Alabama White Sauce Recipe - How to Make White BBQ Sauce (2024)

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5 from 13 votes

By Hank Shaw

June 21, 2021 | Updated June 06, 2022

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I’ve eaten barbecue six ways to Sunday, all over the nation. By far the most offbeat BBQ sauce is Alabama white sauce, a specialty of the northern part of that state that is almost always used on chicken.

White BBQ sauce, as it’s also known, is super easy to make, keeps for a week or more in the fridge, and is good on more than just barbecued chicken.

Alabama White Sauce Recipe - How to Make White BBQ Sauce (2)

Said to be invented by Big Bob Gibson almost a century ago, Alabama white sauce is scandalously easy to make. Chances are you have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already.

White BBQ sauce tastes tart and only slightly creamy, despite the mayonnaise, which really just cuts the acidity of the apple cider vinegar to manageable levels. A bit of horseradish, a dash of Worcestershire, a touch of garlic, cayenne and mustard powder and you’re in business.

Some recipes use lemon juice, too, for flavor, and most use a little brown sugar… or a lot, depending on the cook. I don’t like my Alabama white sauce sweet, so I only add a touch to even things out.

The beauty of white BBQ sauce is that you tinker with it, and add things to your liking. And it’s all safe and easy because Alabama white sauce is not cooked. Yep, a no cook BBQ sauce.

My recipe below is what I like. Tart, zippy with the mayo and sugar just there to shave off the rough edges. Start with mine and go from there.

Once you get it where you like it, use your Alabama white sauce as a finishing sauce on barbecue. What you see in the pictures are smoked turkey wings from a spring gobbler. Chicken is customary, but white BBQ sauce is really good as a salad dressing — take that ranch! — and is great to dip chicken wings in, or to use on pulled pork or even smoked pork chops.

Alabama White Sauce Recipe - How to Make White BBQ Sauce (3)

And, untraditionally, Alabama white sauce is great on fried fish. I like it over fried speckled trout especially, but it’s good with a Southern crappie fry, too.

Any leftovers will keep in the fridge for a couple weeks. The sauce might separate, but shake it and it will be as good as new.

5 from 13 votes

Alabama White Sauce

A simple, quick, no-cook barbecue sauce that's traditionally poured over chicken, but other poultry, pork or fish are good uses, too. It's also a great salad dressing.

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Course: Condiment, Sauce

Cuisine: Southern

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 teaspoons prepared horseradish
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)

Instructions

  • Whisk everything together until well combined. Use chilled or at room temperature.

Video

Notes

Once made, this sauce will keep for a couple weeks in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 208mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 72IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Categorized as:
American Recipes, Featured, How-To (DIY stuff), Recipe, Southern, Wild Game

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Alabama White Sauce Recipe - How to Make White BBQ Sauce (2024)

FAQs

What is Alabama white barbecue sauce made of? ›

What is white BBQ sauce made of? Alabama white sauce starts with a base of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar. Many variations exist but typical flavorings include mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sugar or honey, garlic and/or onion powder, and lots of black pepper.

What is Mission BBQ Alabama white sauce? ›

Alabama white BBQ sauce is a mayonnaise-based dressing that also includes horseradish and cayenne pepper for a good amount of heat. Two packed tablespoons of brown sugar add some sweetness to the mix, while apple cider vinegar and lemon juice provide some flavorful acidity.

How do you thicken white BBQ sauce? ›

You can use either flour or cornstarch to thicken BBQ sauce. Just mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of flour and ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of water, or combine 1 tbsp (9 g) of cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Continue mixing the thickener until there are no lumps of flour or cornstarch.

How to use Ivory BBQ sauce? ›

If you're grilling chicken, apply the Alabama white sauce during the chicken's last five or so minutes on the grill. Avoid bringing the sauce over direct heat to create an Ivory glaze. Then, serve with more on the side.

What is white sauce made of? ›

What Is In White Sauce? This traditional white sauce starts with a roux of equal parts all-purpose flour and butter, which gives the sauce a rich and creamy base. Whole milk thins the butter-flour mixture, turning the roux into a sauce.

What does Alabama White barbecue sauce taste like? ›

The homemade white bbq sauce is white with a mayo base, but unlike the dressing you would use on classic coleslaw or broccoli salad, it is not sweet. It has a more robust savory flavor thanks to the vinegar's tang and the black pepper and horseradish's mild heat.

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.

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.

Why is it called white sauce? ›

“White sauce” is the American name for béchamel sauce, which is one of the five “mother sauces” of classic French cuisine. It is made of melted butter, flour, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg. It was named after Louis de Béchameil, Marquis de Nointel (1630-1703), steward of the Duke of Orleans.

Does Alabama white sauce taste like ranch? ›

Classically white sauce drizzled over smoked chicken, but you can also use it on grilled or barbecued meats, wings, vegetables, pizza, burgers, and more. Does Alabama white sauce taste like ranch? No, Alabama white sauce is tangy with notes of vinegar and black pepper.

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.

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