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White BBQ Sauce

June 11, 2025 by Lyuba 2 Comments

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White BBQ Sauce is the most unique one in line of all BBQ sauces. It’s unlike the deep burgundy tomato based BBQ sauces most people are used to but I am about to introduce you to the very addicting, creamy, mayonnaise based BBQ sauce. It’s tangy, spicy, and a little sweet. This sauce will turn your grilled chicken into something unbelievable.

White BBQ sauce in a jar with the lid partially closed.

What Is White BBQ Sauce

Some of you might be thinking, “Mayonnaise-based BBQ sauce? What is that?” Let me introduce you to a Southern classic—Alabama White BBQ Sauce. If you already know it, you’re probably here for this amazing recipe.

White BBQ sauce is a signature of Northern Alabama, created by Bob Gibson in 1925 for his restaurant, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q. Originally used to dip smoked chicken, it’s now a versatile sauce for dipping, slaws, and more.

Each region has its own BBQ style—Kansas City’s sweet tomato sauce, South Carolina’s mustard BBQ sauce, Memphis’ dry rubs, and North Carolina’s vinegar-heavy version. Alabama stands out with its creamy mayo-based sauce, made from a base of mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and pepper. My version adds a balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors to hit all the right notes.

What does it taste like?

This is a very well balanced sauce that hits all your taste buds. The tang comes from horseradish and you get some spice from white pepper, garlic, and Creole mustard. To balance these flavors, there is white granulated sugar and paprika is meant to give the whole sauce some brightness. All of the ingredients together is like a party in your mouth that bursts with every bite.

labeled Ingredients for white BBQ sauce on a wood surface.

Great Ways TO Use It

This sauce is perfect to glaze freshly grilled chicken and smoked chicken but it doesn’t stop there. There are so many things you can do with this sauce so let your imagination go free and see where it takes you.

  • You can use it as a marinade before cooking the chicken too. It will be especially good on some chicken tenders. (Just make sure to discard the sauce after marinating! Do not use it as a sauce if it touched raw meat.)
  • Toss wings in some sauce and then, use it as a dipping sauce too.
  • We love to add a generous spread of white BBQ on sandwiches and burgers.
  • Pour yourself a cup full of sauce and dip your fries and chips it in. Trust me, it’s going to be life-changing!
White BBQ sauce in a metal bowl with a metal whisk on a wood surface.

Storing Recommendation

Store this sauce in a glass jar with an air-tight lid and make sure to keep it in the refrigerator. Properly stored, it should last up to a week. To help extend shelf life, make sure to pour sauce out of the bottle instead of reaching in with a spoon.

Dipping a brush into a jar of white BBQ sauce.
Brushing white BBQ sauce onto grilled chicken that is on wax paper.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating and a comment📝! I’d love it if you share what you like about them on Instagram, make sure to tag me @grillingsmokingliving and #grillingsmokingliving so I can see all the things you tried!

White BBQ sauce in a jar with the lid partially closed.

White BBQ Sauce Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Creamy, mayonnaise based sauce that tastes sweet, spicy, and tangy. This sauce is perfect on grilled and smoked chicken but also goes well as a dip for wings and fries.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
CourseAppetizer, Main Course
CuisineAmerican
Prep Time5 minutes minutes
Total Time5 minutes minutes
Servings12 (makes about 12 oz.)
Calories150kcal
AuthorLyuba

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp white pepper
  • 1 tbsp Creole mustard or another spicy gourmet mustard
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
  • 4 garlic cloves pressed
  • 1 tbsp horseradish
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp paprika
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Measure your ingredients and add them all to a mixing bowl.
  • Whisk it all together until fully combined.
  • Transfer the sauce into a glass jar with a lid or use it right away.

Video

Notes

Mustard note: do not use yellow mustard, it is not the same flavor as Creole or a spicy gourmet mustard! 
Storing: Store this sauce in a glass jar with an air-tight lid and make sure to keep it in the refrigerator. Properly stored, it should last up to a week.
Freezing: personally, I don’t recommend freezing it because it does not have the same texture once thawed. Although, technically, it can be done you will just have to be away of the texture change. 

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 333mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

MORE RECIPES TO TRY

Homemade BBQ Sauce 

White BBQ Chicken Sub

Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

Peach BBQ Sauce

Whiskey BBQ Sauce

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Filed Under: Sauces and Dips

Comments

  1. Sharon Perry says

    November 4, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    I was searching for Paula Deans Moppin Sauce, this sounds really good, just don’t know if this is the same.

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      November 8, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      Hi there! So this is very different from a mopping sauce, this is actually a creamy (mayo based) BBQ sauce that is meant just for finishing and dipping. You can check out Paula Dean’s website for her recipe but also give this one a try! It’s great with all kinds of grilled chicken 😉

      Reply
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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Let's get grilling!

Welcome, everyone! I’m Lyuba Brooke, come in, grab a beer, and head to the backyard. Here, I love to grill, barbecue, and share everything I make. You will find a ton of recipes for grilling, smoking, and the sauces to dip it in.

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