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Home » White BBQ Sauce (aka Alabama White Sauce)

White BBQ Sauce (aka Alabama White Sauce)

by Mike Hultquist · Jul 29, 2019 · 36 Comments

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Different from any other bbq sauce, this white bbq sauce (aka Alabama white sauce) uses mayo as a base, along with vinegar, sugars and spices. A southern favorite!

Alabama White BBQ Sauce Recipe

When it comes to bbq sauce, most of us think of tomato or ketchup based sauces. They can be sweet, vinegary, spicy, or a combination of all three, but would you believe there's a white bbq sauce based not on ketchup or tomatoes, but mayonnaise?

It's true. There is a rather famous white bbq sauce popular in the southern United States, and it's called Alabama White BBQ Sauce. 

If it sounds strange to you, a bbq sauce with a mayonnaise base, you're not alone. However, once you give it a taste, it's sure to find it's way into your recipe collection.

My version ups the zest factor to satisfy that spiciness we all crave. Let's discuss.

Alabama White BBQ Sauce on a basting brush

What is White BBQ Sauce?

White BBQ Sauce, aka Alabama White Sauce, is a barbecue sauce made primarily of mayonnaise, vinegar, and spices. It was invented in Northern Alabama and is a staple there for serving up bbq chicken and other wonderful foods fresh off the grill or out of the smoker.

Where Did Alabama White Sauce Come From?

Alabama White Sauce was created by Robert Gibson at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. At Big Bob's BBQ joint, they dunk smoked chicken into vats of the sauce before serving. The sauce clings to the meat, offering up a tanginess and rich flavor you won't get with any other bbq sauce.

You can, of course, purchase Alabama style white sauce at your local grocer, but it's so much better when you make it at home. My version ups the zesty elements with horseradish, spicy brown mustard and other spices, making it the best white bbq sauce I've ever had.

I hope you enjoy it. Let's talk about how to make Alabama white sauce, shall we?

Alabama White BBQ Sauce Ingredients

To make your own white barbecue sauce, you'll need the following ingredients:

  • Mayonnaise. Use your favorite brand. I love Duke's mayo.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. Offers the best tang factor over other vinegars.
  • Spicy Brown Mustard. My personal addition for extra flavor and tang.
  • Brown Sugar. I prefer it here over honey.
  • Prepared Horseradish. My own addition for zing - I use hot horseradish.
  • Lemon Juice.
  • Worcestershire Sauce.
  • Hot Sauce. To taste, optional.
  • Spices. Use Garlic powder, onion powder cayenne (optional, for heat), and salt and black pepper.

How to Make Alabama White BBQ Sauce - the Recipe Steps

Add to a Large Bowl. First, add all of the ingredients to a large bowl - mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, brown mustard, brown sugar, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper.

Alabama White BBQ Sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl

Get Whisking. Next, whisk everything together, like so.

Whisking our Alabama White BBQ Sauce in a mixing bowl

Make sure the resulting bbq sauce is nice and uniform. It will look like this when you're done.

Alabama White BBQ Sauce whisked in a mixing bowl

BOOM! All set. You are now the happy creator of your own Alabama white sauce. Nicely done.

Recipe Tips & Notes

ZING FACTOR: I like a bit more zing and spiciness with my white bbq sauce, so I use hot horseradish, as well as a spicy brown mustard and a bit of hot sauce. If you'd like to add even more of that zing factor, you can easily incorporate more horseradish or a hotter hot sauce.

MILDER: You can dial back on the heat by using milder horseradish, and using only half the amount. Also, either skip or use a milder hot sauce.

TANGIER: For a tangier version, add some extra apple cider vinegar. It's a nice addition.

LIGHTER: For a lighter version of the sauce, replace half of the mayo with crema or sour cream. This does not affect the flavor.

SEASONING: I've used some simple seasonings in mine. However, you can also include a ½ teaspoon or so of your favorite dry rub or seasoning blend to give this an extra pop of flavor. Something like a Cajun blend or even something like Old Bay Seasoning. Season away!

Serving Suggestions for White BBQ Sauce

Alabama white sauce may be famous for serving with smoked or grilled chicken, but it's a hugely flavorful addition to any grilled foods and barbecue fair. You'll love it on pulled pork or pork chops. You can also use it as a dipping sauce with meats and vegetables or use it to brush onto your foods as you're cooking them, veggies included.

Try it out as a salad dressing and you'll be amazed. You definitely have to try it out on these Brined Grilled Chicken Wings.

Alabama White BBQ Sauce served on chicken wings

Try Some of My Other Popular BBQ Sauce Recipes

  • Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
  • Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
  • Chipotle-Bacon-Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
  • Peach-Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
  • Spicy Honey BBQ Sauce
  • Ancho BBQ Sauce
  • Easy BBQ Sauce
Alabama White BBQ Sauce, ready to serve

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. 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.

Alabama White BBQ Sauce Recipe
Print

White BBQ Sauce (aka Alabama White Sauce) Recipe

Different from any other bbq sauce, this white bbq sauce (aka Alabama white sauce) uses mayo as a base, along with vinegar, sugars and spices. A southern favorite!
Course: Main Course, sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bbq, bbq sauce, recipe, spicy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Calories: 268kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 6
Tap or hover to scale
5 from 10 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown mustard I use a spicy brown mustard
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish I use a hot horseradish
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste I use ½ teaspoon each

Instructions

  • Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth.
  • Use the white bbq sauce right away, or transfer to a sealable jar and refrigerate a few hours to let the flavors develop and meld.

Notes

Spice Factor: Mild, though you can spice it up if you’d like with hotter powders and/or chili flakes. This isn’t meant to be hot.
Makes about 1.5 cups/24 tablespoons.
Will last a week in the refrigerator or longer.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 268kcal   Carbohydrates: 3g   Fat: 28g   Saturated Fat: 4g   Cholesterol: 15mg   Sodium: 259mg   Potassium: 14mg   Sugar: 2g   Vitamin A: 60IU   Vitamin C: 1mg   Calcium: 3mg   Iron: 0.1mg
Alabama White BBQ Sauce Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Categories: BBQ/Grilled Tags: Chili Pepper Madness, chili pepper recipe, game day and superbowl parties

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Anne says

    June 20, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    5 stars
    We had gone out for dinner at an American Style Taoas restaurant and they served fried cauliflower with white BBQ sauce. I had never heard of it and immediately fell in love with the taste! Instead of frying the cauliflower, I roasted the whole head and then mixed this sauce up, poured some over the top when it came out of the oven and served the rest in a bowl to spoon over. OMG, this will definitely be on repeat in our house! I can’t have tomatoes or tomato products, so this is a great replacement. Oooh, how about as a sauce for a pizza? Hmmmm

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 21, 2022 at 5:44 am

      I love it, Anne! Yes, this can be pretty versatile. Glad you found it! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  2. Michael Wroblewski says

    December 07, 2021 at 8:42 am

    I had read about Alabama white sauce over 15 years ago, but had never tried any…. In Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season, my middle son smoked a bunch of wings and used Lillie’s No. 65 on them (a retail Alabama white sauce available in supermarkets for those who don’t already know). Last Sunday (12/5/21) he was running an errand and wasn’t going to have time to buy another bottle for spatchcocked smoked chicken before kickoff, and asked me if I could do so… I asked him right back if he knew I could whisk up a batch from scratch lol! Fresh tasted really yummy on that chicken!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      December 07, 2021 at 9:12 am

      Awesome to hear, Michael! I love it. Thanks for sharing this story.

      Reply
  3. Christine Markwart says

    September 30, 2021 at 7:55 am

    5 stars
    SO delicious. I tried it on grilled chicken and pork, and both were great. I brushed it on when the meat was almost done. Flavor was perfect - just enough kick but not too much. Will definitely make this again.

    Reply
  4. Tanya says

    July 19, 2021 at 8:06 pm

    I can’t rate the recipe YET!! I want to make it as it sounds so delicious!! However I may be having a “brain hiccup” …. the nutritional value…..is that for the whole recipe (1.5cups) or one serving (4 TBSP’s)? I’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes so I have to watch carbs & calories.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 20, 2021 at 6:19 am

      Tanya, yes, it is because of the MAYO. You can try a sugar free mayo or other low calorie mayo as a substitute, though I can't vouch for the flavor. Let me know it goes for you.

      Reply
  5. Michael Mims says

    July 19, 2021 at 8:32 am

    5 stars
    The recipe sounds great. I never heard of it before today and I'm going to make it this week! I'm tinking of adding Wasabi Powder for an extra kick. Has anyone tried that?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 19, 2021 at 8:35 am

      Great, Michael. I've never tried it with wasabi powder, but think that would definitely be interesting with a nice kick! Let me know how it goes for you.

      Reply
  6. Fran Chester says

    July 05, 2021 at 8:06 pm

    has anyone tried it on Baby Back Ribs?

    Reply
  7. Ann says

    July 02, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    It must be July 4 because I'm making this sauce. We love it! My daughter adds it to her pulled pork on rice. I always double the recipe so it lasts as long as my smoked pork and beef brisket leftovers.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 03, 2021 at 7:42 am

      Wonderful! Glad to hear it, Ann. Thank you!

      Reply
  8. Eryn says

    June 12, 2021 at 7:54 pm

    5 stars
    This was absolutely fabulous! I served with some pulled pork and grilled chicken and everyone covered their plates in this sauce!! I’m so glad I doubled the recipe - I have leftovers now. Lol. I made exactly as written except I didn’t end up having spicy brown mustard so I used Dijon (all I had in the fridge) and it turned out perfect.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 13, 2021 at 6:16 am

      Glad you enjoyed it, Eryn! Nice!

      Reply
  9. Ken Collins says

    June 08, 2021 at 11:50 am

    Have you ever tried it in coleslaw i love the recipe

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 08, 2021 at 12:18 pm

      That would be AWESOME for a nice and creamy coleslaw.

      Reply
  10. Matt says

    June 01, 2021 at 10:04 pm

    5 stars
    Incredible sauce!! I grilled chicken breasts and vegetable skewers and dipped every bite in the white sauce, I couldn’t be happier with this dinner. Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 02, 2021 at 5:51 am

      Thanks, Matt! Glad you enjoyed it! This is a great one for sure. Unique!

      Reply
  11. Mike Nash says

    May 25, 2021 at 10:34 am

    5 stars
    Seriously GOOD white BBQ sauce! Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out really good!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      May 25, 2021 at 12:04 pm

      Thanks, Mike! Super happy you enjoyed it! We love this one!

      Reply
  12. Chieko says

    May 03, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    5 stars
    Decent recipe!!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      May 04, 2021 at 7:41 am

      Thanks, Chieko!

      Reply
  13. Shirley says

    March 07, 2021 at 12:11 pm

    Sounds delicious. How long will this last in the fridge? I'm making pulled chicken for Easter, and I'm gonna make your mustard bbq sauce. I want a few different sauces for people to choose from.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      March 07, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      Thanks, Shirley. I would probably use it within a week, though it's really a condiment sauce, so it should realistically last quite a long time. Enjoy!

      Reply
  14. Deborah W. Lovin says

    February 06, 2021 at 8:25 am

    5 stars
    Michael, love your sauce! First tried it at a restaurant on the Warrior River in Tuscaloosa. That was back in the mid 80's. No one knew what I was talking about until the last few years. I won't smoke meat without it! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      February 06, 2021 at 9:44 am

      Awesome! Thanks, Deborah!

      Reply
  15. Jason says

    November 23, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    5 stars
    What mayonnaise brand have you found to taste best? Dukes, Hellman’s, etc...? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 28, 2020 at 2:56 pm

      Jason, I don't really have a preferred brand, but honestly, start with your favorite tasting brand. That will make all the difference to you personally.

      Reply
  16. wendy brown says

    November 18, 2020 at 1:33 pm

    Is there a way to can the Alabama white sauce? Wanted to make a few up and can and seal them and not take up so much room in my fridge when we want it. We use it constantly.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 19, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      Wendy, if the pH is 3.5 or lower, you can process in a water bath. Otherwise, use a pressure canner.

      Reply
  17. Tracy O. says

    June 28, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    5 stars
    I love this recipe!!! I have made it many times and will be making it again to go with my smoked brisket with family on the July 4th weekend. My dad loved it with another brisket I made for them last Fall.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 29, 2020 at 4:36 am

      Thanks, Tracy! SO good with brisket. Enjoy. Happy 4th!

      Reply
  18. Don Wilson says

    May 24, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    I just got a air fryer need help with chicken wings got any recipes?
    Don Wilson

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      May 25, 2020 at 8:21 am

      I hope to get my air fryer chicken wings recipe online soon, Don.

      Reply
  19. Miranda says

    August 21, 2019 at 2:26 pm

    This looks absolutely amazing! I've actually used a white bbq sauce as a salad dressing and I really enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      August 21, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      Thanks, Miranda. Totally perfect as a dressing! I love it.

      Reply

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