The cool, creamy condiment that can give a pulled-pork sandwich a different kind of barbecue tang is Alabama white sauce: a mayonnaise-based sauce sharpened with vinegar. It is a regional pairing, not a rule for every sandwich, and it is easy to make at home.
What is Alabama white sauce?
Alabama white sauce is a creamy barbecue sauce made primarily with mayonnaise and vinegar. Recipes vary: one cited version adds prepared horseradish, lemon juice, black pepper, salt, and cayenne, but those additions are not a universal formula.
The style is associated with Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. The Encyclopedia of Alabama traces its creation to Robert Gibson in 1925 and describes its use spreading from chicken to pork shoulder. Alabama Travel also connects the restaurant with the rise of the North Alabama specialty.
Why put it on pulled pork?
Its mayonnaise base makes it creamy, while vinegar gives it a sharper profile than a typical tomato-based barbecue sauce. A recipe from Food Network specifically recommends drizzling the sauce over pulled pork. That makes it a credible alternative for a pork sandwich, though personal preference—and regional tradition—will determine whether it is your favorite.
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- Big Bob Gibson Original White Sauce, 16 oz.
How to make a batch
This version follows the Food Network recipe; its measurements are one recipe’s proportions, not a fixed Alabama standard.
- 1.5 cups mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth.
- Transfer to a sealed jar and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can meld.
- Drizzle over pulled pork or serve as a dip. A balloon whisk is listed as equipment for the recipe; no special brand or model is needed.
The source cautions against using this mayonnaise-based sauce as a long-cook mop, since it may separate over high heat. Use it as a finishing sauce or dip instead.
Rank #2
- Alabama Style White Southern Dipping Sauce: Duke’s Alabama White Sauce is a creamy, tangy treasure, blending the smoothness of mayonnaise with the sharp bite of vinegar and horseradish, perfect for giving your barbecue a Southern-style twist.
- Dip Into Tradition: Ideal for smoked meats or as a unique salad dressing, this sauce is a testament to Northern Alabama’s culinary innovation, offering a peppery, tangy kick that turns ordinary dishes into Southern delights.
- Convenient Squeeze Bottle: Duke's Alabama Style White Sauce comes in a practical 14 ounce squeeze bottle, designed for ease and efficiency, ensuring you can effortlessly add just the right amount of rich Southern flavor to your meals with a simple squeeze.
- Alabama’s Signature Flavor: With its gluten-free recipe, Duke’s Alabama White Sauce invites everyone to enjoy the bold flavors of the South, ensuring that dietary restrictions don’t limit your access to authentic Southern taste.
- A Century of Culinary Tradition: Duke’s has proudly stood as a cornerstone of American kitchens for over 100 years, uniting families with its unparalleled flavors and commitment to quality that has transcended generations.
Should you add coleslaw too?
Coleslaw and Alabama white sauce are separate sandwich components: the sauce adds a creamy, tangy dressing, while cabbage slaw contributes a crunchy topping. A PBS Food pulled-pork sandwich recipe pairs pork with slaw and barbecue sauce; you can choose white sauce, slaw, or both depending on whether you want sauce, crunch, or both.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- CREAMY & TANGY: Standout, growing flavor for menus — a creamy, tangy sauce, featuring notes of apple cider vinegar, black pepper, and molasses — with exceptional cling and coverage.
- BUILT FOR FOOD SERVICE: Half-gallon jug is perfectly sized for back-of-house use and professional chefs looking for consistent flavor and convenience.
- MENU VERSATILITY: Ready to use, Cattlemen’s Alabama White BBQ Sauce adds authentic barbecue flavor to wings, hot sandwiches, chicken, burgers, and pizza. Try it as a glaze, brush on grilled meats, dip individual bites, or use as a finishing sauce.
- QUALITY YOU CAN TASTE: Kosher and made with no high fructose corn syrup, Cattlemen’s Alabama White BBQ Sauce is a sauce you can feel good about serving to patrons.
- REGIONAL BBQ FLAVORS: Cattlemen’s offers a full lineup of regional barbecue flavors inspired by U.S. BBQ meccas.
Rank #4
- CREAMY, TANGY SOUTHERN FLAVOR: A bold white BBQ sauce with a vinegar tang and black pepper bite; Works on grilled chicken and pork, pizza sauce, or coleslaw dressing; This white barbecue sauce elevates everyday meals with a unique twist
- MADE FOR CHICKEN, BUILT FOR MORE: Pour it over smoked or grilled chicken, dunk wings and thighs, or use it as a finishing sauce; Equally at home on pulled pork sandwiches and burgers, drizzled over pizza, or served as a dipping sauce for seafood
- A BREAK FROM TRADITIONAL BBQ SAUCE: Skip the heavy, sweet sauces; This white BBQ sauce delivers a clean, tangy finish that works just as well on smoked meats as it does as a white pizza sauce or creamy base for wraps and flatbreads
- DIP, DRIZZLE, OR DUNK: Smooth, pourable texture makes it easy to use straight from the bottle as one of your go-to BBQ condiments, delivering consistent flavor, creamy texture, and a tangy finish that pairs well with grilled or smoked foods
- PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA: Killer Hogs Mississippi White Sauce is made with quality ingredients like mayo, apple cider vinegar, horseradish, black pepper, and garlic; Built for pitmasters who want consistent flavor in every cook
Rank #3
- 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘: Experience the irresistible tanginess and sweetness of our mayonnaise-based Alabama White Sauce, perfectly infused with a hint of horseradish.
- 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚: Our Alabama White Sauce took home 2nd Place at the nationally recognized nationally recognized NBBQA - National Barbecue Grilling Association - Awards of Excellence.
- 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗕𝗤 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗖𝗬: Developed by Duce Raymond, son of Larry Raymond, the creator of 'Sweet Baby Ray’s' BBQ sauce.
- 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘: Smooth mayonnaise based sauce with a horseradish kick that uniquely balances tanginess and subtle sweetness.
- 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗡: Ideal for chicken, wings, turkey, sandwiches and more. Use for grilling, marinating, basting and dipping.
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