5-Star Reader Comment
My favorite BBQ sauce in all the world. The tanginess is a perfect complement to BBQ pork!
Martha
THE SAUCE for Pulled Pork
Where I’m from, it’s just not a proper Southern pulled pork sandwich without Carolina Vinegar Sauce.
In North Carolina, we’re famous for our pulled pork and whole hog barbecue that’s chopped, loaded onto a soft bun, and topped with this sauce that packs a punch. It brings out all the beautiful flavors of smoked meat without overshadowing it.
What is Vinegar BBQ Sauce? Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce is tangy, spicy, and the ultimate sauce for serving pork! Originating in North Carolina, this sauce is easy to make with just 6 ingredients. This traditional sauce is for anyone who takes their pork BBQ seriously.
Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce Is…
- tangy with a peppery kick
- easy to make with just 6 ingredients
- a classic sauce for pulled pork
- is great to serve with chicken and ribs
- totally addictive!
This eastern North Carolina recipe’s base is apple cider vinegar, which has a strong acidic flavor that goes well with rich, slow cooker pork. The addition of ketchup and brown sugar mellows the vinegar’s flavor just a bit. Red pepper flakes and black pepper elevate the sauce with an irresistible spicy kick to the tancy sauce.
Ingredients For This Recipe
- Apple Cider Vinegar – the star of the show, giving this sauce its signature tangy kick
- Ketchup – adds a touch of sweetness and body to balance the vinegar
- Brown Sugar – for just the right amount of rich, molasses-style sweetness
- Red Pepper Flakes – brings the heat! Swap in cayenne pepper if you prefer
- Black Pepper – adds depth and a subtle bite
- Kosher Salt – to round out all the flavors and bring everything together
Can I Adjust The Heat In The Sauce?
If you’re not a fan of that much heat, you can adjust the heat level by reducing the red pepper.
How To Store Homemade BBQ Sauce
Once you’ve made the sauce and let it cool, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I keep mine in a mason jar , but any glass container with a lid will work
What To Serve With Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
I always serve Carolina Vinegar with pulled pork and ribs. It’s also delicious drizzled on grilled chicken and as a dressing for slaw.
My Favorite Homemade BBQ Sauces
- Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce – a yellow mustard bbq sauce made popular in Southn Carolina
- Alabama White Sauce – a creamy and tangy sauce with just a bit of peppery heat.
- Homemade Carolina-Style Barbecue Sauce: This sauce has a sweet richness from brown sugar and honey and a tangy punch from fresh lemon juice and Dijon mustard.
More Southern Recipes You’ll Love
If you tried this Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer cooking for 2 minutes until sugar and salt dissolves.
- Remove from heat and let cool. Store in a covered jar or bottle in the refrigerator until ready to use. It can be stored for up to 3 weeks.
Nutrition
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Awesome recipe. Everyone loved it on the pulled pork I made. I would eat this on a flip flop. It’s that dang good!
What a great comment! Matt, you’ve made my day.
~Donya
The Carolina bbq sauce is delicious.
Perfect for my smoke pork butt, just came out of the smoker
The best sauce on pulled pork hands down.
Thanks, Ricky for the great comment and rating!
~Donya
Just made this for my Fathers Day BBQ this weekend. I’m making pulled pork and wanted a Carolina sauce to go with it. Great flavor! Although, I may cut the black pepper and red pepper flakes in half next time for some of my family members. I think it tastes great, but it might be a tad spicy for some that are coming. Thanks!
Definitely going to try it, but anything with this much vinegar will keep a lot more that two weeks.
It does last longer than that, but I like to be conservative when giving information about food storage.
Enjoy!
I lost my vinegar sauce recipe. I found this on line. Easier then mine was. Guess I’ve got a new one!
This is really a great BBQ sauce. Easily the best vinegar sauce I’ve tried, and it’s so easy to make! It was a big hit when I brought this and some pulled pork to a potluck. Also it does last more than 3 weeks in the fridge – I’m going on two months with this batch and it’s as good as ever.
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing Wesley and thanks for the fantastic rating.
~Donya
Absolutely perfect! Just like what I remember from my E. Carolina days.
Awesome! Thanks for the terrific rating,
~Donya
perfect!
Awesome and thanks for the terrific rating!
~Donya
Ok, so, haha. I was searching for a vinegar bbq sauce like the fabulous sauce my friend used to make. But she wouldn’t share her recipe. Her last name was Mullins, so this recipe caught my eye. Then when I read some of the comments by “Buddy”, “Carole”, “Elizabeth”, and “Stony”, it’s such a weird coincidence but those are the names of some of my other “Mullins” friends (a big family). I am “Douglas” haha. I’m so glad I made this sauce. Very tangy and with a touch of heat. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.
Thanks and I appreciate the outstanding rating!
~Donya