Alabama White Sauce - Easy White BBQ Sauce! (2024)

Made with just a few ingredients, this Alabama White Sauce is rich, creamy, tangy, and absolutely mouth-watering. White BBQ sauce is perfect for your grilled and smoked meats as well as dipping everything from chicken fingers to fries.

Next time you have a cookout, put some of this white BBQ sauce and our regular homemade BBQ sauce out and let your guests enjoy both!

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Easy White BBQ Sauce Recipe

Everyone should have a classic BBQ sauce on hand – but sometimes you just gotta switch it up. My family is absolutely addicted to this Alabama white BBQ sauce. It’s creamy, it’s tangy, and it’s oh so good! We use it on everything from chicken tenders to veggies. Our kids even dip their fries in it.

If you’ve never tried Alabama white sauce, you are in for a treat. Be prepared to make this white BBQ sauce recipe all summer long.

What is Alabama White Sauce?

Alabama White Sauce is a white BBQ sauce that originated in Decatur, Alabama at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q. It’s a sweet and tangy sauce that begins with a base of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar, with a handful of other ingredients like mustard, horseradish, brown sugar, and lemon juice added for a more robust flavor.

Is Alabama white sauce spicy? Not really. It certainly has some bite thanks to the horseradish but I wouldn’t say that it’s spicy hot. You can definitely make it that way by adding in more cayenne pepper but I prefer to keep the heat level family-friendly when I make this.

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Ingredients Needed

What’s in Alabama white sauce? The ingredient list is most likely items you have in the cupboard.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

  • Mayonnaise – Creates the creamy base.
  • Apple cider vinegar – Adds a little tang and helps to thin out the sauce.
  • Spicy brown mustard – Adds a bit of spice. Use regular brown mustard if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Brown sugar – Balances out the other ingredients with just a bit of sweetness.
  • Horseradish – Adds a bite to the flavor. Use hot horseradish for even more spice.
  • Lemon juice – For a bright citrus note.
  • Worcestershire sauce – Adds depth of flavor, and balances out the sweet, savory, and tangy taste.
  • Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper round out the flavor profile.

Recipe Variations

Adjust the heat and flavor with these easy variations.

  • Turn up the spice. If you like an extra kick to your white BBQ sauce, try using hot horseradish and a bit more cayenne pepper. You can also add a splash of your favorite hot sauce as well.
  • Turn down the heat. On the other hand, if you prefer a more mild sauce, swap the spicy brown mustard for regular brown mustard and skip the cayenne pepper.
  • Lighten it up. If you want a lower calorie white BBQ sauce, swap half of the mayo for plain yogurt. I don’t recommend swapping it out completely due to texture and flavor but 50/50 is a great ratio to keep the flavor while lightening the sauce a bit.
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How to Make Alabama White Sauce

This Alabama white BBQ sauce comes together in literal seconds!
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

  • Combine the ingredients. Whisk all ingredients together until smooth.
  • Chill. Refrigerate in an airtight jar for a few hours to give the flavors time to develop. You can serve it immediately but it’s so much better when it’s chilled for several hours or even a day in advance.
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Serving Suggestions

Alabama white sauce is most often served up with grilled steak, grilled chicken, and smoked meats. But there are so many other ways to use it too. You can use it as a dip for chicken tenders, onion rings, and French fries, or completely smother the meats in it, as you would a regular BBQ sauce.

Proper Storage

How long does Alabama White Sauce last? The good news is that this Alabama white sauce will last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Although the likelihood of it actually lasting that long is unlikely because you’ll want to put it on everything. I’d consider making a double batch! To store, just keep it in a sealable, airtight container or jar in the fridge. Stir before using.

More Sauce Recipes:

  • Yum Yum Sauce
  • Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Chick-fil-A Sauce
  • Remoulade Sauce
  • Tzatziki Sauce

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onTikTok,Facebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!

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Alabama White Sauce

Made with just a few ingredients, this Alabama White Sauce is rich, creamy, tangy, and absolutely mouth-watering. White BBQ sauce is perfect for your grilled and smoked meats as well as dipping everything from chicken fingers to fries!

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth.

  • Taste and adjust, if desired.

  • Use right away, or store in the fridge for later. We prefer this to chill for at least several hours (ideally a day) before eating to let the flavors develop and meld.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Keyword: alabama white BBQ sauce, alabama white sauce recipe, white BBQ sauce recipe

Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!

Alabama White Sauce - Easy White BBQ Sauce! (2024)

FAQs

What is Alabama White BBQ sauce made of? ›

Add the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, horseradish, and worcestershire sauce to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add the kosher salt, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine.

What is Mission BBQ Alabama white sauce? ›

Alabama White Sauce is a creamy, tangy, and rich BBQ sauce with just a kiss of heat. This sauce is a classic white BBQ sauce that is perfect on smoked chicken and so much more! Ready in less than 5 minutes, it's a quick and easy sauce ready when you are!

What is the difference between white BBQ sauce and regular BBQ sauce? ›

It's won several awards over the years and this is how it got the name “Alabama White Sauce”. This sauce is different than traditional BBQ sauce because it's more peppery and tangy, and less sweet. It's made with a creamy mayonnaise base, instead of the traditional tomato base found in a classic red bbq sauce.

What to pair with Alabama white sauce? ›

Alabama white sauce is great on meat, but it's also delicious on vegetables. Drizzle it on grilled veggies like grilled asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, or green beans.

Why is it called Alabama White Sauce? ›

The creation of white barbecue sauce, often called “Alabama White,” is credited to Robert “Big Bob'” Gibson at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q restaurant, in Decatur, Ala., in 1925.

What does Alabama white BBQ sauce taste like? ›

What Does Alabama White Sauce Taste Like? Alabama white sauce has a creamy, tangy flavor that sets it apart from most barbecue sauces, which often have a tomato or ketchup base, with brown sugar, molasses, and hot pepper running through them for sweetness and spice.

Who made the original Alabama white sauce? ›

A staple of Northern Alabama barbecue, this sauce is primarily a mixture of mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and pepper. It was invented by Robert Gibson at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q in Decatur, AL, where freshly smoked chickens are pulled from the pit and then "baptized" in a pool of the sauce.

Who made Alabama white sauce famous? ›

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q began bottling their Original White Sauce in the mid-90s. It's now available in grocery stores in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida, as well as specialty shops across the country.

What is the history of Alabama white BBQ sauce? ›

However, northern Alabama gets the credit for white barbeque sauce, a truly unique option. The origin of Alabama white sauce can be traced back to one man: Robert Lee Gibson, better known as Big Bob Gibson, of Decatur, Alabama. Gibson earned his nickname from his size — 6'4 and 300 pounds — and an appetite to match.

What are the 4 types of BBQ sauce? ›

Generally, barbecue sauces is categorized into four varieties: tomato-based sauces, vinegar-based sauces, mustard-based sauces, and mayonnaise-based sauces. Each category can have a range of BBQ sauce styles, ranging from sweet and tangy to hot and spicy.

What are the 4 types of BBQ? ›

Some places are known for their stunning skylines or their distinctive accents. But these four regions are known for their incredible recipes that define United States BBQ Styles. Take a tour of the defining traits of Kansas City, Texas, Memphis, and Carolina-style barbecue!

How to jazz up white sauce? ›

Add ground black pepper or ground cayenne pepper to white sauce to give it a kick. Add marjoram, beef bouillon powder and a pinch of ground thyme powder for country fried steak or other beef dish. Add paprika, parsley, white wine and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for seafood dishes.

When was Alabama White Sauce invented? ›

Alabama white sauce

It is believed to have been invented by Bob Gibson at the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur in 1925. The sauce's popularity was mainly confined to northern Alabama until 1994 when it began to be bottled and sold commercially.

What is a fancy name for white sauce? ›

Another name for bechamel — or béchamel — is "white sauce." Making a bechamel is a very basic technique in French cooking which begins with a roux, a cooked mixture of flour and butter, and after slowly whisking in milk, ends in a creamy sauce.

What is white BBQ made of? ›

Combine ingredients:

Stir together mayonnaise, vinegar, water, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and hot sauce in a small bowl.

Who makes Alabama White BBQ sauce? ›

Visit Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Ala., and you'll find a barbecue sauce unlike any on the planet. Created by a railroad worker-turned-pit master in the 1920s, this piquant mixture of mayonnaise, vinegar and black pepper has accompanied barbecued chicken for five generations of pit masters.

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