Irresistible Keto Alabama White Sauce Recipe: Creamy, Tangy & Spicy Perfection!

Alabama White BBQ Sauce is a Southern favorite, and this keto version brings all the deliciousness without the carbs. This sauce is mayonnaise-based instead of tomato-based and is filled with flavor from the apple cider vinegar, mustard, and spices. It's the perfect creamy, zesty, and tangy sauce to smother or dip your smoked chicken in, and it's incredibly versatile for other dishes too.

What is Alabama White Sauce?

Alabama white sauce is a vinegar-based BBQ sauce made with mayonnaise instead of tomatoes. Unlike traditional BBQ sauce, it’s not sweet and smoky, but it’s creamy, zippy, and loaded with tangy flavor. This easy sauce is often used as a basting sauce for smoked chicken or served as a dipping sauce for French fries and pulled pork sandwiches. It’s bold, peppery bite adds maximum flavor with minimal effort.

History of Alabama White BBQ Sauce

Alabama white BBQ sauce was created in the 1920s by Robert Gibson, known as “Big Bob,” at his Decatur-based restaurant, Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q. Using massive hickory-fed pits, he cooked whole chickens low and slow, then dunked them into a tangy white sauce to finish. His original recipe became so popular that it is now a BBQ staple across northern Alabama and beyond. Pitmaster Chris Lilly, Gibson’s grandson-in-law, helped bring this sauce to fame through national competitions and cookbooks, making it a true icon in southern barbecue.

Why This Recipe Works

One of the fun things about making your own barbecue sauce is you can control the flavors and you can be assured your sauce is low carb and keto. You can easily adjust the spiciness of your sauce by adding more cayenne or horseradish if you’d like a spicier sauce. Adding a little hot sauce will bring even more heat.

This recipe is quick to make and requires no cooking process.

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Ingredients for Keto Alabama White Sauce

This white BBQ sauce recipe comes together with a handful of everyday pantry staples. Here’s what you’ll need to make the base and customize it to your liking:

Creamy Base

Mayonnaise: This is the base of the sauce. Use a high-quality, full-fat mayo for the best results.
- Substitutions: Plain Greek yogurt, sour cream, or dairy-free mayo for a lighter or dairy-free version.

Tangy Ingredients

Apple Cider Vinegar: Brings that signature tangy zip and helps thin the sauce to the perfect consistency.
- Substitutions: White vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or pickle juice for a tangier flavor.

Mustards & Horseradish

Dijon Mustard: Adds a sharp, pungent kick that's essential to authentic Alabama White BBQ Sauce.
- Substitutions: Spicy brown mustard or yellow mustard for a milder flavor. Prepared Dijon mustard can work (use 4-5 tbsp) but will change the texture slightly.
Prepared Horseradish: Choose hot horseradish for more heat, or use a milder horseradish for a gentler kick.

Seasonings

Garlic powder
Onion powder
Smoked paprika
Cayenne pepper: The amount of cayenne pepper is dependent on your spice and color preference.
Kosher salt
Black pepper

Optional Ingredients

Brown sugar or keto sugar (such as Swerve brand): To balance out our flavors, we add some keto sugar.
Cajun seasoning
Old Bay: These add savory depth, a touch of sweetness, or a custom spice blend.

Heat & Extra Flavor

Hot sauce (such as Tabasco): Use a milder hot sauce or a spicier version depending on your heat preference.
Worcestershire sauce: Brings umami depth and complexity.
- Substitution: Vegetable umami sauce for a vegetarian version or coconut aminos for gluten-free needs.
Monk Fruit and Allulose Sweetener: Balances the tang without adding carbs.
- Substitution: Any low-carb sweetener works, but powdered versions blend better. Adjust the amount to taste.

Detailed List of Ingredients

1 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar or pickle juice
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 tsp. Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp. Horseradish
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Smoky Paprika
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
5-6 Dashes of Tabasco

How to Make Keto Alabama White Sauce

This white BBQ sauce recipe is quick to make and requires no cooking process. Just follow these simple steps:

In a medium mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, mustard, horseradish, and tamari. Whisk to combine.
Add remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.
Serve immediately, or refrigerate 30-60 minutes or overnight before serving.
Store leftover sauce, in a covered container, in the refrigerator.

Step-by-Step Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, horseradish, garlic powder, salt, paprika, black pepper, and Tabasco, until smooth and fully combined.
Chill the Alabama white barbecue sauce in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Tips for the Best Keto Alabama White Sauce

Mayo Matters: Start with room temperature mayonnaise - it blends more smoothly and helps all the flavors marry together better.
Let it rest: For maximum flavor, make the sauce ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge overnight.
Taste & Adjust: Y'all, everyone's taste buds are different! Start with the recipe measurements, then adjust to your liking. Want it tangier? Add more vinegar. Spicier? Add more black pepper, a dash of cayenne, or even a splash of hot sauce. Start small - you can always add more heat, but you can't take it away!
Mix it Right: While a whisk is perfect for this sauce, don't go crazy with it. Mix just until everything is well combined - overmixing can make the sauce too thin.
Rest Time: Let your sauce chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving if you can resist!
Storage Smarts: Always use a clean jar or container, and resist the urge to dip directly into your storage container.
Temperature Tips: Never leave the sauce sitting out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Consistency Control: If your sauce gets too thick in the fridge, don't panic! Just whisk in a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar until it reaches your desired consistency.
Pro Move: Make a double batch right from the start - this sauce is like potato chips; once you start, you can't stop! Plus, it makes an amazing gift for your BBQ-loving friends (if you're feeling generous enough to share!

How to Use Alabama White Sauce

You have some great options for serving this barbecue sauce. It can be served with any kind of grilled or smoked meat including beef, pork, poultry, and seafood.

This sauce isn’t just for smoked chicken-it’s super versatile. Use it as a:

Basting sauce for smoked beer can chicken or grilled chicken breast
Drizzle over pulled chicken sandwiches or chicken wings
Zesty coleslaw dressing or my recipe for traditional deli style potato salad mix-in
Tangy dipping sauce for pork chops, French fries, or even chicken sandwiches
Great way to add a pop of flavor to grilled veggies on a hot day
It even works well as a salad dressing base when thinned slightly with lemon juice or white wine vinegar.

You can slather some on during the last few minutes of grilling or serve this as a dipping sauce alongside your grilled meat. This sauce also pairs nicely with pulled pork or pulled chicken. You can drizzle some of this sauce over cooked vegetables to give them amazing flavor. If you’d like, you can even serve this as a dressing for salads or coleslaw. You can also serve this as a sauce for burgers, keto sandwiches, and lettuce wraps. Another awesome way to serve this sauce is as a dip for raw vegetables.

Serving Suggestions

Classic Southern Style: Fire up that grill for some chicken - whether you're doing whole pieces, wings, or tenders, this sauce will make them sing! Serve with Dill Pickle Coleslaw or Keto KFC Coleslaw and some Deviled Egg Cauliflower Salad for that perfect BBQ plate.
Party Perfect: Set up a wing bar with this Alabama White BBQ Sauce as your secret weapon! Offer both traditional buffalo wings and some grilled ones with this white sauce. Add a veggie platter, and watch your guests go crazy trying to decide which sauce they love more.
Weeknight Wonder: Transform your basic chicken or turkey sandwich into something special by spreading this sauce instead of mayo. Add some crispy lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and, if you're feeling fancy, some crumbled bacon.

Storage and Shelf Life

Store your Alabama white BBQ sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 7 days. Because it’s mayo-based, keep it cold and avoid letting it sit out during cookouts. For food safety, don’t reuse any sauce that’s touched raw meat during basting.

How long does Alabama White BBQ Sauce last in the fridge? When stored in an airtight container, this sauce stays fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. But y'all, I've never had it last that long - it's just too good!

Alabama White Sauce Variations

Want to change things up? Here are some fun ideas:

Spicy kick: Add more Tabasco, Cajun blend, or even Old Bay seasoning for a bolder bite.
Lighter version: Substitute half of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Sweeter profile: Mix in a touch of honey, corn syrup, or brown sugar.
Flavor boost: Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, or your favorite dry rub can add depth.

These easy swaps are a great way to make the sauce your own depending on what you’re serving.

Common Questions About Alabama White BBQ Sauce (FAQ)

Can I use Alabama white sauce on pork? Absolutely! It’s amazing on pulled pork, pork sandwiches, and grilled pork chops.
Is this white BBQ sauce keto-friendly? Yes! Just avoid adding sweeteners like corn syrup or brown sugar.
Does Alabama white sauce work as a marinade? Yes, especially for chicken. Use it with your favorite seasoning blend before grilling for extra flavor.
Can I make it without mayo? You can try plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for a lighter version, but mayo is key to that classic creamy texture.
Why is it white? It’s a mayo and vinegar-based sauce with no tomatoes or ketchup like in traditional BBQ sauces.

Nutritional Information

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is calculated with the assistance of a third party service. Values are approximate, can’t be guaranteed, and should be considered as estimates only. Values differ according to types and brands of foods used. When used in a recipe, erythritol has been removed from the carb count as it is a sugar alcohol.

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Erythritol carbs will not be included as it has a glycemic index of 0 (meaning it does not spike blood sugar) and it’s not metabolized.

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