Make this Alabama white sauce from scratch with just a few ingredients and just 5 minute of prep. It's creamy, tangy, and gets its signature spicy flavor from horseradish and a good amount of black pepper. Serve it as a basting sauce for grilled meat or as a dip for your favorite sides!
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It's time to branch out from traditional BBQ sauces with my mayo-based BBQ sauce. It is a Southern favorite that is traditionally served on smoked chicken. But I make my Alabama chicken on a grill. Plus, this sauce is great on pork chops.
📖Why My Recipe Works
- Honey - Just a little bit of honey tones down the tang without turning it into a sweet sauce. Most white sauces use brown sugar. But my version isn't sweet. I use this trick in my traditional coleslaw recipe too.
- Loads of Spices - Cayenne, black pepper, and dry mustard powder work together to add a bold, balanced heat. Like my Cajun seasoning, this combo adds depth and a subtle kick that makes the sauce stand out.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Mayonnaise - Use full-fat mayo for a thick texture. Duke's is a classic but any mayo, NOT sandwich spread, you like will do.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - White vinegar has a slightly different taste but its the closest substitute if you don't have apple cider vinegar.
- Lemon Juice - Use fresh or bottled lemon juice.
- Prepared Horseradish - Make sure it's prepared horseradish and not the creamy kind.
- Honey - Substitute with sugar if you must.
- Garlic Powder - Garlic powder blends more smoothly into the sauce than fresh minced garlic or garlic paste.
- Dry Mustard Powder - If you don't have any, a dollop of Dijon mustard will also work.
- Cayenne Pepper - Adjust to taste or skip if you don't like too spicy. Or add a hot sauce like Tabasco.
⏲️How to Make Alabama BBQ Sauce
- You can whisk the sauce by hand. No blender needed unless you are making a large batch.
- Chill for 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
- The traditional way to use a mayo based BBQ sauce is not to baste your meat with it but to dunk your grilled or smoked chicken in it.
🥗How to Use Alabama Sauce
You can use Alabama white sauce as a dipping sauce for zucchini fries or chicken nuggets. Or use it in place of regular BBQ sauce in recipes like BBQ chicken zucchini boats or BBQ nachos. I have even used leftovers on a breakfast pizza.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tip
Taste and adjust the sauce to your preference. Add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice for more tang, or sprinkle in more cayenne for more heat.
More BBQ Sauce Recipes
📖 Recipe Card
Alabama White BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise not sandwich spread
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together all the sauce ingredients.1 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish, 2 teaspoons honey, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons black pepper, 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Chill for at least 2 hours.
Notes
🌡️Storing Leftovers
- Store the sauce in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It'll stay fresh and flavorful for up to a week.
Equipment
Nutrition
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Holly Smith says
Great on pork chops