Tangy and peppery with punches of flavor, this Carolina BBQ Sauce is a classic in South Carolina and will upgrade your chicken or pork dishes! With a beautiful golden color and a hint of sweetness from brown sugar, this will taste much better than the stuff you find in a bottle! It comes together within 10 minutes and tastes even better the next day.
Fun fact about the BBQ Sauce: It was created because of the German immigrants who settled in South Carolina! Though the history isn’t evident, it’s clear that the combination of mustard and pork has a long-standing tradition that carries on even today with this BBQ sauce recipe. There is a difference between North Carolina and South Carolina BBQ sauces. North Carolina’s sauce is spicy with a vinegar base, while South Carolina’s is mustard based with apple cider vinegar. This recipe is made with household ingredients, so you don’t really have to worry about running to the grocery store to pick the ingredients up.
How to make Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
This sauce is tangy and sweet, and takes less than 10 minutes to come together. It can be used as a dip, marinade, or sauce for pulled pork or chicken. (Full ingredient amounts and complete instructions are available in the recipe card down below).
- Yellow Mustard: The key ingredient for this BBQ sauce
- Ketchup: For a savory note. This was based on my preference. I felt that the sauce needed a bit of ketchup!
- Garlic Powder
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This is another key ingredient to the BBQ sauce. It has a nice sweet and tangy note to it.
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Honey & Brown Sugar: Used for the sweetness notes. You can adjust the measurements to your preference.
- Salt
- Cayenne Pepper: I only used a dash. You can add more or none at all, depending on how spicy you want it.
Whisk all ingredients together in a small sauce pot. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Remove the sauce from the stove and let it cool. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Tips & FAQs
- Storage: Store in a mason jar or airtight container for up to two weeks. This does not freeze.
- Reheat: Heat in a small saucepot on medium-low heat until heated through.
- What can I use this sauce for? You can use it as a dip for soft pretzels or chips. Put it onto some pulled pork or grilled chicken and make it a sandwich. Marinade fish, chicken, or pork chops in this sauce. Try tossing some chicken wings in this!
- Is this spicy? Not really. There’s a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, but you can add more or less if you prefer spice. The sauce is just tangy and sweet, which makes it perfect for pulled pork sandwiches.
Want the recipe? Click print below! Let me know how it came out for you by tagging me on Instagram (@missravenskitchen) and using #missravenskitchen! Follow my Facebook page for updates as well! Let me know if I need to tweak anything.
Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Whisk the ingredients together in a small saucepot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low to simmer. Allow simmering for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Pour it into a mason jar and refrigerate for one day to allow the flavors to come together, or serve immediately.
Notes
Storage: Store in a mason jar or airtight container for up to two weeks. This does not freeze.
- Reheat: Heat in a small saucepot on medium-low heat until heated through.
What can I use this sauce for? You can use it as a dip for soft pretzels or chips. Put it onto some pulled pork or grilled chicken and make it a sandwich. Marinade fish, chicken, or pork chops in this sauce. Try tossing some chicken wings in this!
Is this spicy? Not really. There’s a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, but you can add more or less if you prefer spice. The sauce is just tangy and sweet, which makes it perfect for pulled pork sandwiches.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
153.49Fat (grams)
2.11Sat. Fat (grams)
0.16Carbs (grams)
33.11Fiber (grams)
2.79Net carbs
30.34Sugar (grams)
29.34Protein (grams)
2.88Sodium (milligrams)
1097.01Cholesterol (grams)
0The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and the brands of ingredients used.
Miss Raven's Kitchen 
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