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Tangy, peppery, and loaded with a punch of flavor, Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce will take anything you slather it on to a whole new level! With a beautiful golden color from mustard and a slight sweetness from brown sugar and honey, this sauce takes only 10 minutes to make.
In these parts, we take our BBQ seriously. For us, BBQ (chopped or sliced pulled pork) is a thing, not something you do. Having said that, we are also passionate about what kind of sauce we use when dressing up a big pile of tender, juicy “Q.”
In North Carolina, we are known for our spicy, hot vinegar sauce. I make my own Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce, and it’s become a staple in my kitchen. Now, I’m giving my South Carolina friends the due they deserve with my homemade recipe for their famous Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce.
History Of Carolina Gold Barbecue Sauce
Discover the mouthwatering Carolina Gold BBQ sauce—a South Carolina tradition rooted in German heritage. This golden sauce blends mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar for a tangy and flavorful experience. It’s perfect for marinating pork, dipping, or enhancing your favorite dishes.
What Makes This Sauce So Special?
- It is tangy, with a zippy edge that makes it totally irresistible.
- Made with only a handful of ingredients, 9 simple pantry ingredients to be exact.
- It can be used as a BBQ sauce, dipping sauce, or pork tenderloin marinade.
- You can serve it with pork, chicken, fish, and is a must for any cookout!
Ingredients For This Recipe
- Yellow Mustard – any brand that you like
- Honey
- Brown Sugar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Black Pepper – freshly cracked is best.
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salt
- Cayenne Pepper – if you want a little more heat.
Scroll Down For Measurements And Instructions
How To Make This Sauce
All that’s needed to make Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce is one pot and about 10 minutes of time. Add all the ingredients to the pot and whisk them together. Bring the sauce up to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 5 minutes. Let the sauce cool, and you are ready to serve.
More Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipes
How To Store Homemade BBQ Sauce
Allow the BBQ Sauce to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a mason jar or an air-tight container. Store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
The ways to use this sauce are actually limitless. Even the picky eater in my family loves using Carolina Gold as a dip for chips and pretzels. As an added bonus to its incredible flavor, you can add more spice with additional black and cayenne pepper for some added heat.
Tips and Tricks For Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
- Marinating pork: Carolina Gold BBQ sauce is an excellent marinade for pork, especially pork tenderloin. Allow the flavors to infuse the meat by marinating it in the sauce for a few hours or overnight. This will result in a tender, flavorful pork dish.
- Enhance your dipping experience: Carolina Gold BBQ sauce can double as a delightful dipping sauce. Its tangy and sweet profile makes it an ideal accompaniment for various foods, including pulled pork, grilled bell peppers, or other savory snacks.
- Balance the flavors: To achieve the signature taste of Carolina Gold BBQ sauce, strike a balance between the tanginess of Dijon mustard, the sweetness of brown sugar, the savory notes of Worcestershire sauce, and the kick of red pepper flakes. Adjust the quantities to suit your personal preference.
What To Serve With Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
- Smoked Pulled Pork with BBQ Red Slaw
- Grilled Sausages With Peppers And Onions
- Marinated Pork Tenderloin
- Easy London Broil
Love a Yummy Sauce? Check Out These Recipes:
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- pinch of salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- To a small pot over medium-high heat, whisk all ingredients together and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Remove the sauce from the stove and let cool. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
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This is my favorite BBQ sauce hands down! You can tweak it to the sweet or the tart. It’s the best!!!!
very good
I can’t wait to try your recipes!!!!
I made a quarter of this recipe and added it to oven roasted potatoes tonight. The family really enjoyed it! I didn’t have enough mustard for the entire recipe but it was just enough for the potatoes.
Hey there Wendy!
Wow! I love the way you think, adding this sauce to roasted potatoes was a genius idea, I’d never thought to do that! Thank you so much for your kind words and your phenomenal rating, I really appreciate your support! If you ever have any questions about a recipe, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
~Donya
The first time I made this I only made a half recipe because it sounded like a lot of mustard and I thought it would be over powering.
The second time I made this I made a double recipe so I won’t run out. It’s great on green Fried tomatoes!
TG
Hey there!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, I am thrilled to hear you liked it so much to double it! This Golden BBQ Sauce definitely has a kick from the mustard, and is terrific on just about anything fried. Thank you for your support, let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe!
~Donya
This was awesome! With the acidity of the cider vinegar, I would be able to can this to stock up on right?
Hey there Mike!
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, it’s one of my favorite BBQ sauces to I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it as well! Canning is not my area of expertise, so I am honestly not sure how long this BBQ Sauce would keep on a shelf if it were canned. This recipe will keep for about 3 weeks as is, if you wanted to extend the shelf life, I would guess that you might need to use more vinegar. I would love to hear how everything turns out if you do end up canning this sauce, I hope you enjoy!
~Donya
I cannot wait to try this!!!
Hey there Debbie!
I’m thrilled that you’re excited to try this, it’s one of my favorite sauces ever! Thank you so much for your support, let me know how it turns out!
~Donya