Alabama White Sauce is a creamy and tangy twist on BBQ sauce. It's perfect as a condiment, for grilling on the barbecue, or as a marinade, dressing or dip. Make it in minutes with simple ingredients, for a rich, bold sauce the whole family will enjoy!
Alabama White Sauce is a pale BBQ sauce that's full of rich, bold tastes.
It comes together in minutes and has a depth of flavour that will blow your mind.
It's sweet, tangy, creamy, spicy and just tastes like an explosion of great taste.
The flavours come from mayo, horseradish, cayenne, vinegar, mustard, lemon juice and sugar - so that's a LOT of big, bold tastes!
I love it when we're grilling on the barbecue, but we also use it as a marinade, a salad dressing, or as a dip for wings, vegetables or chips.
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I absolutely love this take on traditional BBQ sauce because it is unique and unlike any of its smoky red counterparts.
The best part is that it takes no time to make and can be used so many different ways.
Meat-eaters will of course love it for grilling. But even as a vegetarian, I find a lot of ways to enjoy Alabama White Sauce. Brushing it onto grilled veggie burgers and veggie sausages is incredible!
I also like using it as a vegetable dip, salad dressing, sandwich spread, drizzled on tater tots and fries and even in my favorite vegan fajita recipe.
It just livens up everything! It's not get-me-a-water hot, but it has layers upon layers of flavours.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
All of the ingredients get whisked together without any cooking involved.
It’s a great sauce that everyone can enjoy!
You’ll be able to find all the ingredients at your local grocery store.
It’s the perfect gift to bring to an outdoor barbecue.
You’ll be able to recreate the flavour of Bob Gibson’s famous sauce from scratch right at home.
Because it’s creamy, it has many other uses than just for grilled food.
This recipe is made with only 7 ingredients.
The spicy and tangy kick can be modified to fit your preferences.
It can be made ahead to save you time in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise - This creamy condiment makes up the base of the sauce.
- Vinegar - Responsible for making this BBQ sauce tangy and acidic.
- Mustard - Adds a bold flavour and tang.
- Horseradish - Give the sauce a kick of spice.
- Cayenne - Adds a bit of heat.
- Lemon juice - more acidity in addition to the vinegar.
- Sugar - sweetness to balance the flavours.
- Salt - to season.
Step By Step Tutorial
Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add all ingredients.
- Whisk vigorously to make sure everything is combined.
- Taste to adjust seasonings as necessary.
- Add to an airtight container or jar and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Tips
- Make sure that all the ingredients for this Alabama White BBQ Sauce recipe are fully combined to balance all the spices and flavours.
- BBQ sauce can last longer in the fridge if the jar or container has little to no air inside to prevent it from oxidizing.
- If you’re using it right away, you may want to reduce the vinegar amount slightly as the vinegar sharpness mellows out as it sits with the other ingredients.
- Lighten it up by using light mayo.
Serving Suggestions
The classic use is to brush it onto meats (I use it on veggie meats) on the grill, about 7 minutes before the end of cooking time.
Use it as a marinade.
Serve it as a dip for chips or vegetables.
Drizzle on top of Tofu Skewers.
Spread on this Roasted Vegetable Sandwich.
Use it to dip fries.
Try it with more recipes from Alabama.
Variations
If you don’t like using white vinegar, use apple cider vinegar or extra fresh lemon juice instead.
Add some color and freshness by stirring in chopped fresh parsley.
Add a tablespoon of apple juice to thin the Alabama White Sauce recipe and add more fruity flavor.
Swap the cayenne for smoked paprika for less heat and a smokey taste.
Storage
Storing: Store this bbq sauce in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 5-7 days making sure to test for freshness.
Freezing: This does not hold up well for freezing as the mayo may separate and demulsify. It’s best to use it within the week.
FAQs
What does Alabama white sauce taste like? It's a creamy, tangy, hot and bold sauce that can go on top of many different foods.
Where does Alabama white sauce come from? Alabama white barbecue sauce was invented in 1925 by Robert 'Big Bob' Gibson at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q restaurant.
What is Alabama Style BBQ? Alabama barbecue focuses mostly on pork and chicken since the white sauce is used heavily.
Other Condiments You’ll Love
Sriracha Aioli
Tartar Sauce
French Onion Dip
Homemade Ketchup
Vegan Cream Cheese
Mushroom Stock
Zax Sauce
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📖 Recipe
Alabama White Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (230g) mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish or 4 teaspoons creamed horseradish
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until completely combined.
- Cover and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make sure the ingredients are fully combined to balance all the spice and flavour.
- BBQ sauce can last longer in the fridge if the jar or container has little to no air inside to prevent it from oxidizing.
- If you’re using it right away, you may want to reduce the vinegar amount slightly as the vinegar flavour mellows out as it sits with the other ingredients.
- Make sure that all the ingredients for this Alabama White BBQ Sauce recipe are fully combined to balance all the spices and flavours.
- BBQ sauce can last longer in the fridge if the jar or container has little to no air inside to prevent it from oxidizing.
- If you’re using it right away, you may want to reduce the vinegar amount slightly as the vinegar sharpness mellows out as it sits with the other ingredients.
- Lighten it up by using light mayo.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Dionne
Fantastic white sauce! It tastes exactly how my dear friend is making it, and I've always wanted to learn how to make it!
Allyssa
Thanks a lot for sharing this! We loved it on grilled chicken last night with salad and fries!
Melanie
I've been looking for this recipe since I tried it somewhere else. Glad I found this, I'll be making some tonight!
Mirlene
Love how creamy this sauce is and I can think of the many ways i can use it. Adding the ingredients to my shopping list.
Claudia Lamascolo
Wow I have been wondering for years how to make this yummy sauce tonight it will be on our table so thank you I love this on steak! I will try that tip on the mayo!!