How to make the best Alabama White Barbeque sauce

If you’re a fan of tangy, creamy sauces with a little kick, you’ll love learning how to make this Alabama White Barbeque Sauce. It’s a Southern favorite made with simple ingredients.

This easy white BBQ sauce recipe produces a rich, flavorful dipping sauce. It’s the perfect addition to smoked or barbecued meats like chicken or pork.

The creamy mayonnaise base gets leveled up with tangy vinegar to give it some twang, brown sugar for sweetness, horseradish and cayenne for a touch of heat, and a mix of spices like black pepper, and garlic for warmth.

The great thing about this Alabama White Sauce is that once made, it will keep for a week or two in the fridge (as long as you keep it in an airtight container like a mason jar).

Make a big batch to have on hand for drizzling on Smoked Chicken, dressing Potato Salad, or anything else you can dream up!

This is part of my new series Taste the Nation where week by week, I’ll explore the foods and flavors of America and recreate the most popular recipes from all 50 states. 

I always give instructions with step-by-step photos in my posts just in case some readers have questions. But if you are just here for the recipe, click the JUMP TO RECIPE tab under the title and it will take you straight there. You can also print the recipe card with full instructions or you can click one of the SHARE BUTTONS and save it for later!

It’s Alabama week and I can think of no better way to kick it off than this iconic White Barbeque Sauce Recipe!

The origins of Alabama’s distinctive white barbecue sauce can be traced back to Robert Gibson and his iconic Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q restaurant in Northern Alabama. (Click the link for the full story).

The story goes that in 1925, Bob Gibson was a train worker who started selling smoked chicken at a makeshift barbecue stand near the tracks. To go with his signature hickory-smoked chicken, Gibson created a unique sauce using ingredients like mayonnaise, vinegar, pepper, and other spices.

At the time, most barbecue sauces were tomato or vinegar-based. Using a mayonnaise base was highly unconventional, but it produced a sauce that was rich, creamy, and tangy – the perfect pairing for Gibson’s luscious smoked chicken.

The white sauce quickly became a beloved local specialty, anchoring Gibson’s growing barbecue business. As word spread of the incredible flavors coming from Big Bob’s BBQ joint, the mayo-based white sauce gained a devoted following across Alabama and the entire South.

While traditional BBQ sauce lends bright, acidic notes, the mayonnaise in Alabama White Barbeque Sauce creates a luscious, creamy texture. The mayo base tames the vinegar’s harsh edge while adding an underlying richness.

The sauce’s unique creaminess allows it to glaze proteins beautifully and double as a versatile dipping sauce, salad dressing, or base for other Southern staples like smoked Chicken Salad or deviled eggs.

Today, Big Bob Gibson’s white sauce is an iconic symbol of Alabama barbecue. Its inventive, delicious departure from the norm cemented its place as a signature regional style.

If you ever get the chance, you should stop by Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama.

They have massive hickory-fed pits that house their famous smoked chickens. They are slow-smoked to perfection, then the whole chickens get dunked into massive vats of their homemade white BBQ sauce. The flavor of the chicken is out of this world, but the real showstopper is the tangy sauce. 

Until you get the opportunity to try it for yourself, you can recreate its greatness in your own RV kitchen! So without further ado…

Let’s gather up the ingredients

Organizing all of your ingredients ahead of time not only streamlines the cooking process but also ensures you have everything required to complete the dish successfully. You can find the exact amounts in the recipe card below.

• Mayonnaise– Because this is the foundation of the sauce, be sure to use a high-quality brand like Hellman’s or Duke’s.

• Horseradish– prepared horseradish. It can usually be found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.

• Lemon juice

• Apple cider vinegar

• Dijon mustard– or any spicy brown mustard you like.

• Brown sugar

• Dale’s Marinade or Worcestershire sauce.

• Fresh garlic– or garlic powder

• Cayenne pepper– adjust the amount to your heat level. You can add as much or as little as you like.

• Freshly ground black pepper

Tips for success: I love to use Dale’s Steak Seasoning anywhere I would normally use Worcestershire sauce. It provides a rich umami flavor to almost anything and I prefer the flavor over that of Worcestershire.

Now Let’s get cooking!

In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients until fully combined and smooth.

Taste and adjust seasonings as desired, adding more vinegar for tang, sugar for sweetness, or cayenne for heat.

Transfer the finished sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alabama white barbeque sauce spicy?

Most Alabama white sauces have a moderate level of spice from the horseradish, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. The amount can be adjusted to taste preferences. 

For a spicer sauce, you can increase the amounts of the horseradish and cayenne pepper. You can also add a little of your favorite hot sauce. 

What’s the difference between white BBQ sauce and regular BBQ sauce?

Regular American barbecue sauces are typically tomato or vinegar-based. Alabama White Sauce uses a mayonnaise base instead, making it creamier and richer in texture.

What can you use white bbq sauce for?

It’s fantastic as a dipping sauce for smoked or barbecued meats like chicken, pork ribs, or veggies, or even french fries. It can also be used as a salad dressing, marinade, or sandwich spread.

How long does homemade white bbq sauce last?

When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it will keep for 1-2 weeks.

From backyard cookouts to holiday gatherings, this regional specialty has become a national obsession for good reason.

Slather it onto tender pork chops, bone-in chicken breasts, or pork tenderloin. Dollop it onto a plate of fried green tomatoes, or use it as a dip for crispy french fries. This Alabama White Sauce Recipe delivers rich, balanced flavors that complement a variety of dishes.

Best of all, it’s an absolute breeze to whip up a batch at home using inexpensive pantry staples. 

At the end of the day, Alabama White Sauce is one of those genius culinary creations that makes you wonder “Why didn’t I think of that?!” Its creamy and tangy flavor profile is totally unique compared to traditional barbecue sauces.

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As always, I will be back next week with more delicious recipes from my RV kitchen to yours!

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