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Home » Recipes » Sauce Recipes

Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce}

Published: Sep 11, 2023 by Chef Ryan Littley

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I love homemade barbecue sauces, and my Alabama White Sauce is a delicious alternative to ketchup-based BBQ sauce. This tangy, creamy white BBQ sauce recipe will kick up the flavor on all your favorite grilled meats and fish. It also makes a delicious dipping sauce for chicken wings, chicken tenders, and french fries.



 

This easy white barbecue sauce is made with simple ingredients and only takes five minutes to make. The rich flavor of this mayonnaise-based BBQ sauce makes it the perfect table sauce for so many of the foods you love to eat.

This white sauce recipe may be a BBQ staple, but I like to use this southern favorite as a salad dressing. You can even use it to make a tangy, spicy potato salad.

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients to make Alabama White Sauce
  • Can I adjust the ingredients in Alabama White Sauce?
  • Who invented Alabama White Sauce?
  • How to make Alabama White Sauce
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce}

Ingredients to make Alabama White Sauce

Ingredients to make recipe.

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Alabama White Sauce, aka White Barbecue Sauce. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Can I adjust the ingredients in Alabama White Sauce?

Absolutely! The key to enjoying the food you make is using the seasonings and ingredients you enjoy eating.

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

For a milder sauce, decrease the amount of cayenne pepper or horseradish.

For a tangy sauce, add a little extra apple cider vinegar; just be careful not to add too much.

For a touch of sweetness, add brown sugar, honey, agave, and even corn syrup. The sweetness will offset the heat. Adding sugar or honey is a personal preference. We didn’t add it to our sauce originally, but when I made another batch, I added sugar and liked the way it balanced the heat.

If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, you can use half sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt will increase the tanginess of the sauce and won’t affect the overall flavor.

You can also add some of your favorite seasoning blends to make your own unique blend of white barbecue sauce.

Who invented Alabama White Sauce?

It’s believed that the original recipe for Alabama White BBQ Sauce was created by Robert Gibson at his Northern Alabama BBQ restaurant, Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q.

Bob Gibson makes an incredible BBQ chicken using his classic white sauce. Try it with my smoked chicken wings for a twist on his classic dish. It’s a delicious change from a traditional BBQ sauce.

How to make Alabama White Sauce

Collage showing how to make recipe.
  • Add the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce to a medium bowl.
  • Whisk to combine the wet ingredients.
  • Add the kosher salt, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to the bowl.
  • Whisk the dry ingredients into the sauce and combine thoroughly.

For a change of pace, use Dijon mustard, stone ground mustard, or dry mustard instead of the spicy brown mustard.

Store the white barbecue sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 – 4 hours before using. If possible, let the sauce sit overnight before using; it will give the seasonings time to bloom, and the sauce will be more flavorful.

Smoked beef brisket sandwiches with bbq sauce and pickle chips on a white platter.

My Alabama white sauce is the perfect finishing sauce for my smoked beef brisket recipe, smoked pork butt, or as a dipping sauce for onion rings or french fries. Not a fan of Alabama white sauce? Then try my semi-homemade barbecue sauce.

Recipe FAQ’s

What does Alabama white sauce taste like?

White BBQ sauce tastes like a zesty coleslaw dressing. Adding horseradish and cayenne gives a little zing to the sauce, and depending on how much you like heat, it can be quite spicy, so be careful how much cayenne you add.

Can I use this sauce as a marinade?

Absolutely! While it’s primarily a barbecue sauce, you can also use it as a marinade for chicken or other meats before grilling.

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    Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
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    Creamy Horseradish Sauce
  • honey mustard sauce in a glass bowl
    Honey Mustard Sauce

Glass jar of Alabama white sauce with a spoon in it.

Alabama White Sauce {White BBQ Sauce}

Chef Ryan Littley
My Alabama White Sauce is a tangy, creamy white BBQ sauce that will kick up the flavor on all your favorite grilled foods and sandwiches. It also makes a great dipping sauce for chicken wings, chicken tenders and french fries.
5 from 53 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 15
Calories 155 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional

Instructions
 

  • Add the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, horseradish, and worcestershire sauce to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Add the kosher salt, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine.
  • Pour the white barbecue sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 – 4 hours before using.
    If possible let the sauce sit overnight before using, it will give the seasonings time to bloom and the sauce will be more flavorful.

Notes

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. 
For a milder sauce, decrease the amount of cayenne pepper or horseradish.
For a tangy sauce, add a little extra apple cider vinegar; just be careful not to add too much.
For a touch of sweetness, add brown sugar, honey, agave, and even corn syrup. The sweetness will offset the heat. Adding sugar or honey is a personal preference. We didn’t add it to our sauce originally, but when I made another batch, I added sugar and liked the way it balanced the heat.
If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, you can use half sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt will increase the tanginess of the sauce and won’t affect the overall flavor.
You can also add some of your favorite seasoning blends to make your own unique blend of white barbecue sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.3gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 316mgPotassium: 20mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 43IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    5 from 53 votes (44 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Sheri says

    May 27, 2025 at 6:18 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely the best! I put it on Brisket Sandwiches tonight. Can’t wait to try it on chicken next!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 27, 2025 at 6:21 pm

      I’m happy to hear you enjoyed our white sauce recipe. And thanks for taking teh time to leave a comment and the great review!

      Reply
  2. angela says

    May 13, 2025 at 11:18 am

    can you bake chicken breast in the sauce, or put sauce on top of baked chicken and serve warm ?

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 13, 2025 at 2:51 pm

      I wouldn’t bake it in the sauce but you could add it to the top of the chicken for the last 7-10 minutes so it bakes into the chicken. And make sure you use Hellmans or Dukes to make the sauce, so it holds up to the heat.

      Reply
  3. Michael says

    May 10, 2025 at 8:28 am

    5 stars
    I live in Canada and it’s the Best white sauce I’ve had and big hit with my family. Always make it exactly the way you listed it with brown sugar.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 10, 2025 at 1:36 pm

      Thanks for letting me know that our Alabama white sauce was a hit! It’s definitely one of my favorites.

      Reply
  4. KP says

    April 26, 2025 at 11:56 pm

    5 stars
    Best Alabama white sauce I’ve made and the only one I’ll ever make again. Delicious! Had it on smoked chicken tonight and I can’t wait to try it on something else.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      April 27, 2025 at 7:23 am

      That’s what I like to hear!!

      Reply
  5. Marie says

    April 16, 2025 at 1:13 pm

    Do you heat this before serving on meat or serve it cold?

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      April 16, 2025 at 1:16 pm

      You can use it either way. It all depends on your personal preference. Most of the time I use it cold.

      Reply
    • James says

      April 26, 2025 at 8:39 am

      5 stars
      I love white sauce, my family loves white sauce they just don’t like the heat, I’ve been trying to develop a good white sauce for 2 years that taste good without the heat, I found this recipe and made it without the heat and it was delicious as that and then amazingly my wife my kids and grandkids all said it needs a little heat, this is just an absolutely delicious recipe

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley says

        April 26, 2025 at 12:04 pm

        I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed our Alabama white sauce! I like a bit of heat, but a lot of recipes get carried away.

  6. Charltte Valitzski says

    October 29, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    5 stars
    Yum, from GA, next door to Alabama but never heard about this, glad you posted the recipe.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      October 30, 2024 at 7:00 am

      You’re very welcome,its one of my favorite BBQ sauces.

      Reply
    • Chef Ed says

      January 19, 2025 at 3:26 am

      5 stars
      Live in New Zealand ; tried the BBQ sauce first time ever tonite on chicken on me Webber ; bloody amazing sauce
      Won’t have me chicken any other way in the future
      Cheers

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley says

        January 19, 2025 at 6:17 am

        Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed our Alabama white sauce. It really is a delicious sauce and goes well with chicken and beef.

  7. Jeffrey Robertson says

    October 04, 2024 at 3:46 pm

    5 stars
    Made it exactly per the recipe (including the brown sugar) and it turned out tangy, creamy, with just a bit of spicy. It was excellent.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      October 04, 2024 at 5:17 pm

      I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed the Alabama white sauce, its a favorite in our house.,

      Reply
  8. Roderick Pan says

    August 30, 2024 at 11:38 am

    5 stars
    i never leave reviews, but this warranted one. absolutely amazing. i messed up on the measurements, (1 cup lite mayo, 1 ts garlic, and using reg mustard instead) and this recipe ended up being extremely forgiving and delicious. its miles ahead of any store bought white sauce i have ever had, i will never buy premade alabama white again.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 30, 2024 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed our Alabama white sauce and you are correct it is a very forgiving sauce.

      Reply
  9. Brenda Hill says

    July 05, 2024 at 1:19 pm

    5 stars
    Chicken breasts were not a favorite of mine until I soaked them in this sauce! My husband grilled them and I have never tasted anything so delicious. This is an A+ recipe!!!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 05, 2024 at 4:06 pm

      Alabama white sauce is a delicious way to flavor chicken, beef and pork. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the sauce.

      Reply
    • Rachel Messineo says

      July 31, 2024 at 10:02 am

      How long did you marinate the chicken breasts?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley says

        July 31, 2024 at 10:50 am

        absolute minimum time is 20 minutes, but longer up to 4 hours will impart more flavor. Depending on the type of marinade you use you can also let them marinate for up to 24 hours.


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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