South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Published March 1, 2025. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce is the perfect balance of tangy mustard, bold spices, a sweet blend, ketchup, and a touch of vinegar, creating a sauce deeply rooted in Carolina barbecue tradition. It’s my favorite for pork, chicken, ribs, or anything fresh off the grill.
When I think about true Southern barbecue, I always come back to South Carolina’s signature mustard-based sauce. I’ve made a lot of BBQ sauces over the years like my vinegar Carolina BBQ sauce, but this one? This one stands out because of its balance – bold, rich, and deeply rooted in tradition.
South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
This mustard-based BBQ sauce dates back centuries, brought to South Carolina by German immigrants who settled on land grants from the U.S. Unlike the thick, tomato-based sauces of Kansas City or the vinegar-heavy blends of North Carolina, this sauce known as “Carolina Gold” leans into the bold, zesty bite of yellow mustard, balanced with just the right amount of vinegar, sweetness, and spice.
I personally think this sauce has stood the test of time, deeply rooted in Southern barbecue tradition and a must-have for anyone serious about great BBQ. Hands down, it’s the most underrated BBQ sauce I’ve ever had, and it works beautifully on so many meals, some of my favorites are in the serving suggestions section.
If you’re looking for a sauce that delivers authentic Southern BBQ flavor, this is the one.
Ingredients and Substitutions
When I make this South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce, I keep it authentic with just a few key ingredients, and the best part? I usually have them all in my pantry.
- Mustard: I always use yellow mustard for that signature tang, but if I want a little more depth, I’ll mix in some Dijon or whole grain.
- Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is my go-to, it gives the sauce just the right amount of acidity.
- Sweet Blend: I like to use honey and brown sugar, just enough to balance the tang without overpowering the sauce.
- Spices: I keep it simple with garlic, onion, cayenne, salt, and pepper – just enough to add boldness without overcomplicating things.
- Ketchup: A small amount of ketchup smooths out the texture and rounds out the flavors without making it too tomato-heavy.
How to Make South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Combine: I add all of the ingredients to a medium-size pot and give it a good stir to make sure everything is well mixed. Then, I let it start warming up over low heat, allowing the flavors to come together.
Whisk & Simmer: I whisk everything together in the pot until it’s completely combined, making sure the sauce is smooth. Then, I let it simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally as the flavors meld.
Cool & Serve: I let the sauce cool slightly before serving it up with my favorite BBQ dishes, it’s perfect for pork, chicken, or anything fresh off the grill.
chef tip + notes
The secret to the best South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce is letting it rest, I always make it a day ahead so the flavors have time to meld. If I want a deeper, more balanced taste, I simmer it low and slow, stirring occasionally to prevent any bitterness from the mustard.
- Ingredient Swaps: If I’m out of garlic granules, fresh minced garlic works, but I sauté it in oil first to mellow the raw bite. Same with onion granules.
- Consistency: If I want it extra smooth, I blend it, but not too much, I still like a little texture.
Serving Suggestions
I love slathering this sauce over my smoked pork shoulder and piling it onto a buttery brioche bun with a side of crispy coleslaw for the perfect balance of tang and crunch.
It’s also a game-changer on smoked chicken, especially when served alongside my classic Southern cornbread. So good!
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this up to 3 days ahead of time. The longer it sits the more flavors that will come out.
How to Reheat: Add the desired amount to a small size saucepot and cook over low heat until warm.
How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. This will not freeze well.
More Sauce Recipes
Video
South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups of yellow mustard
- ¼ cup whole grain mustard, optional
- ½ cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup of honey
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- ¼ cup of ketchup
- 1 tablespoon of chili powder
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic granules
- 2 teaspoons onion granules
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a medium-size pot and cook over low heat for 15 minutes while occasionally stirring.
- Cool and serve.
Can one half the honey and sugar and possibly up the chili powder? I, and definitely my wife, do not like sweet with meat. Been looking for alternatives to standard bbq sauce for pork ribs for those of us who don’t like sweet sauce on ribs.
Make it work for you!
Thanks, I’ll let you know how it works out.
Can this be canned?
Possibly
Need this for boneless chicken thigs.
nice
Thank you for introducing me to this!!! Bratwurst and ham sandwiches should prepare to see some of this.
My husband loves this sauce and request it, if I take to long in between making it. Use it on, BBQ hi Jen and pork ribs. Soooooooo very good!!!
appreciate you trying it
Love this! When making potato salad, as soon as I drain them, I pour a very liberal amount of this sauce on the hot potatoes and let completely cool before adding rest of ingredients. Also great added into deviled egg mixture
I just tried the Carolina mustard sauce and hands down as one of the best sauces ever. Thank you Chef
fantastic!