Home Teams Alabama White Sauce Recipe
South Carolina arguably the birthplace of barbecue is home to four native barbecue sauces: a heavy tomato, a light tomato, a vinegar-pepper, and a mustard-based sauce.
Recently, however, an interloper has crossed the border, and we find ourselves with a fifth sauce: the Alabama White Sauce.
Alabama White is, obviously, a mayonnaise-based sauce that reminds many of a simple coleslaw dressing however, there is no question that Home Teams Alabama White is popular on things other than cabbage, especially with their Smoked Chicken Wings.
Home Team chef and co-founder Aaron Siegel, who we featured in this interview, provided his recipe for his Smoked Chicken Wings and Alabama White BBQ Sauce to starchefs.com.
If youre making the wings, you have to make the sauce, and it wont take long.
We have both the wing and sauce recipe along with over 150 pages more of authentic SCBBQ recipes in our cookbook: SCBBQ Recipes: Going Whole Hog.
Home Team BBQ currently has three locations in Charleston Sullivans Island, Downtown, and West Ashley with other locations opening in Greenville and Columbia. There is also a Home Team in Aspen, CO.
Here is the recipe for Home Teams Alabama White BBQ Sauce:
What Is Alabama White Sauce And Who Invented It
When thinking of barbeque sauce, its likely the rich brown tomato/ketchup-based condiment used for marinating, basting, dipping, and spreading that comes to mind. However, theres a surprising number of variations on a traditional BBQ sauce. And one of those is mayonnaise-based Alabama white sauce.
The Alabama white BBQ sauce recipe was created by Bob Gibson the executive chef and vice-president of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q restaurant in Decatur, North Alabama. Its been served at the restaurant since its opening in 1925.
This popular Southern sauce was traditionally used for their slow-smoked chicken, cooked for hours in a hickory-fed pit and then dunked whole into the sauce. However, it has since become a popular condiment for brushing, dunking, and dipping all sorts of meats, seafood, veggies, and evenhard-boiled eggs!
With a base of mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, and salt and pepper , this sauce is creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. Its also often slightly spicy with the addition of horseradish and/or cayenne pepper. The combination of smooth and tangy makes it ideal for enhancing all sorts of meats and veg.
A Tasty Homemade Sauce Recipe
There is nothing that I like more than a homemade bbq sauce. My mom is originally from Alabama and she would make this Alabama White Sauce all the time and we have always adored it. It is such a versatile sauce and good on so many things! It only takes 5 minutes to prepare and an hour to chill. Once you try this type of creamy white bbq sauce, there really is no going back! There is just something about this Alabama White Sauce recipe that will have you using it over and over!
You May Like: Sweet Baby Ray’s Dipping Sauce
Who Created Alabama White Sauce
Bob Gibson popularized the creamy, peppery sauce known nationwide as Alabama white sauce. When he opened his barbecue restaurant in northern Alabama in 1925, the white sauce was on the menu. It quickly proved to be the perfect poultry pairing, with mayo to keep the meat moist and vinegar and spice to balance the fat.
How To Use White Bbq Sauce / What To Serve With This Sauce
You can put Alabama white sauce on smoked chicken quarters and smoked chicken thighs, which is my favorite way to use it. But, it tastes great on spicy bbq chicken wings, smoked pulled pork, pork chops, and ever slathered on a beef brisket sandwich. This sauce even works as a base for coleslaw or salad dressing too.
Also, its pretty amazing on fried pickles too. Just sayin.
You May Like: Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce
What Is White Barbecue Sauce And How Do You Make It At Home
Lets talk about white barbecue sauce, the uniquely delicious Southern staple.
Corey Williams is a food writer covering food news, step-by-step cooking, baking, and storage guides for MyRecipes and Allrecipes. She has a decade of journalism experience, and her work has been featured in Southern Living, Cooking Light, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and Better Homes & Gardens.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
If you’ve never had barbecued chicken or pork drenched in tangy Alabama white sauce, you’ve been missing out on a uniquely delicious barbecue experience. Here’s what you need to know about white barbecue sauce and how to make it at home:
How To Make It
It couldnt be any easier, and it only takes a couple of minutes! Just measure out all of the ingredients and add them to a bowl. Whisk them together until the sauce is totally smooth.
You can eat the sauce right away, or you can transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator to let the flavors totally settle and mingle.
Don’t Miss: Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Loaf In Sauce
More About Alabama White Sauce
After many trips to Alabama for football games I was first intrigued with the sauce because its so different from many others associated with barbecue. The zesty sauce was popularized in Decatur, Alabama and is commonly served on smoked chicken though I enjoy it slathered over crispy, fried chicken as in this recipe.
How To Store Alabama White Sauce
So, this recipe for Alabama white sauce will make about one cup’s worth. But, if you want more, you can easily double, triple, or quadruple the ingredient measurements.
Also, since this is a mayonnaise-based BBQ sauce, it should be stored in the refrigerator immediately after making it. With that said, if you store this Alabama white sauce in an airtight container – or glass jar – it will last in the fridge for about 4 days.
Honestly, I think it actually tastes even better days after making it since the flavors have time to meld together. Then, when you’re ready to use it, give it a good stir to smooth it out, then enjoy.
You May Like: Where To Buy Gluten Free Soy Sauce
How Can You Tell If Youre Working With High
When it comes to sauces, its all about the ingredients. A good white sauce will start with real, high-quality mayothat means mayo made with real eggs. Quality Alabama white sauce also will not feature any fake sugars. The best versions will be zero sugar and keto-friendly.
If your white saucetastes like ranch, thats another sign youre 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.
What Is White Bbq Sauce Made Of
Breaking with the tradition of making barbecue sauce from tomatoes, Alabama white sauce starts with a mayo base. I like mine extra tangy so I like to use plain Greek yogurt instead. The other ingredients are as follows.
- mayonnaise/Greek yogurt/Miracle Whip
- Worcestershire sauce
Some recipes like to add a little sugar to balance out the tang but I dont. If you like that little added sweetness feel free to add in some honey, brown sugar, or white sugar. Just be sure to start small.
The spices are the typical ones for bbq like garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cayenne is another one that is added but I prefer a few dashes of hot sauce.
The mustard used can be varied as well. Spicy brown is a great one to use. If you are looking for a slightly different profile, try adding Dijon or honey mustard.
If you like it hot, you can add extra hot prepared or grated horseradish but I like to use a prepared horseradish sauce. You can find it near the deli section.
Dont Miss: Raos Saice
Also Check: Cheese Sauce Recipe For Philly Cheesesteak
The Keys To A Proper Alabama White Sauce
Photo: Big Bob Gibson
The sauce has taken on a few modifications over the years, though the key characteristics remain: It needs to be thin and creamy with a tangy bite, Michael Kimball, the test kitchen manager at Savory Spice, says, adding that mayo and vinegar are the essential ingredients.
Savory Spice makes its variation with a smoky spice blend, horseradish, and plenty of alliums . Raymond makes his version a touch sweeter and adds horseradish and a little cayenne to the mayonnaise, vinegar, and lemon juice.
The acidity of Alabama White brightens and heightens flavor while fat-filled mayo helps carry fat-soluble flavor compounds to your taste buds, Kimball says. This flavor-enhancing combo makes whatever you put it on taste better and more like itself and adds a complementary horseradish bite.
Despite being picked up and sold outside of the state, the verdict is still out for when Alabama white sauce gets to the level of fame as Carolina vinegar sauce or thick and saccharine Kansas City sauce. Still, Alabama white sauce is a hit wherever it goes. Raymond sells Alabama White Gold at his restaurant and online through his company Duces Wild. Its currently the brands bestselling sauce, and sales top even the competition sauce that Raymond considers his flagship.
About White Bbq Sauce
Its hard to pin down the first time that white bbq sauce was served, but it is known that ever since Bob Gibson opened his BBQ restaurant in 1925, it has been on the menu.
Today, many have heard of Big Bob Gibsons Bar-B-Q, which is located in Northern Alabama, because of the awards that Pitmaster, Chef, and part-owner Chris Lilly has amassed for his delicious smoked chicken and barbecue.
If you are in Alabama or the southeast, you can easily pick up a bottle at your local grocery store. If not, then use this recipe to make your own homemade barbecue sauce. Its a versatile condiment that is low-carb and tangy.
This BBQ staple is made with simple ingredients it has a mayonnaise base, black pepper, horseradish, spices, and the addition of vinegar, making it a tangy sauce perfect for chicken breasts, pork chops, pork tenderloin, pulled pork, chicken wings, chicken thighs, bbq chicken, grilled fish, fried fish, hard-boiled eggs, and just about any piece of meat that youd like.
Some people even use it as a dipping sauce for things like chicken nuggets and French fries.
We all probably have all of the ingredients already in our pantry and it comes together in no time. The hardest part about making it is waiting a few hours for the flavors to meld before using it.
Don’t Miss: How To Make Marinara Sauce
Make Your Lasagna Blanca
Now that you know the basics of making a white lasagna including the perfect white sauce, what ingredients will you choose? After assembling everything you’ll need to make the recipe including the pasta, veggies, grated cheeses, ricotta, and eggs, be sure to cook the protein and veggies first. If you don’t cook the veggies, they will release too much water and your lasagna will be soggy, according to PBS Food. Moreover, the protein should also be cooked to avoid excess fat in the dish.
When everything is ready, start layering. If the recipe you want to try calls for bottled Alfredo sauce you can certainly make your own. Just substitute one cup of your sauce for every 8 ounces of bottled sauce.
Rants From My Crazy Kitchen suggests making crab lasagna rolls with blue cheese sauce for an elegant dinner party, or why not try white seafood lasagna from Spicy Southern Kitchen? You can even use bottled Alfredo sauce to make this white turkey lasagna. And this shrimp lasagna, from Ricardo Cuisine, is fabulous.
White Bbq Sauce Recipe
Team Fed + Fit decided that it was high time that we added more BBQ sauce recipes to the website, so we did just that! We started with tomato-based BBQ sauces , and then we looked to see what other BBQ sauces were out there. As it turns out, a lot of people go crazy for this Alabama-style BBQ sauce, so we did a lot of research, and then put our own spin on this different-but-delicious take on BBQ sauce.
Alabama-style white BBQ sauce is tangy, sweet, and has a hint of spice. While this sauce is typically served on chicken, its really delicious and has the potential to be used in all of the same ways as tomato-based BBQ sauce.
Read Also: Barilla Traditional Basil Pesto Sauce
What Is White Barbecue Sauce
White barbecue sauce is a creamy sauce made with mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. It also sometimes includes horseradish, lemon juice, mustard, and various spices. It’s typically served on or alongside chicken and/or pork, but it also works well for grilling and basting.
The mayo-based sauce has a tangy, peppery flavor with a bit of a bite.
Alabama White Sauce Ingredients
This Alabama BBQ sauce relies on a few simple pantry ingredients to create a complex condiment with a creamy, tangy, spicy, and sweet flavor.
- Mayonnaise: The star of the show. Use store-bought or homemade mayo.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds the wonderful tanginess .
- Brown sugar: Honey will also work, but brown sugar has a rich molasses flavor, too.
- Horseradish: For a zingy heat in the white barbecue sauce. You can use a milder or hot/extra-hot horseradish, depending on your preferred heat level.
- Lemon: Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: Add umami-rich depth and further zip. For a milder addition, use mustard instead .
- Hot sauce: This is technically optional but great for those who like spice. Adjust the amount to taste.
- Seasonings: This simple white BBQ Alabama sauce relies on a combination of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper .
For a lighter version of white Alabama BBQ sauce, I recommend replacing about half of the mayonnaise with sour cream or Greek yogurt. Adjust the added lemon accordingly, as both are tangy already.
For extra depth of flavor, you could add some onion powder to the Alabama white sauce, too.
Read Also: Prego Traditional Sauce For Pizza
Additional Tips For White Bbq Sauce
- You can substitute the yellow mustard for Dijon, creole mustard or stone ground mustard, if you want. I like the tangy yellow mustard flavor.
- You can use apple cider vinegar in a pinch, or rice wine vinegar for a sweeter taste.
- Sauce will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I store the sauce in a small mason jar with a lid and use it for whatever comes up on the dinner rotation that week. Its great as a dressing for salads, its really great in potato salad.
Ingredients Needed For White Bbq Sauce
To make your own creamy version of Alabamas favorite white barbecue sauce, you need the following ingredients:
- Mayonnaise- I use Dukes, but use whichever brand you prefer
- Apple Cider Vinegar- adds great tang to this sauce
- Worcestershire Sauce- dont skip this as it adds incredible flavor
- Dijon Mustard extra flavor and tang
- Salt/Pepper to taste
- Cayenne Pepper optional, for an added kick
Also Check: How Do You Make Pasta Sauce
The Best Alabama White Sauce
This southern style BBQ sauce – aka white BBQ sauce – is an Alabama creation that can rival the best tomato-based BBQ sauces in the world. Seriously, after you make this stuff, you’ll be wondering where this delicious sauce has been your entire life.
Now, if you’ve never had white sauce before I’m sure you’re wondering what it tastes like. And, in a word, it tastes incredible. It’s creamy, tangy, and a little bit spicy. And, as I mentioned, this Alabama white sauce goes great with smoked chicken, pork, fish, veggies, and everything in between.
Also, when you use it for grilled chicken, pork chops, chicken wings – and other light proteins – the smokiness and char infuse the white BBQ sauce into the meat for even more flavor.
With that said though, this Alabama white sauce recipe also makes a fantastic dip. It’s a great dip for things like these Chick-Fil-A nuggets and these fried pickles. It’s also a fantastic spread on this McDonalds spicy chicken sandwich and this quesadilla burger.
So, whether you’re an Alabama BBQ sauce aficionado – or trying it for the first time – this Alabama white sauce recipe is sure to be a hit! And leftovers – if you’re lucky enough to have any – can be refrigerated, so you can use them throughout the week.
Serving Suggestions For White Bbq Sauce
Alabama white sauce may be famous for serving with smoked or grilled chicken, but its a hugely flavorful addition to any grilled foods and barbecue fair. Youll love it on pulled pork. You can also use it as a dipping sauce with meats and vegetables or use it to brush onto your foods as youre cooking them, veggies included.
Try it out as a salad dressing and youll be amazed. You definitely have to try it out on these Brined Grilled Chicken Wings.
Don’t Miss: Stonewall Kitchen Vidalia Onion Fig Sauce
Who Invented Alabama White Sauce
Alabama-style white barbecue sauce was invented by Robert Gibson at Big Bob Gibsons Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. He would serve it on his chickens for weekend backyard barbecues back in the 1920s before he had his restaurant. Each smoked chicken would be dipped in this sauce to keep it from drying out. The sauce began to be bottled and sold at grocery stores in the 1990s, but why buy it when you can make it anytime you are craving it?
