Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce is a vibrant, tangy, sour, and spicy condiment that’s a big part of East Carolina barbecue traditions.
Unlike traditional tomato-based barbecue sauces, which are thicker and sweeter, Carolina vinegar sauce is thinner in consistency and has a sharp, acidic flavor.
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Originating in North Carolina, its distinctive taste comes from an apple cider vinegar base mixed with crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, and a touch of sweetness from brown sugar to balance the flavors.
The acidity of Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce helps to tenderize the meat and enhances its natural flavors while offering a great contrast to the smoky flavors of the grilled and smoked meats.
This sauce penetrates the meat, making it a perfect match for our smoked pork butt. It also makes excellent mop sauce for chicken and ribs. I love using it as a zesty dressing for coleslaw and potato salad.
If you like making delicious barbecue sauces, make sure to try our Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce and Alabama White Sauce recipes.
Ingredients to make Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make our Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce recipe. In Chef Speak, this is called the Mise en Place, which translates into Everything in its Place.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Can I use other ingredients?
You can use other ingredients to suit your taste preference. For a spicy kick, add your favorite hot sauce or a little cayenne pepper.
You could also add onion powder and garlic powder to enhance the flavor profile. For a sweeter sauce, add a little more brown sugar during the cooking process.
You can also use honey or maple syrup in place of the brown sugar or for additional sweetness.
Tomato paste can be used instead of ketchup, and white vinegar can be used in place of apple cider vinegar.
*Unlike South Carolina Gold BBQ sauce, this vinegar-based sauce contains no yellow mustard.
How to make Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
- Add the apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and brown sugar to a sauce pot.
- Mix to combine and heat over low heat until it begins to simmer (about 5 minutes).
- Add the crushed red pepper, black pepper, and salt to the sauce pot with the vinegar mixture.
- Mix to combine and heat for an additional 5-10 minutes until the salt and brown sugar have completely dissolved.
*When finished cooking, set the sauce aside for 30 minutes to allow the vinegar-based sauce to cool and for the flavors to combine.
The sauce’s deep roots in southern barbecue reflect the region’s rich culinary innovations, using simple ingredients to create a sauce steeped in the tradition of Carolina barbecue.
Store the Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce in a mason jar (or airtight container) and refrigerate for up to two months. To reheat, add it to a saucepan and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes. The sauce can be served hot or cold.
Recipe FAQ’s
Unlike most traditional barbecue sauces, Eastern North Carolina Vinegar Sauce doesn’t use tomato as its base. Instead, it combines apple cider vinegar with spices to create this one-of-a-kind barbecue sauce.
The advantage of using vinegar-based sauce is its tenderizing effect on meat. Not only does the vinegar tenderize the meat, but it also adds a tangy flavor that’s the cornerstone of Carolina barbecue.
If the sauce is too vinegary for your taste, add additional ketchup and brown sugar until it suits your taste preference. Reseason as needed.
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Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and brown sugar to a sauce pot and heat for over low heat till it begins to simmer about 5 minutes
- Add the crushed red pepper, black pepper and salt to the sauce pot with the vinegar mixture and heat for an additional 5-10 minutes until the salt and brown sugar have completely dissolved
- Once done Set aside for 30 minutes and allow for the vinegar-based sauce to cool giving time for the flavors to combine
- Store in an airtight container or mason jar until needed
- To reheat add it to saucepan and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes
John F Bramfeld says
A quick alternative is to add vinegar to a thick store bought sauce you like. Consider starting small and adding an equal amount of a vinegar you like. If it’s too thick or too vinegary, add sauce or vinegar until you get the taste and consistency you like.
Lisa says
It sounds delicious!