Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (2024)

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35 minutes minutes

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Karly Campbell

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This ALABAMA WHITE SAUCE is a family favorite! It’s a simple creamy sauce that is perfect over grilled chicken, ribs, or pulled pork. It starts with mayo, instead of tomato sauce, so it’s extra creamy and so flavorful!

Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (1)

Alabama has always been a favorite vacation destination for us. The beaches are beautiful, it’s easy enough to get there, and we have a million and one favorite restaurants near the coast.

One of those restaurants served up barbecue with a twist – instead of your traditional tomato based barbecue sauce, they served a white BBQ sauce, and y’all, I was instantly hooked.

This Alabama White BBQ Sauce recipe is creamy, tangy, and just a bit sweet. It’s really perfect, you guys.

If you like sauces and dips, you’ll want to try my honey mustard recipe, fry sauce, and Carolina BBQ sauce!

Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (2)

Table of Contents

Ingredient Notes:

Mayonnaise – Most BBQ sauces are tomato based, but this Alabama white BBQ sauce uses a mayo base!

Buttermilk – This will help thin out the sauce a bit and it also adds some flavor.

Vinegar – You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar in this white BBQ sauce recipe!

Mustard – I like to use yellow mustard in this white sauce recipe, but spicy brown mustard would work too.

Seasonings – Just a simple mix of salt, pepper, sugar, and garlic salt! Use some brown sugar for extra flavor.

What We Love About This Recipe!

This Alabama white sauce is a perfect way to change things up! We love tomato based sauces too, but sometimes we’re in the mood for something different and that’s exactly what this white BBQ sauce has to offer! It’s creamy and flavorful and will work just as well on any meat as regular BBQ sauce.

How to Make Alabama White Sauce:

Add mayo, buttermilk, vinegar, mustard, garlic salt, pepper, and sugar to a mason jar.

Shake, shake, shake until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Alternately, stir together with a fork.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using. The longer the sauce sits, the more the flavors develop.

Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (3)

Helpful Tip!

Serve this with:

  • Grilled Chicken
  • Crock Pot Ribs
  • Alabama Style Pulled Pork
  • Baked Chicken Strips

VARIATIONS:

Tomato based BBQ sauce recipes are made in many ways with lots of different ingredients. The same can be true for mayo based white BBQ sauce! Here are some suggestions for changing it up:

  • Make a spicy white BBQ sauce by using spicy brown mustard, or add some spicy horseradish to the mix. Cayenne pepper or some hot sauce will also work well to spice it up!
  • A little bit of lemon juice will brighten the sauce up and add some more flavor.
  • Some Worcestershire sauce will add a more savory flavor to this white sauce.

FAQs:

How to store white BBQ sauce?

This sauce will keep well for at least a week in the refrigerator if you store it in a sealed mason jar.

What is Alabama white sauce?

It’s a BBQ sauce that starts with mayonnaise instead of tomatoes. It uses some similar ingredients like vinegar and sugar but the mayo base and the buttermilk gives it a creamy taste!

Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (4)

More Favorite Sauces:

Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (5)
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Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (6)

Recipe

Alabama White Sauce

This white bbq sauce starts off with mayonnaise to give it a creamy base. The sauce turns out sweet, tangy, and perfect for slathering over grilled or smoked chicken and ribs.

Print Pin Save

Prep5 minutes minutes

Chill Time30 minutes minutes

Total35 minutes minutes

Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

For the white sauce:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

  • To prepare the white sauce, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl or mason jar. Stir to combine and taste. Add additional vinegar, salt, or sugar depending on your preferences.

  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.

  • Store tightly covered in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Tips & Notes:

Recipe makes about 3/4 cup of sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 2tablespoons| Calories: 133kcal (7%)| Carbohydrates: 1g| Protein: 1g (2%)| Fat: 14g (22%)| Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)| Cholesterol: 8mg (3%)| Sodium: 327mg (14%)| Potassium: 7mg| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Sugar: 1g (1%)| Vitamin A: 12IU| Calcium: 6mg (1%)| Iron: 1mg (6%)

Author: Karly Campbell

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Keyword:easy dinner recipes, grilling recipes, summer recipes

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Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (11)

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Reader Interactions

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  1. ColleenCanuck says

    I love this idea I am not a fan of traditional bbq sauce. And I can’t wait to try

    Reply

  2. Amy P says

    Alabama white sauce started its life in my hometown of Decatur, Alabama, at least 100 years ago. A gentleman named “Big” Bob Gibson came up with it and served it at his community barbecues. He later started a restaurant called, fittingly, Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ. It’s still in operation today in Decatur. I grew up with his great-grandchildren and knew his daughter Catherine “Punk” Gibson McLemore. I went to church with them. Our families have known each other since the 50s.
    Brothers Jacob and Andrew Lily are carrying on the tradition.

    Reply

    • ColleenCanuck says

      Cool, Luv the history Amy! Put on my bucket list!

      Reply

  3. Twyla lake says

    I am looking forward to try this

    Reply

    • Karly says

      Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

  4. Donna Schubeck says

    I have ribs that I want to do in the slow cooker; can you explain how the sauce is used? Added at the beginning to cook ribs in it, or added at the end?

    Reply

    • Karly says

      Hi Donna! Brush the sauce on at the end or use it as a dipping sauce.

      Reply

  5. Susan says

    can I use garlic powder instead of garlic salt and reduce the salt as I have to watch my sodium intake

    Reply

    • Karly says

      Sure.

      Reply

      • Susan says

        if I use garlic powder instead of garlic salt in the recipe how much garlic powder would I use?

      • Karly says

        Hi Susan, just add it to taste.

  6. kumiko mccabe says

    hi, like to know how toger receipe onqueso?can not find it thank you kumiko

    Reply

    • Karly says

      Hello! I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re asking?

      Reply

      • ColleenCanuck says

        I believe this person is asking for Spanish ingredients btw?

  7. Kimberly A Mele says

    Thought I saw some ingredient substitutes in the article. After printing the recipe, I went to go through the substitute ideas and can’t find them.

    Reply

    • Karly says

      No, sorry, there weren’t any substitutes listed.

      Reply

      • Nancy M. Carlson says

        Is there any way to make this with a mayo sub? If so what would or could it be?? I super appreciate your answer. Thank you. This sounds delish.

      • Karly says

        Hi Nancy! We’ve only made this with mayo. You could try using sour cream or greek yogurt, but it’s going to significantly change the flavor.

    • Robert D Geist says

      You might go back and check the “Variations” section above.

      Reply

  8. Steve Barker UK says

    Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (12)
    Grilling chicken this evening and just wanted something different to plain old BBQ sauce and found this on the internet.

    Too late to go to the shop so didn’t have any buttermilk and used lemon juice instead of vinegar and added a pinch of smoked paprika; well impressed, can’t wait to try the ‘straight’ version.

    Reply

    • Karly says

      So glad you enjoyed! I’m sure it was great with the lemon juice. 🙂

      Reply

  9. Gary A LaBelle says

    Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (13)
    Which vinegar do you recommend…white vinegar?

    Reply

    • Karly says

      Yep!

      Reply

  10. Carla Skidmore says

    Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (14)
    This white sauce sounds great. I have not tried making it, but it reminds me of Ranch Dressing, am I way off base on that?

    Reply

    • Karly says

      It’s more of a barbecue flavor than ranch flavor, in my opinion.

      Reply

Best Ever Alabama White Sauce — Buns In My Oven (2024)

FAQs

Who made the original Alabama white sauce? ›

It was created by Robert Gibson, owner of Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q in Decatur, in 1925. The sauce is a combination of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt and was initially used only on chicken.

What is Alabama white sauce made of? ›

Alabama white sauce starts with a base of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar. Many variations exist but typical flavorings include mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sugar or honey, garlic and/or onion powder, and lots of black pepper.

Does Alabama white sauce taste like ranch? ›

If your white sauce tastes like ranch, that's another sign you're not quite on the right track. Ranch is thin and buttermilky, while white sauce should be thicker and richer, with more tang from the vinegar. It will have a bite similar to that of Carolina BBQ sauce.

How to jazz up white sauce? ›

Add ground black pepper or ground cayenne pepper to white sauce to give it a kick. Add marjoram, beef bouillon powder and a pinch of ground thyme powder for country fried steak or other beef dish. Add paprika, parsley, white wine and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for seafood dishes.

What do you put Alabama white sauce on? ›

2. Dipping appetizers: Use Alabama white sauce as a dipping sauce for chicken wings, tater tots, or any finger food. 3. Dressing salads and coleslaw: Try Alabama white sauce as a salad dressing for Caesar salad or in place of other creamy dressings.

When was Alabama white sauce invented? ›

Alabama white sauce

It is believed to have been invented by Bob Gibson at the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur in 1925. The sauce's popularity was mainly confined to northern Alabama until 1994 when it began to be bottled and sold commercially.

What are the two white sauces? ›

Béchamel – milk-based sauce, thickened with a white roux. Beurre blanc – Reduction of butter, vinegar, white wine and shallots.

What is white sauce vs alfredo sauce? ›

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

What does Alabama white sauce taste like? ›

The tangy flavor is kind of like ranch dressing, and just as dangerously addictive. It's also every bit as versatile: Big Bob's recommends pouring it on chicken, pork, seafood and turkey, and using it as the secret ingredient in homemade cole slaw and potato salad.

What is a fancy name for white sauce? ›

Another name for bechamel — or béchamel — is "white sauce." Making a bechamel is a very basic technique in French cooking which begins with a roux, a cooked mixture of flour and butter, and after slowly whisking in milk, ends in a creamy sauce.

What is Waldo's Alabama White Sauce? ›

Alabama white BBQ sauce is a mayonnaise-based dressing that also includes horseradish and cayenne pepper for a good amount of heat. Two packed tablespoons of brown sugar add some sweetness to the mix, while apple cider vinegar and lemon juice provide some flavorful acidity.

Why is it called Alabama White Sauce? ›

The creation of white barbecue sauce, often called “Alabama White,” is credited to Robert “Big Bob'” Gibson at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q restaurant, in Decatur, Ala., in 1925.

What are the 3 types of white sauces? ›

It's easy to get lost when it comes to the creamy sauces of French cuisine. Learn the difference between a classic roux, béchamel, and mornay.

What thickens a white sauce? ›

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

Where did white sauce pasta originate? ›

White Sauce also known as Bechamel Sauce has its origin from the Italian & French Cuisines. In classic culinary terms, this is what is known as a mother sauce.

Who makes Alabama White BBQ sauce? ›

Visit Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Ala., and you'll find a barbecue sauce unlike any on the planet. Created by a railroad worker-turned-pit master in the 1920s, this piquant mixture of mayonnaise, vinegar and black pepper has accompanied barbecued chicken for five generations of pit masters.

Who made the first sauce? ›

One of the oldest sauce-type references (albeit fuzzy) is Ancient Roman Garum/Liquamen. Classic French Mother sauces were created in the 17th century (La Varenne)& codified in the 18th/19th (Caremen/Escoffier).

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