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Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

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If you haven’t tried Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce, you are in for a treat! This sauce has a great tangy flavor. It has a little sweetness from the honey and brown sugar, but the cider vinegar keeps it from being overly sweet and gives it some zip! It is just the right balance of flavors and is perfect for your grilled chicken or pork!

You can use this amazing homemade mustard, vinegar-based sauce as a dip for a chicken like this great BBQ Beer Can Chicken or as a finishing sauce you can brush on anything from pork ribs to pork chops!

Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce being brushed on a grilled pork chop.

HELPFUL ITEMS FOR THIS RECIPE

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Stainless Steel Sauce Pot Set of 3 with lids

Glass Food Storage Container Set

Set of 3 Wooden Spoons

Bowl of Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce with a wooden spoon in the bowl.

What do you need to make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce?

Ingredients to make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce laid out on a marble countertop.

This recipe is actually very easy to make. It is all about putting the right ingredients together that make it great, but isn’t that what all cooking is about anyway?

INGREDIENTS

  • Yellow mustard
  • Brown sugar
  • Honey
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Ketchup
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Granulated garlic
  • Onion powder
  • Kosher salt
  • Hot sauce

How to make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

This sauce is super simple to make! Start by measuring out all the ingredients and place them in a small saucepan. Whisk everything together over medium heat until it starts to simmer.

Reduce the heat to low and continue to gently simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 – 20 minutes. Use right away or allow the sauce to cool. This sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

I like to make the sauce at least a few hours or even a day ahead of time. This allows all the flavors to meld together. This produces a better-tasting sauce, I think, anyway.

As a side note, if you are serving your Carolina Mustard BBQ sauce as a dip or as a sauce on say pulled pork, you want the sauce to be at room temperature, not chilled. The flavors will be better and deeper in taste.

It is also a good idea to have it at room temperature when you are brushing the sauce on as you finish grilling or smoking. Like on grilled chicken or smoked pork, you don’t want to cool your protein down with an ice-cold sauce.

Brush just dipped into a jar of Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce.

Why is Carolina BBQ sauce yellow?

Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce in a mason jar with a brush dipped into the sauce.

Carolina BBQ sauce is yellow because it is a mustard-based BBQ sauce, unlike Kansas City BBQ sauce which is tomato based. Or an Eastern Carolina sauce that is generally vinegar and pepper based.

Notes:

Serve your Carolina mustard BBQ sauce at room temperature, not cold, right out of the fridge.

You can add a pinch or 2 of your favorite herbs to this sauce; try a little dried oregano, basil, or thyme. Or spices like a dash of cumin or even nutmeg.

Wooden spoon covered in Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce over a bowl of the sauce.

What is the difference between North and South Carolina BBQ sauce?

The BBQ sauce you get depends upon where in the Carolinas you are. If you are in the eastern Carolinas, you will likely find a vinegar and pepper-based sauce. In the western Carolinas, you may find tomato sauce as part of the equation.

Mustard-based sauces like this Carolina mustard BBQ sauce recipe is most common in central South Carolina. In the very west of South Carolina, you will often find ketchup-based BBQ sauce.

Of course, with people traveling around the country nowadays, the lines between these styles of BBQ sauce do become a little blurred. But if you are talking to a traditional BBQer from any region, they will put up a strong argument for their traditional sauce.

Carolina Mustard BBQ sauce in a full mason jar drizzled over the edge of the jar.

Pin it HERE!!

Bring a little taste of South Carolina to your BBQ with this amazing Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce!

Pin it HERE!!

Bring a little taste of South Carolina to your BBQ with this amazing Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce!

Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

Ken Noland
This Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce will give anything you are grilling, BBQing, or smoking that authentic Carolina flavor!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 minute min
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 21 minutes mins
Course Miscellaneous
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Cups
Calories 39 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 3/4 cup yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp granulated garlic
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp of hot sauce or to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and whisk to combine the ingredients.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and gently simmer over low heat for 15 – 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Use as a dipping sauce or brush on as a finishing sauce to pork or chicken.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Equipment

MICHELANGELO Stainless Steel Saucepan Set with Lids 1QT & 2QT & 3QT, Stainless Steel Sauce Pot Set 6pcs, Induction Saucepans, Nonstick Sauce Pan Set, Dishwasher Safe
Amazon Basics Glass Locking Lids Food Storage Containers, 14-Piece Set
Amazon Basics Glass Locking Lids Food Storage Containers, 14-Piece Set
12 Inch Long Wooden Spoons for Cooking - Oval Wood Mixing Spoons for Baking, Cooking, Stirring - Sauce Spoons Made of Natural Beechwood - Set of 3
12 Inch Long Wooden Spoons for Cooking – Oval Wood Mixing Spoons for Baking, Cooking, Stirring – Sauce Spoons Made of Natural Beechwood – Set of 3

Notes

Notes:
Serve your Carolina mustard BBQ sauce at room temperature, not cold, right out of the fridge.
You can add a pinch or 2 of your favorite herbs to this sauce; try a little dried oregano, basil, or thyme. Or spices like a dash of cumin or even nutmeg.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 39kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gSodium: 199mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8g
Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


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Hi, I’m Ken thanks for stopping by BBQing with the Nolands! I was born and raised in Western Canada. I grew up on the great wide open farmlands that produce some of the worlds’ best livestock and grains.
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