Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce Recipe

Tired of the same old BBQ sauce? This Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce is about to become your new secret weapon for effortless, crowd-pleasing meals. It’s the bbq sauce that shocks even hard core barbecue fans with how good it it (they don’t call it “gold” for no reason).

We’ve simplified this Southern classic, making it easy for you to whip up a batch in minutes. And once you’ve tasted this, you will be whipping up batches every week. No more store-bought bottles – just pure, tangy-sweet flavor that’ll transform your grilling from good to unforgettable. Perfect for busy weeknights or weekend cookouts, this versatile sauce works wonders on everything from pulled pork to grilled chicken.

What is Carolina Gold Sauce?

This tangy sauce is a smooth, bright yellow condiment that combines a mustard base and vinegar for a unique and incredible barbecue sauce.

Mustard-based bbq sauce is from South Carolina. And according to Eater’s in-depth article on regional barbecue sauces, German settlers in the middle of South Carolina added mustard to the already established vinegar-based bbq sauce for a rich, silky smooth alternative.

Because we are all very passionate about our BBQ, it became a defining characteristic of South Carolinian barbecue and a sauce you’ll find in bbq joints in central SC to Georgia.

Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce Recipe Ingredients

• Yellow Mustard – this is a mustard-forward sauce, and you want to stick with classic yellow mustard for the best flavor. Avoid grainy, dijon, or anything that deviates too far.
• Honey – this adds sweetness, but brown sugar will also work as a substitute (see my notes in the recipe card below for a keto mustard bbq sauce).
• Apple cider vinegar – thins out and adds more tang to this sauce.
• Ketchup – just a little ketchup adds a slightly sweet umami depth to this recipe
• Worcestershire – soy sauce or coconut aminos work in place of the Worcestershire.
• Hot sauce – Or red pepper flakes
• Garlic powder & Onion powder 
• Black pepper
• Ancho chili powder – this isn’t typically in bbq sauce, but ground ancho chili powder adds an earthiness with a hint of heat that I feel is spectacular at making a unique version of this.

How to Make Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

1. Bring to simmer over low heat in a pan.

2. Stir until the bubbles around the edges form, and all of the ingredients are smoothly combined.

3. Chill and store 24 hours before using BBQ Sauce

Mustard Based BBQ Sauce Recipe Tips

This sauce is best prepared the day before and allowed to cool in the fridge until ready to use for the best flavors.

When making shredded pork, I toss the meat in my vinegar-based sauce while shredding it and then serve it with this Carolina bbq sauce recipe so that people can pour on as much as they’d like.

Storing Yellow BBQ Sauce

Once cooled and sealed in jars or air-tight containers, this sauce should be stored in the refrigerator. It will last two weeks, stored in the fridge.

We do not recommend freezing this recipe. Just make a fresh batch when needed.

Ways to Use This Mustard Based BBQ Sauce Recipe

This sauce is a personal favorite, but it won’t be for everyone. It’s very mustard-forward, and I find the tang and acidity are wonderful with fatty smoked barbecue.

Slather this over pulled pork, smoked chicken, or even a burger from time to time. If you want to stretch things, you can also add a little of this mustard sauce to your potato salad or slaw for some zing!

Frequently Asked Questions

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