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No bbq is complete without Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce and Vinegar Sauce. One is a little thick and the other has a tiny kick!
Remember how Cade handles the killer Carolina Pulled Pork at our house? Well, I’m in charge of the sauces. I don’t know why, but he kind of tackles the meat and I’ve always just messed around with the sauces. I’ve made some lame ones, by the way. The mustard sauce has been my arch nemesis.
I’ve tried a bunch of recipes thinking that I didn’t have the right as a PNW girl to tackle southern bbq sauces, especially Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce and Vinegar Sauce, but guess what, I didn’t like everyone’s recipes.
That’s right, and neither did Cade. I mean they were ok, but not awesome. So I set out to perfect the sauce that Cade would call “money.”
The key to both sauces is actually to make them 3 days to 1 week ahead of time. Now, I’ve totally done just the day before and it was fine, but trust me they get better with time. And the mustard sauce has butter and nutmeg.
I don’t know why, I just threw it in and Cade was all over it like butter on a hot potato so it stays. The vinegar sauce needs red pepper flakes and it HAS TO BE Texas Pete’s or if all else fails, Franks hot sauce. The other brands do not work. Just trust me on this.
What is Carolina Style BBQ Sauce?
Carolina style means that it is vinegar and mustard based, as opposed to the ketchup and molasses based sauces of the mid and southwest.
Can You Substitute White Vinegar For Apple Cider Vinegar?
White vinegar and apple cider vinegar are interchangeable. The taste will be a little different, because apple cider vinegar is made from apples and is a little more acidic.
Can You Freeze BBQ Sauce?
Left over BBQ sauce can be kept in the refrigerator for 7 days or more. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
More BBQ Recipes You’ll Love:
Whenever a recipe calls for BBQ sauce, feel free to substitute either our mustard bbq sauce or our vinegar bbq sauce!
- BBQ Brisket Nachos
- BBQ Instant Pot Short Ribs
- Instant Pot BBQ Whole Chicken
- Grilled BBQ Chicken
- BBQ Meatball Sliders
- Smothered BBQ Beef Burritos
- Skillet BBQ Chicken and Potatoes
- BBQ Beef Sandwiches
- BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese
- …ALL OF OUR SUMMER RECIPES!
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce and Vinegar Sauce
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce and Vinegar Sauce
Ingredients
Mustard Base BBQ
- 3/4 Cup Yellow Mustard
- 1/2 Cup Honey
- 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Texas Pete's, or Franks if necessary hot sauce or to taste
- 2 Tablespoons Butter, melted
- 1 Pinch Nutmeg
- 1 Dash Liquid Smoke
For the Vinegar Base BBQ
- 1 Cup White Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Ketchup
- 1/4 Cup Apple Cider
- 1 1/4 teaspoon Texas Pete's Hot sauce, or Franks is fine
- 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 1/4 teaspoons Crushed Red Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
For the Mustard Base BBQ
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.3/4 Cup Yellow Mustard, 1/2 Cup Honey, 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 Tablespoons Ketchup, 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce, 1 teaspoon Texas Pete's, 2 Tablespoons Butter, 1 Pinch Nutmeg, 1 Dash Liquid Smoke
- Pour into a jar with a lid and refrigerate 1 day to 1 week prior to serving for ultimate flavor.
For the Vinegar Base bbq
- Mix all of the ingredients in a jar and place the lid on to rest in the fridge for at least 2 days before serving.1 Cup White Vinegar, 1/4 Cup Ketchup, 1/4 Cup Apple Cider, 1 1/4 teaspoon Texas Pete's Hot sauce, 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar, 2 teaspoons Salt, 1 1/4 teaspoons Crushed Red Pepper, 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These recipes were a hit for our smoked chuck roasts, we absolutely love them both. We will be making these on a regular basis when we BBQ! Thank for two great BBq sauces!
Yay! Aren’t they so good? We almost always have them in the fridge and ready! So glad you enjoyed them!
Do you use both mustard-based and vinegar-based sauces on a dish, or do select which to use?
We usually make both and then let people choose which one they want.
Hi, on the vinegar based BBQ sauce where its says Apple Cider is it Apple Cider like the drink or is it Apple Cider Vinegar? Thanks so much!
Apple cider like the drink. Enjoy!!
My hubby smoked a pork butt and asked me to make a honey mustard sauce. I looked at a bunch of recipes and decided on this one. So glad that I did… it is wonderful! I have had it on pork, chicken and brisket. Thanks for a perfect sauce!
Yay!! Isn’t it so good?! We use it on everything we can!
Made the mustard sauce for ~25 pounds of pulled Carolina pork butt and was very impressed with the overall flavor. I mistakenly added a little more liquid hickory smoke than the recipe says and used an orange blossom local honey but even so, it was well balanced and went deliciously with the BBQ pork. Can’t say that the nutmeg was detectable or necessary, however.
Ohhhhh I just had orange blossom honey last year and it was so good!!!
We’ve had it without the nutmeg and it wasn’t as mouthwatering of a batch so we added it back in.
Okay I just made my third batch of the vinegar base bbq sauce. This is by far the best I’ve had since living in South Carolina, I now live in Arkansas and is my home state but the people around just don’t know what they’re missing. I use it for pork and chicken and everyone that I have let taste it has like the taste. So great job and thanks for sharing. I be sure to pass it on.
You have to spend some time in the south to truly understand just how good it is!
Mustard sauce is really good. Thanks!
Thanks Joel!
Have not tried it yet
I just finished making the mustard sauce and it hasn’t had enough time to develop the flavours but I can tell you right away that it is delicious. I may have had just a taste, then a bigger one, then more. I put it in the fridge and went back for another taste 2 minutes later. It really is that good. Thanks for the recipe! I’ve got pork in brine right now to make the pulled pork recipe you posted. The dry rub is yummy so I know this meal is going to kick butt!
ahaha!! I love it!! Thank you so much! xoxo!!
I advise everyone who views these recipes to immediately head off to the butcher for pork loin backribs and/or a tritip or chuck roast. Then make up a batch of each sauce and invite that guy/gal over who has been out grillin’ you all summer. Here in San Miguel we drop the hot sauce and liquid smoke from the mustard one in favor of pureed Chipotles in Adobo sauce (the heet and da smoke) at some unknown measurement we call “to taste”.