• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

House of Nash Eats

a food blog about the simple and delicious recipes we love

  • Home
    • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Holidays
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St. Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • 4th of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Main Dish
    • Salad
    • Side Dish
    • Soup
  • Travel
  • Contact Me

Alabama White BBQ Sauce

May 17, 2018 by Amy 30 Comments

Pin2K
Share127
Tweet7
Flip
Share2
+1
2K Shares
Print Recipe Jump to Recipe

Alabama White BBQ Sauce is a tangy, creamy twist on traditional barbecue sauce recipe.  It’s delicious on grilled chicken, pulled pork, fish, burgers, and lots more!

Alabama White BBQ Sauce is a tangy, creamy twist on traditional barbecue sauce recipe.  It's delicious on grilled chicken, pulled pork, fish, burgers, and lots more!

Alabama White BBQ Sauce

This is my second post in my American Eats series where I’m cooking my way across America, one state at a time.  We are in Alabama, and yesterday I shared a tasty, savory Southern Tomato Pie.  Today I’ve got another iconic Alabama recipe for you that might make you scratch your head at first:  Alabama White BBQ Sauce.  

If you love barbecue, you probably know that there are lots of regional variations of bbq sauces to enjoy, depending on what part of the country you are from.  Kansas City BBQ is known for it’s thick, sweet sauce, North Carolina has a thin vinegar based sauce, and South Carolina barbecue sauce is mustard based.  But chances are, you’ve never heard of this tangy white barbecue sauce unless you’ve been to Alabama.

Alabama white BBQ sauce was created in 1925 in Decatur, Alabama by a man named Bob Gibson, who started a restaurant that is an institution today called Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q.

An image of a jar of Alabama White BBQ Sauce made famous in Decatur, Alabama by Big Bob Gibson.

This sauce starts with a mayo base that is thinned out with a little vinegar, then gets a flavor kick from mustard, horseradish, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.

It’s ridiculously easy to make.  You just whisk everything together in a bowl until smooth, then pour into a jar and refrigerate until you are ready to use it.  It’s so simple, but so, so good.

An image of a bowl with mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish, vinegar, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder for making Alabama White Barbecue Sauce.

Use the Alabama white barbecue sauce just like you would any other barbecue sauce – on smoked or grilled meats for basting or as a dipping sauce.  We brush it on grilled meat or fish during the last few minutes of cooking on the grill and serve with extra sauce on the side.

How to Grill Bone-In Chicken Breasts

When I was testing Alabama recipes, I used this white bbq sauce on bone-in grilled chicken breasts, which we served with tomato pie.  While you can absolutely grill boneless, skinless chicken breasts and have them turn out super juicy and delicious (check out my recipe for grilled cajun chicken sandwiches to see how), I find that when we are doing bbq, I way prefer to go slower and use bone-in chicken.

Here is how we grill bone-in chicken breasts:

  1. Heat the grill to medium-high heat.  Turn on all the burners if using a gas grill, or get the briquettes going if using charcoal, and close the lid.  When the grill is hot (between 400-450 degrees), make sure the grates are clean and brush them with a little oil, then create an area of indirect heat by pushing turning off the burners on side side of the grill or pushing the charcoal over.
  2. While the grill is heating, season the chicken with a little salt.  This is also a good time to gather the tools you will need to grill the chicken, like tongs, a basting brush, and a clean tray for when the chicken is done.
  3. Grill the chicken skin side down over indirect heat.  Don’t set the chicken directly over the flames (i.e., direct heat) because the fat from the skin will drip down and create flare-ups.  Grill the bone-in chicken breasts for 10-15 minutes on the first side (7-10 minutes if cooking smaller cuts like chicken legs and thighs), then flip and grill for another 7-10 minutes over indirect heat.
  4. Finish the chicken by grilling over direct heat on the other side of the grill directly over the flame or charcoal.  Grill skin-side down, just until the skin is well browned and crisp, about 3-5 minutes, watching carefully for flare-ups, then flip and baste with Alabama white BBQ sauce during the last few minutes of cooking, until the breasts reach 165 degrees F. when tested with an instant read meat thermometer.  Move the meat back over indirect heat if it needs more time to finish cooking.
  5. Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before serving, then serve with extra white BBQ sauce on the side.

An image of a plate of grilled chicken with Alabama White BBQ Sauce and a platter of corn on the cob.

What to Serve with Barbecued Chicken

  • Cornbread
  • Corn on the cob
  • Southern Tomato Pie
  • Summer Fruit Salad
  • Lemonade
  • Baked Beans
4.46 from 11 votes
Alabama White BBQ Sauce is a tangy, creamy twist on traditional barbecue sauce recipe.  It's delicious on grilled chicken, pulled pork, fish, burgers, and lots more!
Print
Alabama White BBQ Sauce
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

Alabama White BBQ Sauce is a tangy, creamy twist on traditional barbecue sauce recipe.  It's delicious on grilled chicken, pulled pork, fish, burgers, and lots more!  This recipe is perfect for 4 large chicken breasts, but you may want to double the recipe if you are grilling for a crowd!

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Southern
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 259 kcal
Author: Amy Nash, House of Nash Eats
Ingredients
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
  • 2 teaspoons cream style horseradish
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together until smooth.  Transfer to a jar with a tight lid and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 1 week.  Brush on chicken while grilling, or use with fish or other meat, or as a salad dressing or dip for fries.

Recipe Notes

I have subbed up to half of the mayo with Greek yogurt with good results.

Nutrition Facts
Alabama White BBQ Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 259 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 466mg 19%
Potassium 7mg 0%
Vitamin A 1.3%
Vitamin C 0.5%
Calcium 0.3%
Iron 0.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

LET’S CONNECT!!

I’d love it if you FOLLOWED House of Nash Eats on INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK | TWITTER.

If you try this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. Getting feedback from you helps me and other readers too! And if you’re on Pinterest, feel free to leave a comment and photo there if you have one! Also, if you share on INSTAGRAM, use the hashtag #houseofnasheats and tag me (@houseofnasheats) so I can stop by and give your post some love. Thank you!!!

Like what you see here? Be sure to sign up to join my mailing list so you don't miss out on more recipes like this one!

More from my site

  • Rhubarb BBQ Sauce Grilled ChickenRhubarb BBQ Sauce Grilled Chicken
  • Smothered Pork Chops RecipeSmothered Pork Chops Recipe
  • Pecan Pie Cheesecake BarsPecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
Pin2K
Share127
Tweet7
Flip
Share2
+1
2K Shares

Filed Under: Alabama, American, American Eats, BBQ, Gluten-free, Recipes, Sauces, Southern Tagged With: Alabama white barbecue sauce, Alabama White BBQ Sauce, barbecue sauce, BBQ sauce, how to grill bone-in chicken breasts, white barbecue sauce

« Southern Tomato Pie
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids says

    May 17, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    Yum! I can’t wait to try this the next time I make ribs or shredded pork!

    Reply
  2. Kitty says

    May 18, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    I have never seen anything like this before, but I do love horseradish, almost as much as I love BBQ. I will totally have to pull this out for a twist on Memorial Day grilling.

    Reply
  3. Tamara Andersen says

    May 19, 2018 at 10:25 am


    I’m a huge fan of Carolina BBQ (all the vinegar!), so this BBQ sauce is very appealing to me… I love the addition of horseradish! I also love your idea of an America Eats series. Fun!

    Reply
  4. prasanna hede says

    May 19, 2018 at 10:48 am

    This sauce looks like a keeper,will definitely save this for when i will make bbq!

    Reply
  5. Jenni LeBaron says

    May 19, 2018 at 3:03 pm

    White BBQ sauce is one of my favorite things to make in the summer because it goes so well on so many things we grill. Your recipe looks fantastic!

    Reply
  6. Leslie Haasch says

    May 19, 2018 at 5:35 pm

    Giiiiiiiiiirl, yes! I already have an entire meal planned out in my head to use this on – so excited to try it out!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      May 21, 2018 at 5:55 am

      Yay! Ha, I’m the same way where I will see one recipe and immediately think of all the others I want to make to go with it!

      Reply
  7. Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says

    May 20, 2018 at 3:31 pm


    A few years ago I visited the Southern Living test kitchen studio in Birmingham, Alabama. They took us to a restaurant nearby called Jukes BBQ Joint and it had the best white bbq sauce I’ve ever tried! We always order this with our barbecue when we pass through on our way to the Gulf Shores every year and I’m excited I can make this at home now!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      May 21, 2018 at 5:54 am

      That’s so cool that you got to visit the Southern Living test kitchen studio! I’m glad you tried the white bbq sauce while you were there in Alabama!

      Reply
  8. Carol Borchardt says

    May 20, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    So, I live in Memphis and it’s all about the bark, the wet mop, etc. I’ve heard about white barbecue sauces but never tried them and by the looks of this recipe, I clearly need to!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      May 21, 2018 at 5:53 am

      It’s so interesting how each region has it’s own emphasis when it comes to BBQ!

      Reply
      • Jason Conway says

        January 7, 2019 at 5:04 pm

        Follow Zagat on YouTube. They go to each area and you get to learn about the differences

        Reply
  9. Anne Murphy says

    May 20, 2018 at 6:46 pm


    White barbecue sauce? Intriguing! No added sugar? OK, I need this! For the first time I live in a house with a patio – and am looking at getting a small grill and learning to use it, so this recipe (and the directions for the chicken breast) come just at the right time!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      May 21, 2018 at 5:51 am

      How fun that you get to start grilling in your new place! We used to live in a little condo and had a tabletop grill that we cooked on often on our tiny patio. So many good food memories with that thing!

      Reply
  10. lauren says

    May 20, 2018 at 7:19 pm


    This looks awesome! We love BBQ but I’ve never had white sauce before. It sounds positively amazing and such a good addition to bbq comfort food. We will definitely be trying it this week!

    Reply
  11. Sam | Ahead of Thyme says

    May 20, 2018 at 9:37 pm

    You had me at BBQ! Can’t believe the sauce is white, so creative!! Can’t wait to use this next time I fire up the grill, yum!

    Reply
  12. Julie says

    May 21, 2018 at 12:32 am

    I’m so used to BBQ sauce being some shade of red or brown that I’m having a hard time mentally classifying this as BBQ sauce! But I really love horseradish, so I bet I would love this as a great way to spice up normally bland grilled chicken!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      May 21, 2018 at 5:47 am

      Yes, it’s definitely a bit of a shocker to use a white sauce instead of a red one! But if you think of BBQ as a cooking technique and sauce used to baste meat cooked using that technique, then it makes sense why this would be called BBQ sauce even though it’s not tomato based.

      Reply
  13. Michelle Blackwood says

    May 21, 2018 at 1:19 am


    I have never had white barbecue sauce before, the ingredients sound very flavorful and I love mayo so much that I believe this will be a huge hit

    Reply
  14. Kushi says

    May 21, 2018 at 12:39 pm


    Such a lovely combonation of ingredients. Looks amazing. Can’t wait to try this out

    Reply
  15. Erin @ The Speckled Palate says

    May 22, 2018 at 6:56 pm


    This barbecue sauce just makes me so happy! While a white BBQ sauce isn’t traditional in Memphis or Texas, I cannot wait to give this a try because I know it’s gonna be yummy.

    Reply
  16. Caroline @ Pinch Me, I'm Eating! says

    May 29, 2018 at 3:12 pm


    As a South Carolinian, I’ve been a diehard fan of mustard-based BBQ sauce my whole life – but I have never made Alabama white BBQ sauce! I will have to give it a shot – it certainly looks delicious! And thanks for the tips on grilling chicken too — I am not yet a grilling pro so that will definitely help!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      May 30, 2018 at 9:46 pm

      Lol – I know your love of mustard-based BBQ sauce runs deep!

      Reply
  17. Amber says

    August 26, 2018 at 11:07 am

    Been waiting on Arkansas for a while now. Can’t wait to see what you post!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 27, 2018 at 4:16 pm

      I’m so glad you are enjoying this series! I meant to do Arkansas earlier but got a little behind with school starting back up again! The first Arkansas post is up now though and I will be sharing more throughout the week! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Jessica says

    September 1, 2018 at 6:02 pm


    I made this today, but I found the flavor of mayo and vinegar to be overwhelming so, I added 1/2 cup sour cream, then I ended up doubling everything except the mayo and vinegar. By the time I was done I had added 1 tsp. Onion powder, 1/4 tsp. Worcentershire sauce, and since I remember the white sauce I had in Alabama growing up, having a bit of heat outside of the horseradish, and I was out of cayenne pepper, I added a few dashes of habanero sauce I got from my trip to Mexico. THEN, it became the sauce my family used to make. Not that this isn’t good for some, but for me, it was just lacking and tasted like it belonged used as coleslaw dressing not a BBQ sauce. I used it as a dipping sauce/sauce for my smoked wings and pulled pork at a big bbq I did, my sauce was gone before I new it with people asking for more. I didn’t expect it to go over as well as it did, but they killed it! Note to self: make more of this! I still have plenty of traditional bbq sauce if anyone needs any. Lol! Enjoy!!!

    Reply
  19. Ashley says

    January 15, 2019 at 4:35 pm


    I agree with Jessica above. The taste of mayonnaise was very overwhelming so I followed her recipe and it became a lot better but I will not make this again.

    Reply
  20. PatriciaRN says

    January 16, 2019 at 2:54 pm


    Wonderful 5 Star recipe! Alabama White BBQ Sauce is the bomb! Thank you for clarifying the mystery of tender, juicy, golden and crispy grilled chicken. This recipe is a keeper! My only changes included adding 1 tsp raw sugar to the BBQ sauce and 1 clove crushed garlic. Again, many thanks!

    Reply
  21. Bob says

    February 3, 2019 at 7:21 am

    Old grouchy guy here. Why can’t I just get the recipe at the top so I don’t have to endure pages and pages of flowery b.s. before I get to it and find that its not what I want?

    Reply
    • Amy says

      February 4, 2019 at 9:51 pm

      I understand your frustration, Bob. If you look at the top of the recipes on my blog (and many other food blogs), you will notice a button that says “Jump to Recipe”. It’s right under the title. If you just click on that it will immediately take you straight to the recipe, skipping everything else. I hope that helps in the future.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Amy. I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking. Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe by email

Looking for Inspiration?

Strawberry Pineapple Coconut Swirl Popsicles

Keep summer going strong by making these Strawberry Pineapple Coconut Swirl Popsicles!  They are a fun, fruity frozen treat that are as tasty to eat as they are pretty to look at!

All-American Hamburger with Crispy Onion Strings & Burger Sauce

This All-American Hamburger with Crispy Onion Strings & Burger Sauce is incredibly juicy, loaded with delicious flavors, and is just the thing to kick off the summer grilling season!

Smoked Salmon Chowder

This rich, satisfying Smoked Salmon Chowder is a creamy, indulgent bowl of tender chunks of potato, bites of savory smoked salmon, and bursts of briny capers.  Serve it with some crusty bread (or better yet, in a bread bowl!) for a perfectly delicious meal that your whole family will enjoy!

Archives

Copyright

If you’d like to use a photo of mine, you are welcome to use one photo, as long as you link it back to the original post. Please let me know if you use a photo and definitely feel free to pin on Pinterest!

Please do not republish (verbatim) one of my recipes, unless you contact me in advance for permission. If you use one of my recipes as a source of inspiration for your own, please let me know – I’d love to see it!

You can get in touch with me at amy@houseofnasheats.com.

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Amy Nash is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com,

Footer

I'm Amy: former lawyer, now SAHM in the CA Bay Area. I love food, photography, books, travel, exercise, adoption and pie. Definitely pie. Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You will want to make this crowd-pleasing Strawberry Pretzel Icebox Pie all Spring and Summer long!  It's a delicious frozen dessert made with a strawberry cream cheese filling inside a salty-sweet pretzel crust.  Then the fluffy pink pie is topped with clouds of freshly whipped cream for a simple but tasty dessert that is perfect for Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day or basically any time the weather gets warm!
Celebrate any special occasion with a decorated Giant Cookie!  Perfect for birthdays, graduations, and holidays, a giant chocolate chip cookie is always sure to put a smile on that special somebody's face!
The best Key Lime Pie recipe is made from scratch with a buttery graham cracker crust, real key lime juice and zest, and a smooth and creamy filling that is the perfect balance of tart and sweet.  

Copyright © 2019 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress