Carolina Gold Barbecue Sauce - This tangy sauce is made from just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have! Following this easy recipe, you'll have a great condiment for pork chops, chicken wings, and of course, all things barbecued.
I grew up with Carolina bbq sauce, or at least, the kind from eastern North Carolina, with it's distinctive vinegar taste. When I was a kid, I didn't even know that barbecue was anything other than pork butt, slow smoked and served as a pulled pork sandwich with crunchy coleslaw. Since then, I've been blessed to discover pork ribs, beef brisket, and a veritable cornucopia of other slow smoked delights. I've learned that Regional barbecue sauces and BBQ joints are an essential and vital part of American food culture, and this Carolina gold sauce is a personal favorite.
We love barbecue recipes, so the next time that you're thinking of firing up the grill, check us out! Homemade BBQ sauce is easy to make, whether it's Western Carolina style, or this one with dried cherries and chiles. Tri-tip beef on the smoker is one of our favorites, as well as chicken wings, and baby back ribs.
Jump to:
A Mustard Based Barbecue Sauce?
Most everyone is very familiar with traditional tomato-based BBQ sauces, but what's this about a mustard base? The origin story, as I understand it, has to do with the deluge of German immigrants that helped establish central South Carolina. This golden sauce is a result of their love of mustard as a primary ingredient. The combination of yellow mustard, sweet ingredients like brown sugar and/or honey, apple cider vinegar and spices in perfect balance qualifies this as a traditional BBQ sauce.
Classic yellow mustard is my favorite way to keep smoked meats moist. Smearing a layer on the outside before cooking creates a protective "pellicle" on the outside. In this sense, Carolina gold is the best BBQ sauce for really unctuous pork sandwiches.
Ingredients
One of our favorite things is to create recipes that rely on pantry staples, making it super easy and convenient to whip them up, and this Carolina mustard BBQ sauce is no exception!
- Mustard - classic yellow mustard is really the best type of mustard here. that tangy and uncomplicated flavor really helps your barbecued and grilled meats sing. honey mustard is just too sweet, and spicy brown, while perfect for hot dogs, is just too complex.
- Vinegar - apple cider vinegar has the best level of acidity and flavor for mustard sauce.
- Brown Sugar - while this is not really a sweet sauce, some sweetness is required for a good balance.
- Honey - some local wildflower honey gives some complexity, and gives the finished golden BBQ sauce a nice stickiness.
- Garlic - granulated garlic powder.
- Black Pepper - freshly ground, of course.
- Onion Powder - fresh onion adds too much water to the finished sauce.
- Cayenne Pepper - if you'd like a more spicy sauce, adjust the amount to taste.
- Ketchup (Optional, not shown) - we added a little tomato to our recipe with this ingredient.
See recipe card for quantities.
Newest Recipe!
Chorizo Queso Blanco Dip Recipe
This is a cheese lover's dream! It's loaded with spicy Mexican chorizo, roasted green chiles, and Mexican cheeses. It's perfect for your next game day menu, or a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Instructions
Whipping up this sauce recipe is incredibly simple! It's done in a few minutes, with no knife work, and even minimal clean up!
- Step 1: Put everything into a bowl and mix it up.
- Step 2: Bring it to a light simmer over medium heat, remove it from the stove and let the sauce cool down.
And that's it! It's now ready to use as a marinade, basting sauce, or as a table condiment.
Helpful Hint
This really is the kind of sauce that benefits greatly from some time in storage. For best results, we suggest making this at least one day before using it. As it sits, the flavors really marry and meld together beautifully.
This Carolina gold BBQ sauce recipe is vegan, low carb, and gluten free.
Variations
One of the many joys of making your own sauces is the creative freedom you have. Here are just a few ways to change this recipe up.
- Spicy - Hot sauce, like Frank's red hot, can make this a little more piquant. Just make sure to adjust the vinegar level accordingly, since they are vinegar based. Chili flakes, more cayenne pepper, or even chipotle pepper, (for heat and smokiness!), would also do the trick.
- Worcestershire Sauce - This is quite often an ingredient in many mustard barbecue sauces, as it is a brilliant flavor booster. We chose not to use it in this recipe because it contains anchovies and gluten. If you're not concerned about these dietary restrictions, it really is delish!
Storage
Store this sauce in an airtight container, (like a mason jar), in the refrigerator and it will stay fresh for at least 14 days.
More Inspiration
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Condiments & Seasonings
- Western North Carolina Style Vinegar BBQ Sauce Recipe
- Easy Homemade Dairy-Free/Gluten-Free Salad Dressing
- Best Creamy Homemade Horseradish Sauce Recipe
- Dark Chocolate Ganache
Recipe
Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Spoon
- 1 Medium Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- 1 pinch granulated garlic
- 1 Tbsp. ketchup optional
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together thoroughly.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, bring sauce to a simmer to dissolve brown sugar and marry flavors.
- Chill to room temperature and store in refrigerator.
Jason Miller says
Great simple recipe!