Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce} (2024)

5 from 44 votes

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I love homemade barbecue sauces, and my Alabama White Sauceis a delicious alternative to ketchup-based BBQ sauce. This tangy, creamy white BBQ sauce recipe will kick up the flavor on all your favorite grilled meats and fish. It also makes a delicious dipping sauce for chicken wings, chicken tenders, and french fries.

Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce} (1)

This easy white barbecue sauce is made with simple ingredients and only takes five minutes to make. The rich flavor of this mayonnaise-based BBQ sauce makes it the perfect table sauce for so many of the foods you love to eat.

This white sauce recipe may be a BBQ staple, but I like to use this southern favorite as a salad dressing. You can even use it to make a tangy, spicy potato salad.

Table of Contents:

Ingredients to make Alabama White Sauce

Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce} (2)

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Alabama White Sauce, aka White Barbecue Sauce. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Can I adjust the ingredients in Alabama White Sauce?

Absolutely! The key to enjoying the food you make is using the seasonings and ingredients you enjoy eating.

For a spicier sauce, you can increase the amounts of the horseradish and cayenne pepper. You can also add a little of your favorite hot sauce.

For a milder sauce, decrease the amount of cayenne pepper or horseradish.

For a tangy sauce, add a little extra apple cider vinegar; just be careful not to add too much.

For a touch of sweetness, add brown sugar, honey, agave, and even corn syrup. The sweetness will offset the heat. Adding sugar or honey is a personal preference. We didn’t add it to our sauce originally, but when I made another batch, I added sugar and liked the way it balanced the heat.

If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, you can use half sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt will increase the tanginess of the sauce and won’t affect the overall flavor.

You can also add some of your favorite seasoning blends to make your own unique blend of white barbecue sauce.

Who invented Alabama White Sauce?

It’s believed that the original recipe for Alabama White BBQ Sauce was created by Robert Gibson at his Northern Alabama BBQ restaurant, Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q.

Bob Gibson makes an incredible BBQ chicken using his classic white sauce. Try it with my smoked chicken wings for a twist on his classic dish. It’s a delicious change from a traditional BBQ sauce.

How to make Alabama White Sauce

Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce} (3)
  • Add the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce to a medium bowl.
  • Whisk to combine the wet ingredients.
  • Add the kosher salt, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to the bowl.
  • Whisk the dry ingredients into the sauce and combine thoroughly.

For a change of pace, use Dijon mustard, stone ground mustard, or dry mustard instead of the spicy brown mustard.

Store the white barbecue sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 – 4 hours before using. If possible, let the sauce sit overnight before using; it will give the seasonings time to bloom, and the sauce will be more flavorful.

Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce} (4)

My Alabama white sauce is the perfect finishing sauce for smoked brisket, pulled pork shoulder, or as a dipping sauce for onion rings or french fries. Not a fan of Alabama white sauce? Then try my semi-homemade barbecue sauce.

Recipe FAQ’s

What does Alabama white sauce taste like?

White BBQ sauce tastes like a zesty coleslaw dressing. Adding horseradish and cayenne gives a little zing to the sauce, and depending on how much you like heat, it can be quite spicy, so be careful how much cayenne you add.

Can I use this sauce as a marinade?

Absolutely! While it’s primarily a barbecue sauce, you can also use it as a marinade for chicken or other meats before grilling.

More Recipes You’ll Love!

  • Semi-Homemade Barbecue Sauce
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  • Creamy Horseradish Sauce
  • Honey Mustard Sauce

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Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce} (9)

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5 from 44 votes

Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce}

My Alabama White Sauceis a tangy, creamy white BBQ sauce that will kick up the flavor on all your favorite grilled foods and sandwiches. It also makes a great dipping sauce for chicken wings, chicken tenders and french fries.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Servings: 15

Calories: 155kcal

Author: Chef Ryan Littley

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional

Instructions

  • Add the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, horseradish, and worcestershire sauce to a small bowl and whisk to combine.

  • Add the kosher salt, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine.

  • Pour the white barbecue sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 – 4 hours before using.

    If possible let the sauce sit overnight before using, it will give the seasonings time to bloom and the sauce will be more flavorful.

Notes

For a spicer sauce, you can increase the amounts of the horseradish and cayenne pepper. You can also add a little of your favorite hot sauce.

For a milder sauce, decrease the amount of cayenne pepper or horseradish.

For a tangy sauce,add a little extra apple cider vinegar; just be careful not to add too much.

For a touch of sweetness,add brown sugar, honey, agave, and even corn syrup. The sweetness will offset the heat. Adding sugar or honey is a personal preference. We didn’t add it to our sauce originally, but when I made another batch, I added sugar and liked the way it balanced the heat.

If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, you can use half sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt will increase the tanginess of the sauce and won’t affect the overall flavor.

You can also add some of your favorite seasoning blends to make your own unique blend of white barbecue sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 316mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce} (2024)

FAQs

What is Alabama White BBQ 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 Sauce is a creamy, tangy, and rich BBQ sauce with just a kiss of heat. This sauce is a classic white BBQ sauce that is perfect on smoked chicken and so much more!

Does Alabama white sauce taste like ranch? ›

If your white sauce tastes like ranch, that's another sign you're not quite on the right track. Ranch is thin and buttermilky, while white sauce should be thicker and richer, with more tang from the vinegar. It will have a bite similar to that of Carolina BBQ sauce.

Who made Alabama white sauce famous? ›

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q began bottling their Original White Sauce in the mid-90s. It's now available in grocery stores in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida, as well as specialty shops across the country.

What does Alabama white BBQ sauce taste like? ›

What Does Alabama White Sauce Taste Like? Alabama white sauce has a creamy, tangy flavor that sets it apart from most barbecue sauces, which often have a tomato or ketchup base, with brown sugar, molasses, and hot pepper running through them for sweetness and spice.

What does Alabama White BBQ 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.

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.

What is Alabama white sauce used for? ›

You can use it like a traditional red sauce, either as a basting sauce or dipping sauce. Some folks will drizzle both red and white barbecue sauce on their dishes. Not only is Alabama white sauce great on barbecue, but it also makes an excellent dip for veggies, salad dressing, and coleslaw dressing.

How old is Alabama white sauce? ›

Alabama white sauce

It is believed to have been invented by Bob Gibson at the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur in 1925. The sauce's popularity was mainly confined to northern Alabama until 1994 when it began to be bottled and sold commercially.

Is Alabama White Sauce spicy to eat? ›

At first taste, Alabama white sauce has a slightly cool, neutral flavor thanks to the mayonnaise, with the tang of the vinegar to offset any spice.

Who makes Alabama White BBQ sauce? ›

Visit Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Ala., and you'll find a barbecue sauce unlike any on the planet. Created by a railroad worker-turned-pit master in the 1920s, this piquant mixture of mayonnaise, vinegar and black pepper has accompanied barbecued chicken for five generations of pit masters.

What's the difference between BBQ sauce and white 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.

What is the nickname for white sauce? ›

Another name for bechamel — or béchamel — is "white sauce." Making a bechamel is a very basic technique in French cooking which begins with a roux, a cooked mixture of flour and butter, and after slowly whisking in milk, ends in a creamy sauce.

What is the white sauce Americans call gravy? ›

Smooth and creamy white gravy, one of the American South's most beloved and versatile sauces, is really just a variation of béchamel, which was brought to Louisiana by French explorers in the 17th century. Excellent draped over chicken fried steak, biscuits or.

Who discovered white sauce? ›

This silky sauce is also called white sauce and it is used on its own or as a base for plenty of other sauces. Some say it found its origins in Tuscany but we believe the theory that béchamel was invented by Duke Philippe De Mornay, governor of Saumur in France in the 16th century.

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.

What is white BBQ made of? ›

Combine ingredients:

Stir together mayonnaise, vinegar, water, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and hot sauce in a small bowl.

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.

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