Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce is a rich, bold, and flavorful addition to your pulled pork, chicken, and so much more. This sauce is sweet and tangy with a touch of spice that you can easily adjust.
WHAT IS CAROLINA MUSTARD BBQ SAUCE?
While you find Carolina Sweet BBQ Sauce in North Carolina, South Carolina is known for their mustard based BBQ sauce. What, mustard in BBQ, you ask? Absolutely! This sauce has a base of mustard and vinegar with some honey and brown sugar for sweetness and a few spices for more flavor.
It hales from South Carolina and always starts with yellow mustard. Don’t try to use Dijon or gourmet mustard, just a simple yellow mustard. The combination of mustard, vinegar, honey, sugar, and spices will result in sweet, tangy and a little spicy sauce. As always, you can adjust the spiciness with a little more or less cayenne pepper but be careful because a little cayenne goes a long way.
Many people are not used to any other BBQ sauces besides the tomato based but let me tell you, there are so many amazing sauces out there. You simply have to venture into the unfamiliar and try them all. Just like the Alabama White BBQ Sauce, this mustard based BBQ sauce will be one of your favorites.
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN CAROLINA MUSTARD BBQ SAUCE?
Yellow mustard – this is a must-have, (no Dijon, no gourmet mustard).
Apple cider vinegar – this is a preferred vinegar but I have used sherry vinegar instead too with similar results.
Honey – to make it sweet.
Brown sugar – because you need more sweetness.
Tomato paste – paste, not sauce.
Worcestershire sauce – give a great depth of flavor.
Hot sauce – just a little goes a long way.
Spices – garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper.
HOW DO I MAKE MUSTARD BASED BBQ SAUCE
There are two simple steps to make this tasty sauce.
Start by getting all the ingredients together and whisk them well.
Transfer into a sauce pot and heat it through over medium heat. Lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for only about 10 minutes. Don’t let it boil! After you simmer it for a little bit, take it off the heat and serve. (Or let it cool and store in an air-tight jar, in the refrigerator.)
WHAT GOES WITH MUSTARD BASED BBQ SAUCE
This sauce is absolutely divine on pulled pork sandwiches. Pour some sauce all over freshly smoked and pulled pork and add a helping of cool coleslaw on top. You will be in barbecue heaven with this sandwich!
Mustard based BBQ sauce also goes very well with grilled and smoked chicken.
Dip grilled chicken wings and smoked chicken wings in this sauce.
Try it on grilled burgers as well, it’s really good.
HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Best way to store Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce is in the refrigerator, in a glass jar with an air-tight lid. Properly stored, it should last up to 2 weeks.
P.S. It’s tastes even better after a couple of days because ingredients get a chance to mingle together and incorporate.
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Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and whisk together.
- Transfer into a sauce pot and heat it through over medium heat. Lower the heat to medium-low and let it gently simmer for only about 10 minutes. Don’t let it boil!
- After you simmer it for a little bit, take it off the heat and serve. (Or store for later use. The sauce tastes even better after a couple of days in the refrigerator.)
How To Store It:
- Best way to store it is in the refrigerator, in a glass jar with an air-tight lid. Properly stored, it should last up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
What’s your favorite hot sauce to use in this recipe?
Hi Ursula! I often have Cholula on hand but I’ve also use Sriracha when that’s all I had and it was good 😉
Lyuba, have you made this in large amounts?
Sorry, for the late response! I have made a double amount for a barbecue party, yes! You can just as easily triple it as well.
My go to Carolina BBQ sauce for pulled pork!
That’s awesome! Thank you 🙂