For a creamy and tangy take on barbecue sauce, make this fantastic Alabama White Sauce! So simple to whip up in minutes, you’ll love serving this special sauce with grilled meats, chicken wings, or even on hamburgers.

Alabama White BBQ Sauce
This Alabama White Sauce is one of those special recipes that everyone will be asking you to make for the next barbecue or cookout. It has a creamy texture with a really nice zesty flavor. Try it on all sorts of different meats (it’s fantastic on grilled chicken!) or even use it as a marinade before grilling and a basting sauce during grilling.
So many sauces and condiments can be homemade! Here are some of our favorites: Fry Sauce 4 Ways | Homemade Pizza Sauce | Yum Yum Sauce | Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe | Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce
What Does White BBQ Sauce Taste Like?
White BBQ sauce tastes very different from the more traditional tomato-based sauces. It actually uses mayonnaise as its base, and while that might sound strange, let me tell you: it is SO GOOD. This easy sauce is tangy, slightly sweet, and has a hint of spice.
Why is it Called Alabama Sauce?
The name comes from the place where this sauce was invented. Alabama white sauce was created by Robert Gibson at Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. He would make huge amounts of this BBQ sauce and then dip chicken it in before serving. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
What You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make Alabama White BBQ Sauce (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the easy to print recipe card):
- Mayonnaise – This is an important ingredient as it serves as the base of the sauce. Use regular full-fat mayonnaise and not salad dressing.
- Apple cider vinegar – Most people use apple cider vinegar in their Alabama white sauce, but if you don’t enjoy that flavor, it will work to use white vinegar.
- Dijon mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
How to Make Alabama White Sauce
It is so easy to make this sauce it almost doesn’t count as a recipe. Are you ready?
There is one step: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients together until smooth.
How’s that for maximum flavor for zero effort?!
Variation Ideas
Now that you know how to make the basic sauce, it’s time to start thinking about ways to mix things up. (Assuming you want to, the original recipe is so tasty I wouldn’t blame you for just sticking with that tried-and-true version!)
Here are some ideas:
- Lemon – Add a squeeze of fresh lemon to the sauce for a nice kick of flavor.
- Horseradish – For an extra bold sauce, try adding some prepared horseradish.
- Cayenne – If you’re a fan of a spicier white bbq sauce, try mixing in some cayenne pepper.
- Brown sugar – Some people like their sauce with a hint of sweetness, so you can add a little brown sugar to taste.
- Buttermilk – Many folks add a couple of tablespoons of buttermilk to their sauce to thin it out a little.
Ways to Use this Sauce
There are so many ways to use this tangy sauce. I love dipping chicken fingers or BBQ chicken in it. You can also spoon it over grilled steak, drizzle it on your burger, or even put it on baked salmon. I know some people who like to dip their pizza in it! I know that sounds unexpected but it’s not that much different than dipping pizza in ranch dressing (which is seriously addictive, you should try it.)
Here are some recipes on my site that would go well with white BBQ sauce:
- Crispy Chicken Tenders
- Coca Cola Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Kentucky Bourbon Chicken Wings
- Garlic Butter Steak Bites
How to Store
Keep the sauce in a jar or bottle with a lid in the refrigerator for up to one week. It’s so easy to make, you can always whip up a fresh bottle whenever it’s needed.
Alabama White Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup vinegar apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients together until smooth. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
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22 comments on “Alabama White Sauce”
This sauce is absolutely AMAZING!!!! I use it for deep fried wild turkey nugget dipping sauce, and on salads, and on pan fried eggplant. The whole family loved it!!!
Tastes good . Very different from the traditional bbq sauce!
Thanks for the recipe I use Alabama White Sauce On Pretty Much Anything from french fries to Smoked brisket,. Some times I’ll add A Chopped up jalapeno, to add some heat
Sounds delish. I will give it a try using olive oil mayo and some chipotle. But can someone please explain to me why it is that mayonnaise, which can store in the fridge for months after opening, suddenly will only last a week after some vinegar and seasonings are added to it? If anything the vinegar should help it last longer.
That’s a really good question! I agree with you!
Great basic recipe, just a little tart for me. I think it’s really the most traditional way to make this, I believe. I opted to add a little brown sugar to balance it out. I could see adding cayenne pepper to add a little more heat too! Thanks Jill!!
Would love measurements
Hey Jennifer. All measurements are in the recipe card.
Followed the recipe exactly. A little tart for my taste so I added 1 teaspoon of sugar. Excellant with the pork. Similar-ish to remoulade and would be good to dip fried oysters. I’m from SC where our sauce is traditionally mustard based (which I don’t care for). I’ve always wanted to try a white sauce and this was very good!
I like the simplicity of this recipe. I’ll be cooking wings this week, this will go great on them.
I accidentally sent wrong emsil address. How can I correct it?
This was so simple and sooo good! Used it for pulled chicken sandwiches. Yumm
The very beginning states to simply blend said ingredients. Correct the easiest, one of the best recipes ever. Yeah slather the fried wings in this….
Cup = ? 200 ml? 250 ml? 277 ml? 350 ml? 400 ml? I’ve seen all these and more. Which “cup” measure are you using?
Flavours look amazing. I look forward to trying this, once I work out the quantities.
1 cup = 236.6 mL
Throw in some chopped cilantro and perhaps a little chopped green onion stems
Can you substitute the Mayo for something else?
You could try sour cream or greek yogurt, but not sure how that would turn out. Let me know if you try it and what you think. Thanks!
Why would you want to change the taste…nothing is as good as Mayo!
Mayo is delicious. It’s just not on everybody’s diet, though.
Lol… Bummer but true.. good one bob
Hi Bob, Don’t worry about the mayo when you are dipping fried chicken wings. Kind of an oxymoron