Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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
This is also awesome with a little cayenne pepper and prepared horseradish. Amazing!
You’re the second person who has reminded me that I gotta try horseradish before I die! lol
I’m adding it to my list!
Gratefully,
Christy
We have the white BBQ sauce in Birmingham, too. My father-in-law used to have a place (Double L BBQ) in B’ham and he had it as well as some other places now. Love the stuff!!! I can’t wait to try the new place in Athens when I got o my daughter’s!!
Hi! I went to B’ham-Southern College in the early 70’s and the Double L was a favorite hangout then. I will be back in B’ham this summer and want to take my husband to Double L, but I can’t find it on the internet. Is the Double L still around? I remember great BBQ and fun times there! I know it has been 40 years, but I am hoping it is still there.
Thanks!
I never heard of it until I moved to Florence Alabama. I get it at Ricks Barbecue, always with smoked chicken breast. They also put a little cayenne pepper in it. DELICIOUS!!!
Well I have to agree with Stephanie up at the top post.. this is what I make for slaw dressing,, I just don’t put vinegar and lemon juice in it.. I use one or the other and I don’t p ut that much pepper in.. but thats coleslaw dressing at my house.. but from now on I will just call it white BBQ sauce too, haha.. and I am pretty sure that you are in good company calling it White BBQ sauce because I think Paula Deen makes this the same way and calls it white BBQ sauce but I would have to get up and look through cookbooks and I am too tired to do that… we will all just use it, no matter where we are from…
hugs
Jo in Sapulpa Oklahoma
This white BBQ sauce sounds good and I will definitely try it. But one question…is this just a dipping sauce? When I think BBQ sauce I think of the kind you spread on the meat before taking it off the grill.
I use it for dipping but other folks here have said they use it for marinating and basting as well.
Hope this helps!
Christy 🙂
i grew up in jasper and most bbq shacks there sell it on the side. and i just pour it onto a pulled chicken sandwhich. it is amazing on meat
I’m drueling thinking of the old (& new is not bad) Greenbrier’s!
Lol Heidi, I’m with you all the way! I always take folks to the old Greenbriar and that is my personal favorite. I’ve only eaten at the new one once and honestly never did understand why they were so bold as to name it Greenbriar to begin with. You know folks who don’t live around here and are reading this are probably confused as all get out! lol
Gratefully,
Christy
Christy, I now live in Georgia and every time I visit home, my mamma wants to Old Greenbrier. My sister always puts the white sauce on her hush puppies. No place like old Greenbrier. Love that catfish!
I love Old Greenbier too! My family lives in Alabama, but I live and was raised in Georgia. There is nothing like Alabama BBQ and White BBQ sauce. Can’t find BBQ like that in Georgia. We always eat BBQ when go to Alabama. 🙂
I’m with you when it comes to the Old Greenbrier the best BBQ in Alabama sorry Bob. Being from North Carolina you know where eastern NC Vinegar Sauce is KING well if you can see the sauce you know its from some where else and it ant no good! I was told or better yet DARED to try it and is what I thought well it was good, better yet as close to great as it comes in Alabama but couldn’t tell them if you know what I mean! But there is one thing that they needed that was good Cole Slaw they needed to send the cook to NC for training just a little fun! it was a heated discussion every time I eat there but in the end could wait to go there and eat what wonderful memory. Didn’t think you would ever hear that from some one from eastern NC when it comes to BBQ !!!!! Oh by the way you don’t INJECT a PIG HOG! that’s for Turkey!!!!!
There is a Big Bob Gibson’s in Monroe, NC. They have the best grilled corn. I’ve tried the White Sauce and like it. Glad to get a recipe for it!!! I see that you are visiting in NC. Not to start a fight, but NC Eastern Style BBQ is the best!!!!! Had some for lunch today!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂