up that overall heat factor, you can easily include extra cayenne pepper in the mix, or introduce some spicy chili flakes.
If you'd prefer a no-heat version, simply omit the cayenne and focus on the other ingredients.
Let's talk about how to make mustard bbq sauce, shall we?
South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce Ingredients (Carolina Gold)
- Mustard. Use ¾ cup yellow mustard. Yellow mustard is standard and preferred, though you can use others if you'd like.
- Sweet Factor. I use both ½ cup honey and ¼ cup brown sugar. Adjust to your own preference.
- Vinegar. Use ½ cup apple cider vinegar, though you can use other vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has a nice sweetness and tang.
- Ketchup. 2 tablespoons ketchup, or more to preference.
- Worcestershire Sauce. Use 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- Seasonings. I use 1 teaspoon garlic powder, a pinch or more of cayenne (usually more for me) and ½ teaspoon salt. If cayenne is too spicy, use paprika.
- Hot Sauce. I like to add in a few dashes of hot sauce, though this is completely optional.
How to Make Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce - the Recipe Method
Gather Ingredients. First, add the following together in a mixing bowl: yellow mustard, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, cayenne, salt and hot sauce.
Whisk. Whisk everything together until very smooth.
Simmer. Next, add to a small pot and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool.
Refrigerate. Pour into a jar and cover. Refrigerate at least one day to let the flavors mingle.
Serve. To serve, warm it up in a small pot and get eating! Or enjoy it straight out of the refrigerator! So good.
Time to get the smokers and grills going. Here's another barbecue sauce to add to your arsenal. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce is particular delicious when served with pulled pork on a bun, topped with crunchy coleslaw. It is also wonderful spooned over grilled pork chops or grilled chicken.
I've also enjoyed it over smoked pork ribs, where the tanginess really shines.
Still, personally, there's nothing better than smoking up a couple pork butts until they're pull apart tender, then smothering the meat with this outstanding bbq sauce.
So flavorful and infinitely enjoyable. I love to eat pulled pork.
This Recipe Is In our Cookbook - FLAVOR MADNESS
Did you know that you can find this recipe in our new cookbook FLAVOR MADNESS? It's waiting for you on PAGE 76.
Best Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe - Ever!
I love this sauce! Such a great recipe. So tangy, wonderfully sweet, just a touch spicy. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe (Carolina Gold)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup yellow mustard
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch or more of cayenne
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Dash of hot sauce
Instructions
- Whisk all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Add to a small pot and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool.
- Pour into a jar and cover. Refrigerate at least one day to let the flavors mingle.
- To serve, warm it up in a small pot and get eating!
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
This recipe was updated on 2/23/26 to include new information and review video and photos.
Lee says
what's the shelf life like once made tho ?
Mike Hultquist says
Lee, normally I would say it will last at least a week and up to a month, but this is primarily a condiment-based sauce, so will likely last a few months easily in the refrigerator. Enjoy.
Lee says
amazing.. thanx
Jenn says
Fantastic!! Your recipe is outstanding and exactly what I was looking for. Didn't change one single thing. If you are looking for a Carolina mustard sauce, look no further. You found it. I was so grateful that I found this site. Your sauce is amazing and I'm so glad you shared it with us. Highly recommend the sauce. Thank you.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Jenn! Glad you enjoyed it!
Dot says
Hey,
I will be using this sauce tomorrow . I am hoping it's similar to Maurice's sauce that we always bought whenever visiting the south. Now I live in Strasbourg , France . can't find anything like this here!!!
Mike Hultquist says
I hope you enjoy it enough to give it 5 stars upon trying it, Dot. Have fun.
Sonia says
Recipe was very good. i cut the amt of brown sugar.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Sonia.
Carol says
Had some of this style of sauce on a pork chop, but they added a little wasabi to it. Very good!
Mike Hultquist says
I love the wasabi addition! Nice.
leonce chiasson says
how long will it keep in the fridge
Mike Hultquist says
This will last several months easily, stored in a sealed container. Enjoy!
Rhea Beacker says
Made this for a whole chicken we were smoking. Super! Then used the extra as a dipping sauce. Only thing I did was 1/2 cup regular mustard with 1/4 horseradish mustard and I didn’t have hot sauce so I sprinkled in dinosaur seasoning.
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Rhea!
CBJ says
This is fantastic! Followed recipe to a T. Never tried SC BBQ sauce before. Going to be a huge hit at our smoked pork butt get-together this weekend!
Mike Hultquist says
Yes! I LOVE this stuff. Seriously, so good. Glad you enjoyed it!
C'dub says
It's Hatch Chili season, last week I grilled about 5 lbs and have them in 1 cup freezer bags. Thinking about adding a cup of hatch chilis during simmer and then using a blender to smooth them into the sauce. Have you tried adding hatch or other chilis?
Mike Hultquist says
I have not, but would definitely give it a go. Let me know how it turns out. Enjoy!
Loren Martin says
Wonderfully tangy and exciting flavors! Thank you.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Loren!
Linda Ross says
Sweet and Spicy - best combination ever. Quick to make with ingredients I'm sure that most of us have at hand. Thank you! This is delicious
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Linda! Definitely a favorite here!
Falkenna says
I forgot the ketchup and was too impatient to wait a day, so ate it on fried *chicken livers* (and veg and baked potato) right away. Yum!! A little too sweet for me, I would use a tad less sugar and honey next time, but I will definitely be making it again, for pork, chicken and more livers! I'll make it ahead next time, I'm sure it will be even better. And so easy.
An NC native living in the UK, I was inspired to find the recipe by my sister, who tasted it in Nashville . . . Yes, the word is definitely being spread!
Mike Hultquist says
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it! Best to you in the UK!
greg says
Has anyone tried a recipe like this with stevia, monk fruit, etc.? Just trying to limit my sugar intake (it is in everything!) thanks, greg
Mike Hultquist says
Greg, I've made it with Stevia. I use stevia in my coffee. You might need to adjust the amount, depending on the overall sweetness of your product, but it definitely works.
Ed P says
I’d like to make this and give as gifts. If I make a big batch, can I water bath can it to preserve? If so, would I need to add anything? And is 10 minutes enough process time to preserve?
Thanks
Mike Hultquist says
Ed, yes, you should be able to. Check the pH first. Shoot for 3.5 or lower for home preserving. 10 minutes is usually long enough, up to 20 minutes at higher altitudes.