When it comes to amazing bbq sauces, the smooth piquant flavor of mustard-based bbq sauce, also dubbed Carolina Gold, may be my favorite. There’s something about how it coats smoked pulled pork piled high on a sandwich that balances everything out perfectly, making every bite finger-licking good.
![Spoon drizzling mustard based sauce over pulled pork sandwich.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8265-scaled.jpg)
Table of Contents
- Save This Recipe ✉️
- What is Carolina Gold Sauce?
- Mustard BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- How to make Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
- Recipe Tips
- Storing Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
- Ways to use this Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More homemade barbecue sauces
- Save This Recipe ✉️
- Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe Recipe
What is Carolina Gold Sauce?
This tangy sauce is a smooth, bright yellow condiment that combines a mustard base and vinegar for a unique and incredible barbecue sauce.
Mustard-based bbq sauce is from South Carolina. And according to Eater’s in-depth article on regional barbecue sauces, German settlers in the middle of South Carolina added mustard to the already established vinegar-based bbq sauce for a rich, silky smooth alternative.
Because we are all very passionate about our BBQ, it became a defining characteristic of South Carolinian barbecue and a sauce you’ll find in bbq joints in central SC to Georgia.
![Jar of bright yellow mustard barbecue sauce on black linen near buns and pulled pork sandwich.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8172-scaled.jpg)
![Ingredients for mustard based bbq sauce.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/vertical-recipe-ingredient-cards.png)
Mustard BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- Yellow Mustard – this is a mustard-forward sauce, and you want to stick with classic yellow mustard for the best flavor. Avoid grainy, dijon, or anything that deviates too far.
- Honey – this adds sweetness, but brown sugar will also work as a substitute (see my notes in the recipe card below for a keto mustard bbq sauce).
- Apple cider vinegar – thins out and adds more tang to this sauce.
- Ketchup – just a little ketchup adds a slightly sweet umami depth to this recipe
- Worcestershire – soy sauce or coconut aminos work in place of the Worcestershire.
- Hot sauce – Or red pepper flakes
- Garlic powder & Onion powder
- Black pepper
- Ancho chili powder – this isn’t typically in bbq sauce, but ground ancho chili powder adds an earthiness with a hint of heat that I feel is spectacular at making a unique version of this.
![Close up of yellow mustard based sauce on a pile of shredded pork on a bun.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8297-scaled.jpg)
How to make Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
1. Bring to simmer over low heat in a pan.
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3207-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3208-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3209-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3210-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3212-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3214-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3216-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3217-684x912.jpg)
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3218-684x912.jpg)
2. Stir until the bubbles around the edges form, and all of the ingredients are smoothly combined.
3. Chill and store 24 hours before using BBQ Sauce
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/how-to-make-mustard-based-bbq-sauce-3220-scaled.jpg)
Recipe Tips
This sauce is best prepared the day before and allowed to cool in the fridge until ready to use for the best flavors.
When making shredded pork, I toss the meat in my vinegar-based sauce while shredding it and then serve it with this Carolina bbq sauce recipe so that people can pour on as much as they’d like.
![Overhead shot of yellow mustard sauce on pulled pork and in a jar, more pulled pork and buns near by.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8285-scaled.jpg)
Storing Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Once cooled and sealed in jars or air-tight containers, this sauce should be stored in the refrigerator. It will last two weeks, stored in the fridge.
We do not recommend freezing this recipe. Just make a fresh batch when needed.
![Drizzling Carolina gold bbq sauce over pulled pork sandwich.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8267-scaled.jpg)
Ways to use this Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe
This Carolina mustard bbq sauce is a personal favorite, but it won’t be for everyone. It’s very mustard-forward, and I find the tang and acidity are wonderful with fatty smoked barbecue.
Slather this over pulled pork, smoked chicken, or even a burger from time to time. If you want to stretch things, you can also add a little of this mustard sauce to your potato salad or slaw for some zing!
![Over head shot of jar of mustard based bbq sauce with buns and pulled pork piled near by.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8319-scaled.jpg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Carolina gold sauce is a bit on the spicy side when it comes to sauce recipes, but it’s milder than our vinegar-based recipe. You can make this recipe sweeter by adding more honey or brown sugar to cut back on the heat. Or start with honey mustard and add a hint more vinegar.
Most Carolina Gold BBQ sauces have honey or brown sugar in the ingredients. Check out our notes n the recipe card below on how we make this bbq sauce recipe keto friendly.
For a classic mustard barbecue sauce, we recommend using old-fashioned yellow mustard. That’s it. No grainy, nothing fancy. Yellow mustard. It has the best smooth consistency for this sauce.
![Msaon jar of bright yellow mustard barbecue sauce next to buns.](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8176-scaled.jpg)
More homemade barbecue sauces
Sauces, Mops, & Condiments
Alabama White Sauce
Sauces, Mops, & Condiments
Homemade Vinegar-Based BBQ Sauce
Sauces, Mops, & Condiments
Easy Homemade Keto BBQ Sauce
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.
Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe
![](https://girlcarnivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/carolina-mustard-bbq-sauce-8267-300x300.jpg)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tsp Worcestershire
- 1 tsp Hot sauce
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Ancho chili powder
Instructions
Simmer the Sauce
- In a small pan whisk the mustard and all of the remaining ingredients.
- Bring to a simmer over low heat, whisking constantly. Adjust heat to avoid a boil.
Chill and Store
- Remove the sauce from the heat and allow to cool before transferring to a mason jar, sealing well.
- Chill and store 24 hours before use.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Bookmark this recipe now!
Hiw many wings will this recipe make?
Hi, this recipe is for a barbecue sauce. Which could easily sauce 24 chicken wings.
This was kick@$$!!
I didn’t need to add or substitute anything!
Killer!!