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.
Geoff says
Add a 1/4 cup of your favorite bourbon. Tremendous.
Mike Hultquist says
I love this!
Kerry says
THANK YOU. Holy smokes this is some really good sauce!!!! The flavors blend perfectly. I didn’t have ketchup so I substituted tomato-based salsa instead (I know, weird), but it turned out fine! None of the salsa-esque flavors disrupted the mustard-vinegar essence. I’ll just be over here in VA. dipping everything in this….
Mike Hultquist says
Nice! Thanks, Kerry! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, we LOVE this sacue!
kristine aiuto says
I made this sauce and used it 2 ways:
1. As a BBQ sauce for pulled pork - excellent
2. Combined with some mayo for a Mushroom Burger with sautéed onions
Both ways delicious. Didn't quite have enough yellow mustard so used a couple of tablespoons of ground mustard as well.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Kristine.
Anthony Stebel says
Wonderful bbq sauce. Easy to make and great flavor. Followed the recipe exactly as written with 1 teaspoon of sriracha hot sauce where recipe called for dash.
Going to try it on a rack of smoked back ribs.
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Thanks, Anthony!
Aaron says
My wife and I first fell in love with Carolina Gold BBQ sauce from a baseball stadium concession stand. We've adopted this recipe as our new GO TO Carolina Gold sauce because it's SUPER delicious and so easy to make at home. Thanks Mike!
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! Glad you both enjoy it, Aaron!
John Ginter says
Holy Cow!!!! I added some smoked habenaro and jalapeno peppers. it is awesome!!!!!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, John!
Jesi says
Thank you! Terrible tomato allergy sufferer here, so this is the only BBQ sauce I can have. I have to remove the ketchup from the recipe. Any idea if a substation is needed and if so what would you suggest?
Mike Hultquist says
Just skip the ketchup, Jesi, though a nice chili sauce would be a good sub. Consider sriracha or chili-garlic sauce. https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/sauces/homemade-chili-garlic-sauce/
Nikki says
Amazing! Delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe. It's the best We've ever had!
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! Thanks, Nikki!
Grim says
Does adding something hotter like ghost or reaper pepper flakes take away from the favour of the bbq sauce? Or is there a bbq sauce that's better for those peppers?
Mike Hultquist says
Grim, it will definitely make it much hotter, but the effect will depend on your level of tolerance. Ghosts have a nice fruitiness that comes through if you can take the heat. If it's too hot, you should use milder peppers. Maybe try half a habanero (cored) and see how you like it. Ghosts are great with more tomato-based BBQ sauces as well, but again, I encourage experimentation. Try a little at first.
Cassondra says
We loved it, I tripled the recipe to can some for later. It is all gone the family ate it on everything. We will be trying to figure the amounts to make 24 pints next week.
Mike Hultquist says
Nice! Glad to hear, Cassondra!
Sandi Smith says
Did you water bath can?
Mark Connolly says
This is a terrific recipe. I have always loved the combination of heat and sweet. My first experience was in Rochester, NY, in college. Buffalo had their wings. Rochester had "birds". A deep fried (for crispness), then baked half chicken, served on a piece of white bread and drenched in a hot orange sauce. It came in several levels of heat. Also served with a side of cold macaroni salad. A great buy at $5 for a college student (!). (That dates me... the 1970s).
This recipe was also terrific. I lived in Eastern North Carolina for a few years. They love their mustard sauce... no tomato sauce there. And yes, only yellow mustard will do. The honey here was a really nice touch. I did not know that this was an ingredient. But I must admit. The recipe as written was BLAND. I added 1 TBS of my personally made cayenne "dust" (no seeds or filler here), 1 tsp of the same serano dust and about 1 tsp of Tabasco. Nice !
Just wondering, what is the recipe for the white vinegar topping that they put/squirt on a smoked whole suckling pig? THAT is a distinct Eastern NC favorite.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Mark. Yep, always nice to spice it up a little. I have a recipe for Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce here: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/carolina-vinegar-bbq-sauce/
Mark Connolly says
PERFECTO !!! I will have to give it a try.
Shel says
This sauce is amazing! Served it with ribs and chicken. It's just like the mustard bbq sauce from our favorite smokehouse restaurant. Loved it!!!
Maria S. says
Made the Carolina Mustard BBQ sauce. Absolutely loved the end result. scrumptious flavour with minimal effort.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Maria!