Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
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Alabama white barbecue sauce is a regional specialty that has received national acclaim for good reason! Uniquely sweet yet tangy, let me show you how to make it for yourself at home. One bite and you’ll be serving it with every meal!
Today, I’m bringing you a real rarity. In fact, it is pretty much unheard of outside of North Alabama. Even my husband (who is from a town in Georgia only four hours away) had never heard of it. A lot of folks in South Alabama have never heard of it.
I’m talking about Alabama white bbq sauce. This is truly a regional thing, but also a regional requirement. Every BBQ restaurant in North Alabama features white bbq sauce on their menu, their meats, and their tables and North Alabamians eat it with everything from French fries to bread to chicken and ribs. My husband loves to smother his chicken in Alabama white barbecue sauce. Personally, I like to use so much that my food is always swimming in it.
So, what makes this homemade white bbq sauce so irresistible? Well, it has a uniquely sweet yet tangy flavor, thanks to the combination of mayonnaise, lemon juice, white vinegar, and sugar. Let me tell you, it truly is the perfect compliment to just about everything. So how about we make up a batch for you? This recipe has the simplest ingredients and instructions ever, after all – mix and serve. That’s my style!
Recipe Ingredients
- Mayonnaise
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Lemon juice
- White vinegar
- Sugar
How to Make Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
Place mayonnaise in a small bowl and add the vinegar and lemon juice.
Next, add salt, pepper, and sugar to the mixing bowl.
Mix all ingredients together with a whisk or just put all of your ingredients into a large jar with a lid and give it a really good shake. That’s all there is to it!
You have just made Alabama white barbecue sauce!
Before you go wow your friends, get a French fry or a piece of chicken and give it a good dunking so you can be the first to taste it. YUM!
I could just live on this y’all, honest!
Storage
Pop the sauce in a mason jar or airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. But we all know it’s not gonna last that long! Lucky it only takes 5 minutes to whip up another batch (or you can always simply double the recipe).
Recipe Notes
- If you like, substitute white sugar for brown sugar or use a combination of both.
- Another substitution is using apple cider vinegar (or a combination again) instead of white vinegar.
- Some white sauce recipes also include prepared horseradish. If that’s your thing, I’d go with just a couple of teaspoons.
- Some also add in mustard, so if you like you can add 2 teaspoons of yellow mustard, dijon mustard, spicy brown , or even .
- For an extra pop of flavor, go ahead and add 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite seasoning, like Cajun seasoning or Old Bay seasoning.
- For a lighter version, replace half of the mayo with sour cream or Greek yogurt. It won’t affect the taste.
- Want to add some heat? If you’re going to add the prepared horseradish, opt for hot horseradish. Then add 1/2 teaspoon of hot sauce and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to make things extra spicy.
Recipe FAQs
Where did Alabama white BBQ sauce originate?
We have Robert Gibson from Big Bob Gibson’s Bar B-Q in Decatur, Alabama to thank for introducing us to Alabama white sauce way back in 1925.
What do you serve with Alabama white barbecue sauce?
Alabama white sauce tastes fantastic with any grilled or barbecued meat, like grilled chicken tenders or , pork chops, Southern-style pulled pork, beef brisket, crockpot beef ribs, North Alabama-style pulled chicken, steak kabobs, and air fryer chicken wings. You can baste it on the meat two or three times towards the end of cooking, or simply pour it over the top when serving.
It also tastes great as a dipping sauce with fries and veggies, like my baked zucchini fries, parmesan oven fries, and roasted sweet potato wedges. Another option is to use it as a salad dressing. It tastes absolutely amazing with potato salad, coleslaw, and roasted vegetables.
You may also enjoy these sensational sauces:
Homemade Pretzels and Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
- 2 tablespoons black pepper
- 6 tablespoons white vinegar
- 6 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons white sugar
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and stir well.2 cups mayonnaise, 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons black pepper, 6 tablespoons white vinegar, 6 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 tablespoons white sugar
Nutrition
Hey Christy,
I was reading these reviews to my husband, and he said, the original Greenbrier BBQ moved to the location at I-565, which is what we all call the new Greenbrier. The old Greenbrier reopened under a different owner at the original location. When you go to the one on I-565, you will notice the portrait of the original Greenbrier owner is hanging up behind the check out counter. I just realized that what he said is true. I always saw that lady some 50 years ago when I went with my parents to eat at the original Greenbrier (the one we all call The Old Greenbrier). Why haven’t I figured this one out, when I saw the picture on the wall. The Lady from 50 years ago!!
I’m from Virginia, and like some of the other folks here, this is pretty much my go-to slaw dressing. I don’t put as much pepper in my version. Now I have to go grill some chicken to use it as a barbecue sauce.
Christy your post today was a God send-Thank you!! You are not only our best bud cook to experience recepies with but a good friend we can gain inspiration from- Again thank you so much!! Can’t wait to try your white bbq sauce-I’ve heard of it but never tried it sounds perfect!! As for your butter (without the cow), reminds me of when my oldest son won his blue ribbon @ the county fair for the best churned butter (in a mason jar)-I’ve always loved that one!! lol It’s 22 yrs. old now (he’s 33 now) but is a fond memorie of mine. You always manage to wake up this old heart & wake up my southern roots as well!! Even though I don’t know you personaly, you are what we want friends to be!! Thanks!!
When my parents lived in northern Alabama, their neighbor used to BBQ chicken for a lot of the neighbors. After the chicken pieces were done, he would drop the chicken in the white sauce and let it sit for short time ( maybe 10 min). It is soooooooooo good !!! He used Miracle whip, black pepper and white vinegar. I have also ordered Bob Gibson’s white sauce and had it sent to me. Will definitely try this recipe. Looks great !
I have to admit that I’ve never heard of white bbq sauce; tangy, mayonnaise…yum! I wanna pour it all over everything, especially my french fries.
You probably shouldn’t have mentioned the french fry thing;)
When I was a kid we tried white BBQ at a fire house cook out.. I remember that some 40 years later. This is the first recipe I have found. Thank you
I HAVE HAD THIS IN DECATUR ALABAMA ONLY AT A BBQ PLACE THAT IS WELL KNOWN IN N. ALABAMA. THE BEST SAUCE I EVER HAD, I AM EXCITED ABOUT TRYING YOUR RECIPE.
NAN KERLIN
STOCKBRIDGE GEORGIA