This Alabama white sauce recipe may be the most versatile of the traditional barbecue sauce recipes. It’s a mayonnaise-based bbq staple with many more uses than slathering over smoked meats. It’s a tangy sauce that’s smooth and incredibly dippable for just about anything savory! And it may also be the easiest. With no cooking, this is about as straightforward as it gets.
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If you want to take your sauces to the next level, it’s time to try this Alabama White Sauce. It’s like a creamy bbq sauce, but it’s made with mayo, buttermilk, and white vinegar instead of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. This easy sauce is perfect for everything from backyard bbqs to Sunday supper.
What Is Alabama White Sauce?
If all you have ever had is thick tomato-based bbq sauce, white sauce is going to blow your mind. Made famous by Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q restaurant in Decatur, Alabama, we can’t imagine not dunking a juicy spatchcock grilled chicken in a bucket of this sauce, which also serves as a coating of fat to help keep the birds moist according to this in-depth article on Mental Floss.
This homemade barbecue sauce has a mayonnaise base, a distinct tanginess from black pepper, and a creamy texture. Which makes a smooth, creamy coating begging to transform just what you think barbecue sauce is. This isn’t tangy like our Carolina Gold Mustard-Based BBQ Sauce or spicy like our Homemade Vinegar-Based BBQ Sauce. It’s a thick, smooth bbq sauce that balances the heat and spice with rich flavor. It’s a versatile condiment that’s begging to be enjoyed with smoked meats and everything from hot wings to ribs.
Alabama White Sauce Ingredients
- Mayo
- Buttermilk
- White vinegar – apple cider vinegar also works
- Lemon juice
- Horseradish – make sure it’s just prepared horseradish and not horseradish cream.
- Rosemary
- Course ground black pepper – the coarser the pepper, the better, in our opinion, as we like the nice bite of heat you get from it.
- Salt – we use kosher salt
How to Make Alabama White Sauce
- Whisk together all of the ingredients in a large bowl. (No, really, it’s that simple).
- Store it in an airtight container or resealable glass jar in the fridge.
- This sauce is best made at least 24 hours in advance so the flavors develop and be used the next day. When ready to use, be sure to give the jar a good shake.
Girl Carnivore Expert Recipe Tips
- Use the best mayo. Most Southerners will argue that Duke’s mayonnaise is the best way to go for this recipe, but we each love our own brand of mayo. So stick to the one that you love the best. However, we do not recommend Miracle Whip for this recipe.
- Want a hint of sweetness? Add a little brown sugar to this Alabama white bbq sauce recipe. But not too much, or it will change the flavor altogether.
What to Serve With Alabama White Sauce
You can put Alabama white barbecue sauce on a whole chicken, smoked chicken quarters, and smoked chicken thighs, which is our favorite way to use it. But it’s also a perfect pairing on spicy bbq chicken wings, smoked pulled pork, pork chops, and pork tenderloin as a finishing sauce. And white bbq sauce tastes delicious slathered on a beef brisket sandwich. This mayo base sauce also works as a base for coleslaw or salad dressing.
Also, it’s pretty impressive on fried pickles or dunking french fries, too. Just sayin’. There’s a reason it’s a Southern favorite.
Leftovers
This Alabama bbq sauce recipe lasts up to 5 days in an airtight container or mason jar stored in the fridge. Anything after that, and we recommend just whipping up a fresh batch.
This recipe can’t be frozen and is best made as needed (a.k .a, keep a fresh jar in the fridge all season long).
Recipe FAqs
No, this Alabama white sauce recipe is not spicy. The mayo balances out the horseradish for a smooth, zesty flavor. Now, if you’re like us and love a little heat, we highly recommend a pinch of cayenne pepper whisked into this sauce for a slow, smooth heat.
If your homemade white bbq sauce is too thin, you can simply add more mayo. If you don’t want to do that, try a little bit of corn syrup to thicken without adding flavor.
We love making this with avocado mayo for a keto bbq sauce (and dipping sauce) that we can use all of the time.
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This Alabama White Sauce is super easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients! Now the hard part is just deciding what to grill and dunk this in.
Have you tried this recipe? Do us a favor and rate the recipe card with the ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ and drop a comment to help out the next reader.
Alabama White Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups mayo
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ⅛ cup vinegar
- ⅛ cup lemon juice
- 1 tbsp horseradish
- 2 tbsp rosemary freshly minced
- 1 tsp course ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Instructions
Make the Sauce
- Whisk together the ingredients in a large bowl.
Store
- Poud into a wide-mouthed jar and seal.
- Store in the fridge for 24 hours so the flavors can develop before use.
To Use:
- Remove from fridge and shake well to use.
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Notes
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I’ve never thought to use a white sauce in place of barbeque but this was SO flavorful it was a huge hit. I loved the rosemary undertone especially.
OMG, we love this so much. I just want to straight up drink it – it is really that good.
I get so tired of tomato based barbecue sauces that this was a welcome change! So much flavor! I can’t believe how good this is from such simple ingredients!
I’m super excited to have this recipe in my arsenal! BBQ sauce and ketchup is always too sweet for my taste. I love that this sauce is lower carb and has such a wonderful flavor. Will definitely be making this regularly.
My husband’s new favorite condiment! lol He’s eating it on everything. Thanks so much for a great recipe!