Carolina Style Barbecue Sauce

Dive into the tangy, bold flavors of Carolina Style Barbecue Sauce, a Southern classic that perfectly balances sweet, spicy, and savory notes. Made with apple cider vinegar as its tangy backbone, this mustard-based sauce gets a luscious kick from yellow mustard, a touch of ketchup, and a hint of brown sugar sweetness. Enhanced with honey, Worcestershire sauce, and optional hot sauce for extra heat, it’s a flavor-packed complement to any barbecue spread. The warm spices—paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder—add depth, while a quick simmer ensures all the ingredients meld beautifully. Perfect for drizzling over pulled pork, grilled chicken, or ribs, this easy-to-make homemade sauce is ready in just 20 minutes and stores well for up to a week. Try it for your next cookout and experience authentic Carolina barbecue flavor!

Nutriscore Rating: 62/100

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup Apple cider vinegar
• 0.5 cup Yellow mustard
• 0.25 cup Ketchup
• 0.25 cup Brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Honey
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Hot sauce (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.5 cup Water

Directions

Step 1

In a medium saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar. Whisk together until smooth.

Step 2

Add honey, Worcestershire sauce, and (if using) hot sauce to the mixture. Stir well.

Step 3

Sprinkle in the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until all spices are evenly incorporated.

Step 4

Add water to the saucepan to thin out the sauce slightly. Stir to combine.

Step 5

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.

Step 6

Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let the sauce cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 7

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, such as adding more vinegar for tanginess or more honey for sweetness.

Step 8

Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the sauce to cool slightly before serving.

Step 9

Serve warm or at room temperature with your favorite barbecue dishes. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(643.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	479.7

Total Fat 4.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3038.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 107.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 4.0g	0%
Total Sugars 85.3g
Protein 5.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 165.6mg	0%
Iron 5.0mg	0%
Potassium 742.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 8.9%

Protein: 4.8%

Carbs: 86.4%