Zesty Alabama White Sauce - Hey Grill, Hey (2024)

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By Hey Grill Hey

On September 21, 2020 (Updated April 16, 2022)

13 reviews

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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! Ready in less than 5 minutes, it’s a quick and easy sauce ready when you are!

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Alabama White Sauce

This mayo-based white barbecue sauce is made to dunk, drizzle, and slather it all over some smoked chicken for a classic Alabama BBQ experience. You can also serve it as a side sauce for any kind of smoked meats, like ribs or smoked turkey. In my house, we also keep it on hand as a tangy vegetable dip or use it as a dressing for coleslaw!

Alabama white BBQ sauce is a mayonnaise-based dressing that also includes horseradish and cayenne pepper for a good amount of heat. Two packed tablespoons of brown sugar add some sweetness to the mix, while apple cider vinegar and lemon juice provide some flavorful acidity. This is one recipe I recommend trying at least once. Though, chances are you’ll want to print and save this recipe for later use. It’s hard not to fall in love with this beautiful, creamy BBQ sauce.

Where did Alabama White BBQ Sauce Originate?

Alabama BBQ sauce was made famous by Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. They have massive hickory-fed pits that house their famous smoked split chickens. These chickens are slow smoked to a glorious golden brown at 350 degree F Their flavor is out of this world, but the real showstopper is the Alabama white BBQ sauce. These chickens are then dunked whole into massive vats of their homemade white BBQ sauce for a taste like you wouldn’t believe.

Smoked chicken may be the most famous vessel for transporting this tangy and smooth sauce into your mouth, but it’s just the beginning! Alabama white BBQ sauce is incredibly versatile and has become a BBQ staple for good reason. It offers the ideal balance of flavors to enhance smoked or grilled meats and vegetables.

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What is Alabama White Sauce?

The head pitmaster of Big Bob Gibson’s restaurant, Chris Lilly, first shared their restaurant original recipe which was measured in gallons and is a fairly simple mixture of mayonnaise, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt/pepper. My zesty version has the same sweet and tangy notes that make all BBQ sauces the perfect complement to smoked meats, but an Alabama white sauce is mayonnaise based, instead of tomato based, which gives it a great creamy flavor profile.

I first met Chris at a Guinness World Record event for the Largest Grilling Lesson in 2017 (you can read more about that event HERE), and I was so incredibly impressed with his knowledge of all things BBQ. I consider my recipe an homage to the restaurant-style original with a little Hey Grill Hey kick.

How to Make Alabama White Sauce

Unlike some of my other BBQ sauce recipes that require cooking the sauce on the stovetop, this BBQ sauce is quite possibly the easiest BBQ sauce you’ll ever make. To begin, make sure you have the following ingredients on hand (full printable recipe card including ingredients and steps is available at the bottom of this post):

  • Mayonnaise
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Brown sugar
  • Brown mustard
  • Lemon juice
  • Prepared horseradish
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper

Once you have all your ingredients assembled, pour them all into a bowl, grab a whisk, and whisk until everything is well combined and the sauce is nice and smooth. That’s it! No baking, boiling, or reducing here. This sauce is ready in less than 5 minutes, making it a great choice when you need something with a tangy zip but you don’t have a lot of time.

You are welcome to use this sauce immediately, or place it in the fridge for a couple days to let the flavors meld. Any unused sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Make sure to keep the sauce in an airtight container, and you’ll be all set!

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More BBQ Sauce Recipes

I often say the sauce can make the meal, and some good homemade sauces can really take your BBQ to the next level. Now that you’ve mastered Alabama BBQ sauce, try your hand at Kansas City and Carolina sauces as well!

  • Kansas City BBQ Sauce
  • Whiskey Peach BBQ Sauce
  • Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

Alabama White Sauce Recipe

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Alabama White BBQ Sauce

By: Susie Bulloch (heygrillhey.com)

4.85 from 13 votes

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!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Servings12

Video

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon brown mustard
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients. Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and well combined.

  • Refrigerate and store. Transfer to a lidded jar. Use immediately or let set in the refrigerator for 24 hours to let the flavors meld together. Will keep 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 218mg | Potassium: 7mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

**This post was originally published in November 2018. We recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.

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About

FOUNDER/BBQ BOSS LADY

Susie is the BBQ Brain behind the Hey Grill Hey website. Her passion for smoked meats and developing fun, new recipes have landed her on the Food Network, cooking turkeys with Shaq, and on a couple of Guinness World Records. When she’s not grilling, she is hanging out with Todd and their three kids, preferably outdoors!

Read More About Me

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Zesty Alabama White Sauce - Hey Grill, Hey (2024)

FAQs

What is Alabama white 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.

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? ›

However, northern Alabama gets the credit for white barbeque sauce, a truly unique option. The origin of Alabama white sauce can be traced back to one man: Robert Lee Gibson, better known as Big Bob Gibson, of Decatur, Alabama. Gibson earned his nickname from his size — 6'4 and 300 pounds — and an appetite to match.

What is Mission BBQ Alabama white sauce? ›

Alabama white BBQ sauce is a mayonnaise-based dressing that also includes horseradish and cayenne pepper for a good amount of heat. Two packed tablespoons of brown sugar add some sweetness to the mix, while apple cider vinegar and lemon juice provide some flavorful acidity.

What is white sauce vs alfredo sauce? ›

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

What does Alabama white sauce taste like? ›

Classically white sauce drizzled over smoked chicken, but you can also use it on grilled or barbecued meats, wings, vegetables, pizza, burgers, and more. Does Alabama white sauce taste like ranch? No, Alabama white sauce is tangy with notes of vinegar and black pepper.

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.

Why is it called white sauce? ›

“White sauce” is the American name for béchamel sauce, which is one of the five “mother sauces” of classic French cuisine. It is made of melted butter, flour, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg. It was named after Louis de Béchameil, Marquis de Nointel (1630-1703), steward of the Duke of Orleans.

What is a fancy name 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.

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.

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.

What does Alabama White barbecue sauce 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.

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.

Why is it called Mission BBQ? ›

Mission BBQ (stylized as MISSION BBQ) is an American barbecue restaurant chain based in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Bill Kraus and Steve Newton opened the first location on September 11, 2011, as a way to support the military, police, firefighters, and first responders.

Do BBQ sauce and mayo go together? ›

A classic barbecue sauce with the added flavor of Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is the perfect go-to sauce recipe for short ribs and any fatty cut of meats.

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? ›

Alabama white sauce—also known as Alabama white barbecue sauce—is a mayonnaise-based vinegary condiment, which originated in Decatur, a city in Northern Alabama. Cooks in Alabama use it as a marinade, a basting liquid, and a dipping sauce.

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