Homemade Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

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My Carolina Gold BBQ sauce is made at home with a mustard base, apple cider vinegar, a little honey, and spices! It’s a South Carolina staple that we love putting on shredded chicken sandwiches, pizza, and dipping fried chicken into.

There’s a BBQ restaurant named Martin’s BBQ here in Nashville that serves gold BBQ sauce as an option on the side of their meals. It’s so good on anything from brisket fries to pulled pork, so I wanted to make it at home!

This would be a great swap for the white BBQ sauce on Alabama white chicken bacon pizza and for the red BBQ sauce in shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. It’s a mustard base BBQ sauce recipe: the mustard base gives it such a delicious unique flavor!
2. Only takes 2 minutes: You can whip this recipe up in just minutes, it’s perfect if you’re in a rush.
3. No heating necessary: You can warm this sauce but it’s optional.
4. Made with wholesome ingredients: Each ingredient is wholesome making this a good, clean BBQ sauce.
5. Better than store-bought: You don’t have any junky additives or colorings in this homemade sauce like you would in the store-bought.

Ingredients

• yellow mustard: I like to use organic yellow mustard
• apple cider vinegar: I like to get a raw apple cider vinegar with the mother
• honey: raw, unfiltered honey is best
• sea salt: this is a great wholesome salt option
• ground black pepper: you can use freshly cracked or already ground
• garlic powder: make sure it’s salt-free
• cayenne pepper: just a pinch gives it great flavor but doesn’t make is spicy

Tools You May Need

• small glass mixing bowl
• whisk
• Ball jar (I LOVE these for storing sauce!)

How to Make Homemade Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk until fully combined.

Use right away, warm on the stove if desired, or pour into an airtight glass jar. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

How to Serve with Carolina BBQ Sauce

I absolutely love using this barbecue sauce on chicken and sandwiches. Here are a few of our favorite recipes and ways to use it:

• Instead of the red BBQ, use it to make shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches.
• As a dipping sauce for oven-fried chicken tenders.
• As a sauce on smoky pulled chicken sliders.

My Tips

1. Read the recipe before getting started so you know what to expect.
2. Wait to make any adjustments until you’ve made it once.
3. Store it in a glass airtight jar instead of plastic. This helps preserve the flavor.
4. Make sure you whisk the sauce really well to ensure it’s completely combined.

How to Store

Store homemade BBQ sauce in an airtight container, preferably glass, for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Be sure to stir before each use; separation can occur.

Recipe FAQs

More Homemade Sauce Recipes

• Homemade Nashville BBQ Sauce
• Homemade Honey Mustard
• Alabama White BBQ Sauce
• Homemade Buffalo Sauce 
• Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

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