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Golden, tangy, and just the right touch of sweet — Carolina BBQ sauce is a Southern icon with a mustard kick! It’s the kind of sauce that belongs on pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and even a backyard burger. At about 30 cents a serving, homemade Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce beats any store-bought bottle on flavor and price!
Pile your buns high and build juicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches and serve with a scoop of Amish Potato Salad — it’s a pairing you’ll come back to again and again!
Table of Contents
- What Makes Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce a Southern Staple
- Why This Carolina BBQ Sauce Hits All the Right Notes
- What You’ll Need to Make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
- Variations
- Step-by-Step: How to Make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
- Recipe FAQs
- Sauce Things Up and Serve
- Expert Tips
- More Homemade BBQ Sauces and Southern Specialties to Try
- Sweet and Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce (Mustard-Based Classic) Recipe
What Makes Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce a Southern Staple
When you think of Southern BBQ, you might picture smoky ribs, sizzling pork butt, or juicy grilled chicken. But Carolina BBQ sauce brings something extra to the table — a bold, tangy mustard-based sauce that cuts through all that richness like a champ.
Born in the Carolinas — especially South Carolina thanks to German immigrants who turned yellow mustard into BBQ gold — this classic sauce leans on simple pantry ingredients: yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, and a little cayenne for some kick.
It’s bold, a little sweet, a little tangy, and just spicy enough to keep you reaching for another bite. Think Southern comfort food with attitude — not heavy or syrupy like Kansas City sauces, and not just vinegar like Eastern Carolina styles.
Why This Carolina BBQ Sauce Hits All the Right Notes
- Balanced Flavors: The blend of yellow mustard, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar creates a sweet, tangy sauce that’s perfect for pork, chicken, or beef — especially when you’re serving a full spread off the grill.
- Simple Ingredients: All you need are basic pantry staples, so there’s no need for fancy or hard-to-find spices.
- Quick and Easy: In under 30 minutes, you can have a jar of homemade Carolina BBQ sauce ready to go, with enough flavors to complement everything from ribs to a quick BBQ chicken meal. Let it mellow overnight and it’s pure Carolina gold!
What You’ll Need to Make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Here are the essential ingredients you’ll need for this Carolina BBQ sauce. Don’t worry, nothing too complicated—just the good stuff!
- Yellow mustard – the heart and soul of the sauce.
- Light brown sugar – for that perfect sweet balance.
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cayenne pepper – for heat without going overboard.
- Black pepper
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Low Calorie – To reduce the calories, try using a sugar substitute, or skip the honey for a more vinegar-forward flavor profile.
- Vegan Version – Swap honey for maple syrup.
- This Carolina mustard BBQ sauce is naturally gluten-free.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Grab what you need and let’s stir up something worth bragging about.
1
Combine
In a medium saucepan, whisk together all the ingredients—2 cups yellow mustard, 1/2 cup each of apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and honey, and then a few dashes each (measure with your heart) of both peppers.
2
Cook (simmer)
Warm the sauce gently over low heat, stirring now and then, until the sugar and honey melt completely and the mixture just begins to bubble. A slow simmer brings the flavors together and softens the sharpness of the vinegar.
Enjoy some and tweak! Add more heat (cayenne or hot sauce) if it’s mild, or more honey/sugar if it’s too sharp. Southern cooks often say “taste as you go.”
3
Once it reaches a light simmer, remove the saucepan from the heat. Let it cool to room temperature for about an hour before transferring it to a jar or container for storage. This is Southern BBQ magic with just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of simmer time!
4
Bring That Carolina Gold to the Table!
Enjoy your Carolina BBQ sauce on anything—from pulled pork sandwiches to hot dogs or a simple grilled chicken dinner.
Recipe FAQs
North Carolina sauce is usually vinegar-based and thinner, while South Carolina loves this thicker, mustard-based style full of sweet-tangy punch.
Plain yellow mustard is authentic. Dijon or brown mustard will make the flavor (and color) quite different. Anything other than yellow is not recommended.
Absolutely. This sauce is perfect as a marinade or dipping sauce for grilled or smoked chicken thighs, chicken breasts, pork ribs — even brisket or pork chops if you’re feeling generous.
No, it’s not safe for canning. The mix of mustard, vinegar, and sugar lowers the acidity too much for safe shelf storage. It’s best to refrigerate it in a clean jar and use it within 1 to 3 months.
Sauce Things Up and Serve
Slather this tangy mustard BBQ sauce on slow-cooked pulled pork sandwiches. It’s just as good tossed with shredded BBQ chicken — follow my method for Alabama Chopped Chicken Sandwiches — just swap the white sauce for this tangy mustard BBQ instead. Round out your plate with a spoonful of Pickle Macaroni Salad, and don’t forget a wedge of buttery cornbread. Feeling snacky? Warm the sauce a little and use it as a dip for onion rings or roasted Brussels sprouts.
Little Tip: I serve a salad dressing version of this sauce on this Sweet Potato & Steak Salad – seriously, not to be missed!
Looking for drink pairings? Pair this tangy Carolina BBQ sauce with a cold glass of beer—something crisp and refreshing like a pilsner or a hoppy IPA. If you’re looking for something non-alcoholic, try iced tea or lemonade for that perfect Southern BBQ vibe.
Expert Tips
- Use good-quality yellow mustard — classic ballpark-style works best for authentic flavor, but you can also try artisan yellow mustards if you want a deeper or sharper flavor.
- Let the sauce cool completely before jarring — it thickens as it cools, and the flavors mellow out beautifully.
- Store it properly — keep it refrigerated in an airtight jar; it stays good for about 1 to 3 months.
- Allow the sauce to sit overnight in the fridge if you can — the flavor gets deeper and even more balanced after resting.
- Warm the sauce slightly before serving to bring out its best aroma and silky texture.
More Homemade BBQ Sauces and Southern Specialties to Try
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Gratefully adapted from a recipe originally published by Southern Living Magazine.
Sweet and Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce (Mustard-Based Classic)
Ingredients
- 2 cups yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- several dashes cayenne, or to taste
- several dashes black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Grab a medium saucepan and whisk in the yellow mustard, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, a pinch of cayenne, and black pepper.2 cups yellow mustard, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, several dashes cayenne, several dashes black pepper
- Set the pan over low heat and stir every so often. You’re aiming for gentle warmth, not a rolling boil. When the brown sugar and honey melt and the sauce just starts to bubble, you're there — about 5 to 10 minutes. Tip: If it starts to smell like you’re making candy, dial the heat back.
- Give it a quick taste. Want it sweeter? Add a drizzle more honey. Need more bite? A tiny splash more of cider vinegar never hurts. Feel like sweating a little? Go ahead and bump the cayenne. Keep it at a low simmer for another minute or two, stirring often. This is where the flavors shake hands and settle in together — a proper Southern meet-and-greet. Tip: Adjust gently — you can always add more, but you can’t take it back once it’s swimming in there.
- Take the pan off the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature. It’ll thicken up as it cools. I give it 1 full hour. Pour the cooled sauce into a clean jar or airtight container. Pop it in the fridge for a couple of hours to let everything settle in properly. Overnight is best. Stored right, it’ll stay good for up to 3 months — if you don’t eat it all before then.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Woo! Woo! Looking forward to the weekend and your easy peasy Dutch oven pulled pork! Big hugs
…how did I somehow know this? lol 😉 Jenny