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This Alabama White Sauce is a simple, creamy twist on barbecue sauce that you’ll want to slather on grilled chicken, ribs, and pulled pork. Ready in less than 5 minutes and a Southern staple!
Alabama has always been a favorite vacation destination for us. The beaches are beautiful, it’s easy enough to get there, and we have a million and one favorite restaurants near the coast.
One of those restaurants serves up barbecue with a twist – instead of your traditional tomato based barbecue sauce, they serve a white BBQ sauce, and y’all, we’ve been hooked ever since.
This Alabama White BBQ Sauce recipe is creamy, tangy, and just a bit sweet. It’s an easy 5 minute recipe that dresses up dinner and gets people curious – everyone wants to know what the white sauce is!
If you like sauces and dips, you’ll want to try my honey mustard recipe, fry sauce, and Carolina BBQ sauce!
What is Alabama White BBQ Sauce?
Alabama White Sauce is a BBQ sauce that starts with mayonnaise instead of tomatoes. It uses some similar ingredients like vinegar and sugar but the mayo base and the buttermilk gives it a creamy base that’s tangy with a hint of sweet.
This sauce originated in Alabama by Big Bob Gibson BBQ in Decatur, Alabama around 100 years ago. It’s been growing in popularity ever since.
We think it goes best with smoked chicken, smoked pulled pork, or smoked baby back ribs but it’s also the perfect sauce for grilled chicken! Just drizzle it right on our BBQ grilled chicken!
You can use Alabama white BBQ sauce like you would a typical BBQ sauce for basting, as a marinade, or as a dipping sauce. It’s delicious on french fries or as a dip for our oven fried chicken tenders.
Ingredient Notes:
Mayonnaise – Most BBQ sauces are tomato based, but this Alabama white BBQ sauce uses a mayo base! Be sure to use real mayonnaise and not Miracle Whip here.
Buttermilk – This will help thin out the sauce a bit and it also adds some flavor. No buttermilk? Heavy cream or whole milk will work as well.
Vinegar – You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar in this white BBQ sauce recipe!
Mustard – I like to use yellow mustard in this white sauce recipe, but spicy brown mustard would work too.
Seasonings – Just a simple mix of salt, pepper, sugar, and garlic salt!
Variations – A lot of White BBQ Sauce recipes call for horseradish. Add in a teaspoon or two if you like a little kick! A dash of cayenne will spice it up as well.
What We Love About This Alabama White Sauce Recipe!
This Alabama white sauce is a perfect way to change things up! We love tomato based sauces too, but sometimes we’re in the mood for something different and that’s exactly what this white BBQ sauce has to offer! It’s creamy and flavorful and will work just as well on any meat as regular BBQ sauce. We even double them up and use both sauces at once!
How to Make Alabama White Sauce:
Combine: Add mayo, buttermilk, vinegar, mustard, garlic salt, pepper, and sugar to a mason jar.
Shake: Shake, shake, shake until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Alternately, stir together with a fork.
Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using. The longer the sauce sits, the more the flavors develop.
Serve this with:
Storage Instructions:
You can keep this homemade Alabama BBQ sauce stored in a sealed mason jar in the refrigerator for at least a week! We do not have experience with canning this recipe and are not sure if it would be safe to do so.
I would not recommend trying to freeze this sauce. It’s got mayo in it which will separate when freezing.
Recipe FAQs:
The ingredients can vary a bit, but a typical white sauce recipe is made with a base of creamy mayo and vinegar. The seasonings are kept fairly simple with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
It’s got a cool, creamy, and tangy flavor that is a bit different from a traditional BBQ sauce recipe. It’s not as spicy or as sweet as many tomato based recipes are. The creamy and tangy flavors do most of the work here!
While the two sauces do look similar, Alabama White Sauce is not the same as ranch dressing. Ranch dressing has lots of fresh or dried herbs in it, giving it more of an herby flavor. White BBQ sauce has a sweet and tangy flavor, sometimes a bit spicy, without the herbs.
More Favorite Sauces:
Alabama White Sauce
Ingredients
For the white sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- To prepare the white sauce, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl or mason jar. Stir to combine and taste. Add additional vinegar, salt, or sugar depending on your preferences.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.
- Store tightly covered in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Janelle Trimmier says
Made the chicken, Alabama white sauce, and your dry rub last night. It was delicious. Super flavorful
Karly Campbell says
Oh, I love to hear that! Thanks, Janelle!
ColleenCanuck says
I love this idea I am not a fan of traditional bbq sauce. And I can’t wait to try
Amy P says
Alabama white sauce started its life in my hometown of Decatur, Alabama, at least 100 years ago. A gentleman named “Big” Bob Gibson came up with it and served it at his community barbecues. He later started a restaurant called, fittingly, Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ. It’s still in operation today in Decatur. I grew up with his great-grandchildren and knew his daughter Catherine “Punk” Gibson McLemore. I went to church with them. Our families have known each other since the 50s.
Brothers Jacob and Andrew Lily are carrying on the tradition.
ColleenCanuck says
Cool, Luv the history Amy! Put on my bucket list!
Twyla lake says
I am looking forward to try this
Karly says
Hope you enjoy!
Donna Schubeck says
I have ribs that I want to do in the slow cooker; can you explain how the sauce is used? Added at the beginning to cook ribs in it, or added at the end?
Karly says
Hi Donna! Brush the sauce on at the end or use it as a dipping sauce.
Susan says
can I use garlic powder instead of garlic salt and reduce the salt as I have to watch my sodium intake
Karly says
Sure.
Susan says
if I use garlic powder instead of garlic salt in the recipe how much garlic powder would I use?
Karly says
Hi Susan, just add it to taste.
kumiko mccabe says
hi, like to know how toger receipe onqueso?can not find it thank you kumiko
Karly says
Hello! I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re asking?
ColleenCanuck says
I believe this person is asking for Spanish ingredients btw?
Kimberly A Mele says
Thought I saw some ingredient substitutes in the article. After printing the recipe, I went to go through the substitute ideas and can’t find them.
Karly says
No, sorry, there weren’t any substitutes listed.
Nancy M. Carlson says
Is there any way to make this with a mayo sub? If so what would or could it be?? I super appreciate your answer. Thank you. This sounds delish.
Karly says
Hi Nancy! We’ve only made this with mayo. You could try using sour cream or greek yogurt, but it’s going to significantly change the flavor.
Robert D Geist says
You might go back and check the “Variations” section above.
Steve Barker UK says
Grilling chicken this evening and just wanted something different to plain old BBQ sauce and found this on the internet.
Too late to go to the shop so didn’t have any buttermilk and used lemon juice instead of vinegar and added a pinch of smoked paprika; well impressed, can’t wait to try the ‘straight’ version.
Karly says
So glad you enjoyed! I’m sure it was great with the lemon juice. 🙂
Gary A LaBelle says
Which vinegar do you recommend…white vinegar?
Karly says
Yep!
Carla Skidmore says
This white sauce sounds great. I have not tried making it, but it reminds me of Ranch Dressing, am I way off base on that?
Karly says
It’s more of a barbecue flavor than ranch flavor, in my opinion.