The Best Alabama White BBQ Sauce
Alabama white sauce is a rich, creamy, and tangy barbecue sauce that’s great on grilled or smoked chicken. It also pairs well with pork, such as grilled pork chops or pork tenderloins.
Alabama White BBQ Sauce Video
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What is Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
What is white BBQ sauce, you ask? There are so many regional sauces that offer different flavors.
You have Kansas City BBQ sauce which is thick and tangy, slightly sweet. You have South Carolina sauces that offer a mustard base type sauce.
In North Carolina, they’re proud of their strong vinegar-based thin sauce, perfect for a pig pick’in. There is Memphis style, Texas-style … on and on.
So what is this white barbeque sauce?
Alabama white BBQ sauce was introduced by none other than Big Bob Gibson Barbecue in Decatur, Alabama. It is tangy, it is peppery, and it is good.
This barbeque sauce is unique because it is mayonnaise based versus tomato based. This makes it a lot more smooth and silky.
It’s good on anything, and it’s easy to make. But it is especially delicious on a big batch of our smoked chicken wings. We’ll also use this barbecue sauce on our smoked chicken and chicken panini sandwich.
Why You’ll Love This
Alabama white sauce is a rich, creamy, and tangy barbecue sauce that’s great on grilled or smoked chicken. But it’s also good on pulled pork or pork chops.
It’s simple to mix up with ingredients from your pantry and fridge!
It’s not just for barbecue. Use it as a dipping sauce for fresh vegetables or salad dressing.
It also deliciously changes up a standard cole slaw recipe!
How To Make Alabama White BBQ Sauce
The good news is that you probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen. It’s amazing what a handful of ingredients can do!
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – Use what you have, but we’ll always recommend Duke’s Mayo.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – ACV always adds the zing.
- Water
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds a richer depth of flavor.
- Spices – Kosher salt, garlic powder, freshly ground black pepper, and onion powder round this delicious sauce out.
- Cayenne – Just a pinch is perfect. Add more for added heat, or leave it out totally for a more mild experience.
It’s so easy to make. Take the ingredients, toss them in a bowl, and mix. That’s it. The white bbq sauce is ready to go. No cooking, no blending, no nothing.
If you want it to rock, make it earlier to allow some time for the flavors to come together. In fact, I’d recommend it. At least one hour ahead of serving, but overnight is better.
As I stated earlier, this white bbq sauce recipe goes with anything. You can use it for your ribs, smoked pork butt, pulled pork, or any kind of smoked or grilled chicken … it all works.
I’ve even dipped my french fries in this addictive white sauce. 🙂
Variations
Add some extra horseradish to the sauce to kick up the heat.
Omit the cayenne pepper for a mild flavored sauce.
Add extra apple cider vinegar for that more ‘Easy North Carolina’ barbecue sauce experience. (I do this since spending time in that region, delish!)
You can add some of your dry rub to the mix to meld the flavors of the sauce and whatever it is you’re using it on.
FAQ
Alabama white sauce is a mayonnaise-based barbecue sauce that originated at Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ in Decatur, Alabama. It is a creamy, tangy, peppery barbecue sauce best served with smoked chicken.
It is. There is no sugar added to this recipe. This is an amazing sauce, and you will not miss the sugar at all.
Store the sauce in an air-tight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
While both have the same look and creaminess, they do not taste alike. Alabama white sauce is tangier and has a peppery zing. But it can become just as addictive as ranch and is great as a dip or sauce. It also pairs well with chicken, pork, turkey, slaw, and other vegetables.
More Delicious Recipes
Alabama White BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1/3 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Water
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk until combined well. Refrigerate.
I have never heard of such a thing!!! But trust me, I will be making it extremely soon! I looked at the ingredients and my husband/kids LOVE this style of sauce! Making chicken skewers next week… Thinking this will for sure be happening! YAY! 🙂
Maria, I have lived in Alabama all my life and thought this sauce was a strange concept. I really didn’t think I was going to like it, but I loved it. I hope you enjoy the sauce. Thank you so much for coming by!
Maria, do you think this recipe would work with sour cream instead of mayonnaise?
I don’t really like mayo.
Linda, I’m sorry but we have never tried it with sour cream. Give it a whirl and let us know how it turns out. Thanks so much for coming by!
Can this yummy sounding bbq be made with sour cream and can it be used as the dressing in a Cole slaw
Hey Kristina, never tried it but it sounds kinda yummy. Give it a whirl and let us know!
Is good
Thanks so much! 🙂
Excellent White bbq sauce! We loved it! ❤️
Great recipe. Add this sauce to 2 bags of coleslaw mix for an incredible tangy coleslaw.
That sounds real good as a Cole slaw…
It’ll work! 🙂 I’ve used it as such and tossed in a bunch of chopped smoked pork for a southern bento bowl! Delicious!! 🙂
I’ve been wanting to try this sauce for a while. Your recipe was incredibly easy to make. Really took my smoked chicken wings to the next level!
So glad to hear it, Lance. Glad you liked it. It goes well together, doesn’t it? 🙂
Yum!! I used Duke’s mayo which already has a nice tang. Mixed it all up and it tastes wonderful! Using it tomorrow when I smoke the wings! Gave a taste to the hubby and he loved it. Can’t wait til tomorrow! Thank you so much!
Good stuff and easy!
Made the Alabama sauce and liked it. Good for dipping sliced cucumbers too (if you like cucumbers). Someone mentioned sour cream but not sure how it would taste mixed in with vinegar. I’ve mixed sour cream with maple syrup and a few spices and it is a good sweet dip for smoked wings.. I call it Canadian White Sauce .
I live less than 2 miles from Big Bob Gibson’s and had no clue this was referred to as Alabama white bbq sauce lol. Guess I take it for granted since I grew up with it. Try putting it on chicken when you are grilling it. So good!!
And if yall ever get this way, stop in and try one of their stuffed potatoes or some of their smoked wings. Delish!!
We’ll do just that, Michelle. You should try our smoked chicken wings sometime. They truly are the bomb!! 🙂
Hello, How exactly did u mk your sour cream maple 🍁 sauce? Thanks!
I have been a fan of BBG’s Alabama White Sauce for years. I generally stop every time I come through north Alabama which is often.
Made this recipe for some pulled chicken and wings I am smoking tomorrow. It is really close to the little bit I had left in a BBG bottle. It is not quite as peppery so i upped the ground pepper. It was also a bit more tangy since I use an unsweetened mayo but I prefer that higher level of tang.
Overall very pleased with the recipe.
Great sauce, the vinegar really gives it a good tangy flavor, going to try it adding some blue cheese…… tried your recipe with smoked wings…. its a winner thanks
Thanks so much, John!
This is the best stuff! Try it on pulled, shredded chicken on a bun with dill pickles. It’s like a cracked out Chickfila sandwich. I also like to add pickled red onion. This is on the menu tonight as quesadillas.
Rockin’ Sharon!! Glad to hear you liked it. That sounds great … those quesadillas. Hmmm … 🤔❤️🙏
This White BBQ Sauce is incredible! I had everything to make it and was out of blue cheese, on quarantine and don’t care for Ranch on wings. So, we tried this and it is great. I also like to add dill and mix it with cucumbers! There, now you have something new!!
Going to try it this w/e, what do you think a 1/4-1/2 TSP of horseradish would do to kick it up a notch?
Sure would. If you’re wanting to go for more HEAT, you could just add a touch more cayenne.
Excellent Sauce For Smoked Chicken! It’s Unreal!
how long will it keep
I wouldn’t go past a few days.
How long does this sauce stay good for in the fridge..having a housewarming party Saturday it is Monday when is the earliest I can make it without going bad thanks never had white BBQ sauce before….
I wouldn’t push it past a few days. We usually prepare it the same day as it only takes a few minutes and save the leftovers for a day or two.
How far in advance can I make this sauce? Excited to make it but want to use it in 3 days
We always make it the day of use but I would say it will be good for a couple of days.
Would it be okay to use an avocado based mayonnaise to lighten up the calorie and fat count, or is it better with regular? Also, do you basically use it as a dipping sauce for chicken wings, or brush it on during/after smoking them?
We say you can certainly try it but we cannot recommend it. We use it as a dipping sauce.
We live in Alabama and love this sauce but my recipe calls for sugar as well.
This is our version and we omit the sugar. Our personal preference, which also makes it low carb and sugar-free.
I’m excited to try this! All the other white bbq (Alabama) sauces call for horseradish which I don’t care for a lot. Definitely can handle cayenne instead. Thanks for the recipe!
I used salad cream instead of mayo, and it turned out fantastic! I also added a splash of hot sauce.
Was excited to try this. I found it very liquidy like milk and very pungent of apple cider vinegar. I followed the recipe. Is the 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar too much?
Yes, the measurements are correct. This is not the typical thick barbecue sauce. It is a very loose sauce.