101 Cooking For Two

  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
ร—
๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Chicken Recipes

Alabama White Sauce Recipe

Updated: Jan 14, 2024 ยท Published: Jun 29, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 4 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Time: 45 minutes mins

This Alabama White Sauce Recipe combines mayonnaise, spices, and tangy apple cider vinegar for a great complement to chicken, pork, and other dishes.

Ingredients for sauce

Mayonnaise
Apple cider vinegar
Lemon juiceโ€”optional
Prepared horseradish
Pantry ingredientsโ€”sugar, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper to taste

Alabama Chicken with white BBQ Sauce on chicken leg,
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • Ingredients for sauce
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Alabama White Sauce and Alabama BBQ Chickenโ€”Step-by-Step
  • When to use Alabama white sauce?
  • Recipes to make where you can use Alabama white sauce
  • โ“FAQs
  • โ„๏ธHow to store leftover Alabama white sauce.
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

I love regional American food, and this is one of the bestโ€”hats off to Alabama. The perfect sauce for hickory smoked grilled chicken but can be used on fish and many other places.

White BBQ originated in north Alabama and was made famous by the historic barbecue joint Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, founded in Decatur, AL, in 1925 and continues to this day.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Alabama White Sauce and Alabama BBQ Chickenโ€”Step-by-Step

mixing mayo and spices in glass bowl.

Mix ยพ cup mayo, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons sugar, ยฝ teaspoon table salt, ยฝ teaspoon black pepper, ยฝ teaspoon horseradish, and ยผ teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Allow the flavors to come together for an hour before using if you have time. Refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Additional ingredients to cook Alabama White BBQ Chicken

  • Any skin-on chicken you like, butterflied whole chicken, cut-up whole chicken, or other chicken parts
  • Seasoning or rub for the chicken like my Chipotle Seasoning Recipe, Black Magic Seasoning, or any seasoning or rub you like. Just some salt, pepper, and a touch of cayenne will be good.
  • Wood chips for smokingโ€“hickory preferred
raw chicken seasoned with on black board

Prepare skin-on chicken for cooking by trimming as needed and applying a rub or seasoning of your choice.

raw chicken on grates of gas grill.

Place the chicken on a preheated 450ยฐ grill with the skin side up and start wood smoke if desired. Flip and rotate the chicken every 4-5 minutes until a final internal temperature of 165ยฐ.

brushing white BBQ sauce on cooked chicken.

Remove to a chopping board and coat all sides with sauceโ€”tent for 10 minutes with aluminum foil. Re-coat with sauce and serve the sauce on the side.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

When to use Alabama white sauce?

Sometimes called white barbecue sauce, Alabama white BBQ sauce. The sauce is delicious on grilled or smoked chicken or turkey. It can also be used on pork or seafood. Other uses: cole slaw as a salad dressing, dipping sauce, or condiment. It is so tasty; you will find your own creative use for this wonderful sauce.

Recipes to make where you can use Alabama white sauce

A few recipes where Alabama white sauce can be used include Spatchcock Chicken, Grilled Chicken Drumsticks, Grilled Split Chicken Breasts, Grilled Chicken Tenders, and Crispy Baked Chicken Wingsโ€”or used on grilled chicken sandwiches or grilled pork tenderloin sandwiches.

โ“FAQs

Is Alabama white sauce cooked?

No, unlike more traditional tomato-based BBQ sauces, it is not cooked. It is mixed and used cold. It can be brushed on grilling chicken near the end of cooking for a few minutes after reaching 165ยฐ or applied after removing it from the grill.

How long will Alabama white sauce last?

You can store sealed in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks refrigerated.

What to serve with Alabama white BBQ chicken?

Serve with typical BBQ side dishes like baked beans, potato salad, or cole slaw. Also, try French fries, Macaroni salad, or broccoli slaw.

Save this recipe!

Enter your email address and we'll send the link straight to your inbox!

โ„๏ธHow to store leftover Alabama white sauce.

You can store sealed in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks refrigerated. Freezing is not recommended.

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

BBQ Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Sauces, Rubs, and Seasonings Recipes

Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

Alabama Chicken with white BBQ Sauce on chicken leg

Alabama White Sauce

4.67 from 3 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
This Alabama White Sauce Recipe combines mayonnaise, spices, and tangy apple cider vinegar for a great complement to chicken, pork, and other dishes.
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjustable :16 tablespoons
Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric

Alabama White Sauce

  • ยพ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice - optional
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • ยฝ teaspoon table salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
  • ยฝ teaspoon prepared horseradish
  • ยผ teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste

If Making Alabama White BBQ Chicken

  • 2-3 pounds skin on chicken - cut up
  • 1 cup smoking chips - hickory prefered

Rub or seasoning of your choice or this simple seasoning

  • 2 teaspoons table salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions
 

  • Mix ยพ cup mayo, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons sugar, ยฝ teaspoon table salt, ยฝ teaspoon black pepper, ยฝ teaspoon horseradish, and ยผ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
    mixing mayo and spices in glass bowl.
  • Allow the flavors to come together for an hour before using if you have time. Refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

If Making Alabama White BBQ Chicken

  • Prepare skin-on chicken for cooking by trimming as needed and applying a rub or seasoning of your choice.
    raw chicken seasoned with on black board
  • Place the chicken on a preheated 450ยฐ grill with the skin side up and start wood smoke if desired. Flip and rotate the chicken every 4-5 minutes until a final internal temperature of 165ยฐ.
    raw chicken on grates of gas grill
  • Remove to a chopping board and coat all sides with sauceโ€”tent for 10 minutes with aluminum foil. Re-coat with sauce and serve the sauce on the side.
    brushing white BBQ sauce on cooked chicken

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. The lemon juice is optional but suggested. 2 tablespoons seems to dominate the other tastes. I uese 1 tablespoon.
  2. Wonderful on hickory smoked grilled skin on chicken but has many uses discussed in the post.
  3. Store airtight in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
ย 

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.

To adjust the recipe size:

You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.

Nutrition Estimate (may vary)

Serving : 1 tablespoonsCalories : 74.2 kcal (4%)Carbohydrates : 0.7 gProtein : 0.1 gFat : 7.9 g (12%)Saturated Fat : 1.2 g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat : 4.7 gMonounsaturated Fat : 1.8 gTrans Fat : 0.02 gCholesterol : 4.4 mg (1%)Sodium : 140.1 mg (6%)Potassium : 5.7 mgFiber : 0.02 gSugar : 0.6 g (1%)Vitamin A : 7.2 IUVitamin C : 0.4 mgCalcium : 1.4 mgIron : 0.03 mg

This version was inspired by Cooks Country White BBQ Chicken (subscription required), which I simplified a bit and added lemon juice back that was removed but is classically used.

Editor's Note: Originally published July 9, 2010. Updated with refreshed photos and a table of contents to help navigation.

Molly and Lilly running.

More Chicken Recipes

  • Large plate of cooked chicken thighs.
    Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
  • pile of oven baked chicken legs on a white plate
    Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Legs: Crispy, Juicy, and Foolproof
  • Chicken salad on toasted bread.
    Basic Chicken Salad Recipe
  • Baked Herbs de Provence chicken on a plate.
    Herbs de Provence Chicken

Comments

    This post has been updated and republished. All comments are held for moderation due to spam issues. Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Please leave a comment or question. All comments are moderated.




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

    July 01, 2019 at 1:45 pm

    Hi Jil,
    Welcome to the blog.
    You are so right, it is not there. I "broke out" the sauce and it's discussion to another post and didn't fix this one years ago.

    The sauce here is modeled after an American Test Kitchen recipe. That recipe had no lemon juice. Most other Alabama White BBQ sauce do. So it is there as an "option". In practice, I add 1 tablespoon and feel that 2 tablespoons is a bit much. I think ATK was wrong to leave it out.

    As soon as I post this reply. I'm fixing both recipes.

    Dan

    Reply
  2. Sage says

    July 15, 2010 at 7:39 am

    I have a feeling I will be learning great new ways of preparing our meals for 2 here; I will be back.Love the way you present your recipes.
    Rita

    Reply
  3. Dr Dan says

    July 11, 2010 at 8:05 am

    The whole chicken... sounds like a plan.

    The smoke seemed to add a lot more to chicken quickly then other meats. A blank slate I guess.

    I'm going to see what happens with skinless but don't have high hope for the smoke adding like it did here.

    Reply
  4. Chris says

    July 11, 2010 at 7:52 am

    I LOVE Alabama White sauce but like you, only grilled with it for two years. We like it that way.

    This spring, I took a class from Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibsons and tasted his smoked chicken. It was amazing, some of the best chicken I have ever had.

    It is very good grilled, but some time when you have the extra time, try it on a whole smoked chicken.

    Reply

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
About DrDan

Pan Seared 30-min. Dinners

  • NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
    Pan Seared New York Strip Steak (Oven Finished & Juicy Every Time)
  • pork tenderloin on blue platter
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin
  • cooked seared chicken breast on a white plate
    Pan Seared Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
  • filtet mignon with potatoes on a white plate
    How to Cook Filet Mignon in the Oven (Pan-Seared & Perfectly Juicy)
  • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Chops from 101 Cooking for Two
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Chops
  • 30-Minute Boneless Pork Ribs (Oven-Baked Country-Style with BBQ Flavor)
SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.
SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

Footer

BACK TO TOP
OF PAGE
Join the club
SUBSCRIBE TODAY

About

  • About DrDan and the Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Comment Policy
  • Guest Posts, Partnering, and Business Questions

Content

  • Food FAQ
  • Kitchen Reference Sheets
  • Recipes Featured in the Videos
  • Guide To Cooking for Two
  • Old Saved Recipes Collections

dogs by the pond

โ†‘ back to top โ†‘a

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact

COPYRIGHT ยฉ 2010-2025 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME