My Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce that is perfect drizzled on your favorite smoked pork or chicken. It has a deep golden color and sharp mustard flavor. It’s so good I guarantee you’ll be making batch after batch of this amazing sauce.
What is Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce?
Carolina style mustard BBQ sauce is a sauce made with mustard, vinegar, sweetener, and spices. It originated in South Carolina (hence the name), and it is a golden sauce perfect for all your grilled and smoked meats. Carolina-style indicates its made with vinegar instead of the ketchup and molasses-based sauces popular in the mid and southwest.
Both North Carolina and South Carolina have their own BBQ sauce specific to their region, and South Carolina’s sauce is known for its use of mustard and vinegar that gives it its sharp taste and rich golden color.
The combo of the ingredients make this sauce the perfect BBQ sauce for pork, chicken, beef and more. It’s sweet, tangy, sour, and can be adjusted to have just a bit of heat as well.
Mustard Based BBQ Sauce
All BBQ sauces have a base that gives it its distinct flavor. The most popular type of modern BBQ sauce is ketchup based. Most BBQ sauces you’ll find in the grocery store are some combination of ketchup, vinegar, herbs, and spices. Alabama White Sauce is mayonnaise based, instead of tomato based, which gives it a great creamy flavor profile.
But in South Carolina, their sauce is mustard based. Mustard based BBQ sauces add an extra element to BBQ sauce that you don’t always get from the more “traditional” sauces. BBQ sauce needs to have that tangy, sweet, occasionally hot flavor to compliment the richness of the meat, and Carolina mustard sauce has all this and more.
If you haven’t yet tried Carolina mustard BBQ sauce, now is the time to give it a go. I guarantee you’ll love the flavor and be amazed at how quick the recipe comes together.
Homemade Mustard BBQ Sauce
Making your own homemade BBQ sauce doesn’t need to be a chore, and this recipe is no different! Carolina style BBQ sauce is extremely easy to whip up, and you likely have most of the ingredients already in your fridge and pantry.
- Begin by gathering all ingredients and combining them in a small saucepan.
- Stir/cook to combine, allowing the flavors to blend together for 5 minutes on low heat.
- Allow to cool.
- Transfer sauce into airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
When making my own sauces, I prefer to store them in these Wide Mouth Mason Jars to keep them fresh and tasting delicious. I love this sauce on pulled pork, burgers, ribs, and so much more!
More BBQ Sauce Recipes
Interested in recipes for more BBQ sauces from all over America? Check out more of my delicious sauce recipes:
Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce
Zesty Alabama White Sauce
Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
Or, if you prefer buying your sauces pre-made, check out my store, Patio Provisions, to see my collection of tasty sauces:
Apple Jalapeno BBQ Sauce
Whiskey Peach BBQ Sauce
Everything BBQ Sauce
Best Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe
Let’s make something delicious! I’m all about helping you create the best BBQ possible for the people you love. If you want to see more of my recipes, tips, and behind the scenes action, follow along on my social channels. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoon ketchup
- 2 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce ((I used Cholula))
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sized saucepan. Cook over medium low heat, stirring frequently for 5 minutes. You don't want the sauce to boil or reduce, the heat is just to ensure the sugars melt and distribute evenly throughout the sauce.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and allow to cool. Transfer to a lidded jar. BBQ sauce will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
