Dead Meat Society
Alabama White Sauce

Alabama White Sauce

In my mind, one of the most unique sauces out there is Alabama white sauce. The source? Bob Gibson in Decatur, AL. This barbecue sauce doesn’t use tomato or vinegar as its base. Instead, Bob Gibson started with mayonnaise and built his sauce from there.

Time:
10 minutes
Yield:
4

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise (use a high-quality one, I used Duke’s)
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 TBSP brown sugar
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp horseradish
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tspn onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

There are few things more guaranteed to start an argument in the barbecue world than what the best barbecue sauce is. Heck, even the state I live in, North Carolina, can’t agree on what barbecue sauce is supposed to be.

However, that should not discourage you from trying different styles of regional barbecue. In my mind, one of the most unique sauces out there is Alabama white sauce. The source? Bob Gibson in Decatur, AL. This barbecue sauce doesn’t use tomato or vinegar as its base. Instead, Bob Gibson started with mayonnaise and built his sauce from there.

When I think of Alabama white sauce, I only think of one meat: Smoked or grilled chicken. Specifically, leg quarters (though bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs will do, too). So let’s dive into making this regional style of barbecue sauce.

Equipment:

Mixing bowl

Whisk

Teaspoon

Liquid measuring cup

Tablespoon

One cup measuring cup

½ cup measuring cup

Instructions:

  1. Add apple cider vinegar to a mixing bowl, then stir in brown sugar until incorporated.

  2. Add Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice.

  3. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and horseradish and stir to combine.

4. Add mayo a half-cup at a time to get the proper consistency. Alabama white sauce is thinner than most store-bought barbecue sauces, so be careful not to add too much mayo. One cup worked perfectly for me.

5. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least an hour before using. The longer you let it sit in the fridge, the more time it has to develop flavor.

6. Either dip your chicken in it or pour it over the chicken and enjoy!