March 23, 2023
Review RecipeCarolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

Table of Contents
This Carolina mustard BBQ sauce is flavorful and perfect for dipping and on top of your favorite grilled meat. Made with the vinegar and mustard combination unique to Carolina BBQ sauces, it is much more tangy and spicier than the classic sweeter sauce common in other regions.

Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce Ingredients

You’ll need:
For the Slurry
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water, room temperature
For the Sauce
- ½ cup mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 6 dashes of hot sauce of your choice, more or less depending on your desired level of heat
Substitutions And Additions
SPICE: If you would like to increase the spiciness of this sauce, you can either add a couple more dashes of hot sauce, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes to your sauce.
How To Make This Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe
STEP ONE: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water for the slurry. Set it aside.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
A slurry is used to thicken sauces and soups, and it is perfect for thickening up this delicious sauce recipe.
STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, add all the ingredients except for the slurry. Whisk until the ingredients are well combined.

STEP THREE: Using a rubber spatula, pour the mixture into a small saucepan. Whisk often while simmering on low heat for 3 minutes (or just until it starts to bubble). Do not overheat or boil.

STEP FOUR: Add your slurry mix to the sauce and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Remove from the heat and allow the sauce to cool.
STEP SIX: Once cool to touch, pour into a jar or container with a sealed lid. Refrigerate overnight.
PRO TIP:
This golden sauce can be used once cooled; however, the best results occur the next day when the flavors have had time to enhance.

How To Serve
When you are ready to serve your sauce, place it in a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer. Serve it on top of your pulled pork sandwiches, chicken wings, oven-baked chicken, or grilled chicken. Add one of our tasty pasta salads on the side, such as our dill pickle pasta salad, and you have the perfect meal.
This is a great sauce to serve with so many different meat dishes. Try it on our grilled chicken, or use it to dip your turkey tenders or popcorn chicken.
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Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Store Carolina mustard sauce in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid or a glass jar, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
IN THE FREEZER: This mustard-based barbecue sauce recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months.

There are so many different types of BBQ sauce, but we think this authentic Carolina mustard barbecue sauce, originally from South Carolina, is the best BBQ sauce to use for dipping and as a condiment. Skip the grocery store and whip up a batch of this tangy sauce anytime you want. The deep golden color and fantastic flavor will not let you down.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Carolina mustard BBQ sauce recipe is a mix of sweet, tangy, and spicy.
Carolina mustard BBQ sauce is especially delicious served over pulled pork on a bun. You can also spoon it over grilled pork chops, grilled chicken, or smoked pork ribs.
White vinegar and apple cider vinegar are interchangeable, although the taste will be slightly different since apple cider vinegar is made from apples and is slightly more acidic.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Baked Beans
- Crockpot Cocktail Links
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Muffin Pan Meatloaf
- Dill Pickle Dip
- Slow Cooker Pulled BBQ Chicken

Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Slurry
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water, room temperature
Sauce
- ½ cup mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 6 dashes hot sauce of your choice, more or less depending on your desired level of heat
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water for slurry. Set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, add all the ingredients except for the slurry.
- Whisk until the ingredients are well combined.
- Using a rubber spatula, pour the mixture into a small saucepan.
- Whisk often while simmering on low heat for 3 minutes (or just until it starts to bubble). Do not overheat or boil.
- Add your slurry mix to the sauce and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool. Once cool to touch, pour into a jar or container with a sealed lid.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- To serve, warm it up in a small pot and get eating!
Notes
- A slurry is used to thicken sauces and soups, and it is perfect for thickening up this delicious sauce recipe.
- This golden sauce can be used once cooled; however, the best results occur the next day when the flavors have had time to enhance.
Comments
Gloria says
This is soooo delicious!
Alexis says
This sauce is so good! I used it on homemade air fried chicken tenders. Plan to make again in a large batch.