Alabama White Sauce
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If you’ve never had Alabama White Sauce before, prepare to fall in love. This creamy, tangy barbecue sauce is unlike anything you’ve probably had. Instead of the typical tomato-based BBQ sauce, this one starts with mayonnaise and gets its bold flavor from apple cider vinegar, horseradish, lemon juice, and just the right amount of seasoning.
Alabama White Sauce Recipe
Alabama White Sauce
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It’s cool, creamy, bright, and absolutely incredible on chicken. Once you try it, you’ll find yourself looking for excuses to make another batch. It takes about five minutes to whisk together, and after a little time in the refrigerator, the flavors come together into something truly special.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This simple white bbq sauce is incredibly easy to make with pantry staples, there’s no cooking required, and it keeps well in the refrigerator for days. The flavor is creamy and tangy with just enough zip from the horseradish without being spicy.
Best of all, it transforms plain grilled chicken into something that tastes restaurant-worthy. It’s also surprisingly versatile. While chicken is the classic pairing, don’t stop there!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mayonnaise
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lemon juice
- White granulated sugar
- Prepared horseradish
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt & Pepper
Step By Step Directions
- Simply whisk all of the ingredients together until smooth and well combined.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. That chill time lets all of the flavors blend together, and the sauce tastes even better after it has had a little time to rest.
What Is Alabama White Sauce?
Alabama White Sauce originated in northern Alabama and has become famous as a barbecue sauce for smoked and grilled chicken.
Unlike traditional barbecue sauces that are tomato-based, this version is built around mayonnaise. The vinegar adds brightness, the lemon keeps it fresh, and the horseradish gives it just enough bite to keep every bite interesting.
The result is rich without feeling heavy and tangy without being overpowering.
Can I Make It Spicy?
Absolutely. This version is intentionally mild, making it perfect for the whole family. If you’d like to turn up the heat, try adding:
- Extra prepared horseradish
- Cayenne pepper
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- A dash of your favorite hot sauce
Start with a small amount, you can always add more.
Storage Tips
Store leftover Alabama White Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Give it a quick stir before serving since a little separation is perfectly normal. Because it’s mayonnaise-based, keep it refrigerated whenever you’re not serving it.
More Delicious Dipping Sauces
- Chick Fil A Sauce Recipe
- Jalapeno Ranch Dressing Dip
- Big Mac Sauce Recipe
- Bang Bang Sauce Recipe
- Buffalo Sauce Recipe
- See all our easy dip recipes!
How To Make Alabama White Sauce
Alabama White Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- Juice of ½ a lemon about 1 tablespoon
- 2 teaspoons white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, prepared horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper until smooth and fully combined.
- Cover the bowl or transfer the sauce to an airtight container.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Stir before serving and enjoy with grilled chicken, smoked chicken, pork, burgers, sandwiches, or as a dipping sauce.
Notes
- This is a mild Alabama White Sauce. For a spicier version, add extra prepared horseradish, ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Fresh lemon juice provides the brightest flavor.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. - Do not freeze, as mayonnaise-based sauces will separate when thawed.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Tools We Love
- Mason Jars – Wide mouth mason jars are my favorite way to prepare and store dressings!
- Stick Blender – I love an emulsified salad dressing, so smooth and no whisking necessary.
What to Serve with Alabama White Sauce
While this sauce was practically made for chicken, it’s delicious on so much more.
Try serving it with:
- Smoked chicken thighs or smoked chicken drumsticks
- Crispy chicken thighs
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Fried jalapeno bottle caps
- Baked chicken wings or air fryer chicken wings
- Air fryer frozen french fries, Air fryer french fries from scratch, Potato wedges
- Turkey wrap
It’s also fantastic as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders or fresh vegetables.
Tips for the Best Alabama White Sauce
Use good-quality mayonnaise since it’s the main ingredient and makes a big difference in flavor.
Fresh lemon juice gives the brightest flavor, but bottled will work in a pinch.
Don’t skip the chilling time. An hour really allows the vinegar, lemon, and seasonings to mellow and come together into that classic Alabama White Sauce flavor.
If you’re serving this with grilled chicken, brush a little on during the last minute of cooking and then serve extra on the side for dipping.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for something different to serve at your next cookout, this Alabama White Sauce Recipe deserves a spot on the table. It’s one of those recipes that’s almost too easy for how good it tastes, and once your family tries it on grilled chicken, they’ll be asking for it all summer long.
Frequently asked questions
Not this version. It has a slight kick from the prepared horseradish, but it’s very mild. You can easily make it spicier by adding more horseradish, cayenne, or red pepper flakes.
Yes! In fact, it’s even better after it’s been refrigerated for a few hours or overnight.
No. Because it’s mayonnaise-based, freezing will change the texture and cause it to separate once thawed.
It’s creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and full of bright, savory flavor. Think of it as somewhere between a barbecue sauce and a creamy sandwich spread, with a little extra zing.
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