Vinegar Based Carolina BBQ Sauce Recipe
Published June 30, 2021. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This simple-to-make delicious vinegar-based Carolina-Style BBQ Sauce has the perfect combination of tangy, sweet, and spicy for all of your BBQ dishes.
Sauces can oftentimes make or break recipes, especially when it comes to BBQ. If you want to try out some new sauces that will absolutely make your next smoked pork shoulder or smoked ribs amazing, then definitely try my Sweet BBQ Sauce or Mustard BBQ Sauce.
Carolina BBQ Sauce
Eastern North Carolina BBQ sauce is considered the mother of all the BBQ sauces out there. With generations-old history, this thin condiment is fantastic when mopping your whole hog barbecue all day long. The well-balanced combination of flavors greatly enhances the flavor of smoked proteins and helps to tenderize due to the high vinegar content.
The basic ingredients for this tasty Carolina style Vinegar BBQ Sauce are:
- Vinegar: Most often apple cider is vinegar.
- Spices: Pepper, cayenne, salt, and onion are commonly used.
- Red Pepper: Crushed pepper flakes are a staple
- Hot Sauce: any hot sauce will do.
How to Make BBQ Sauce from Scratch
Use these easy-to-follow instructions for making this delicious Carolina BBQ sauce from scratch:
Add the vinegar and brown sugar to a medium-size saucepot and bring to a boil.
Turn the heat down and add in the remaining ingredients and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.
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 21 days. This will not freeze well.
Chef Notes + Tips
- Substitute the onion and garlic granules with powder.
- You can lightly caramelize finely minced garlic and onions in oil before adding it to this recipe substituting for the onion and garlic granules.
- This would go excellent with beef, pork, chicken, and French fries.
More Sauce Recipes
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Video
Vinegar Based Carolina BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups of apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic granules
- 2 teaspoons onion granules
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1/3 cup of ketchup
Instructions
- Add the vinegar, brown sugar, and salt to a medium-size pot and bring to a boil.
- Add in all the other ingredients and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
- Cool and serve.
Delicious! My family loved it’
Awesome!
I made a keto version. Using no sugar ketchup, Swerve Brown Sugar Substitue. As the ketchup had no sweetner and Swerve is not as rich as reg brown sugar I doubled it so ½ cup packed.
Used Frank’s Hot sauce and left the pepper flakes out. Added 1 tsp of gluten free soy.
It is awesome. Such a simple recipe that was super easy to convert to sugar free. Tangy mildly sweet with a hint of heat on the backside. Ideal for pulled pork and good for chicken.
Makes a great mop as well for the pit.
This BBQ sauce is fabulous! It’s the perfect amount of heat and sweet/ acidic balance. I’ve made several of Chef Parisi’s recipes and I’ve not been disappointed in a single one! They’re all equally wonderful!
thank you so kindly!!
New favorite! We will be barbequing all summer just for this sauce!
This is delicious and so easy to make!
so good!!
I left a bit of sugar and ketchup out, as husband diabetic. So good. Love your videos, humor, and ability to speak to all levels of “chefs”. Thank you.
Awesome !
fantastic
The best sauce recipe! So easy and delicious! Has become a family favorite for our BBQ’ing.
excellent!
So delicious !
fantastic
Delicious !
many thanks!