Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
Today, I’m bringing you a real rarity. In fact, it is pretty much unheard of outside of North Alabama. White BBQ Sauce, even my husband (who is from a town in Georgia only four hours away) had never heard of it. A lot of folks in south Alabama have never heard of it.
This is truly a regional thing, but also a regional requirement. EVERY BBQ restaurant in North Alabama features white bbq sauce on their menu, their meats, and their tables and North Alabamians eat it with everything from french fries to bread to chicken and ribs. This unique, tangy flavor is the perfect compliment to just about everything.
Personally, I like to use so much that my food is swimming in it. How about we make up a batch for you?
I’m going to preface this by saying I am completely biased – keep reading and you’ll understand why. You see, a new restaurant has opened in Athens, Alabama. Hickory Barn BBQ, located on Highway 72 West, serves up classic southern BBQ with credentials.
Having been deemed worthy of the Jack Daniel’s Grand Champion in their BBQ Cookoff, Bill and Stacey Davis decided to open up shop and bring you the same great meats which have been served at competitions and privately catered affairs for nearly a decade.
With a menu of smoked chicken, pulled pork, made fresh sides, desserts from scratch, and the meatiest and most tender ribs you’re likely to ever have, this is a BBQ experience not to be missed.
As if the award winning food wasn’t enough, the atmosphere alone is worth the short drive. Authentic antique signs, recycled barn wood and galvanized tin line the walls. Vintage Coca Cola machines which Bill has collected since childhood serve to further the old fashioned atmosphere along with glass bottled drinks served from a large galvanized tub of ice. Walking into Hickory Barn is taking a step back in time, but likely with better food.
Hope to see you there soon and don’t forget to try Hickory Barn’s Signature BBQ Sundae!
~Christy
Hickory BBQ
10047 HWY 72 W
Athens, AL
Posted by Christy Jordan
on Oct 17 2008. Filed under FEATURED Southern Favorites!, Sauces/Other, Southern Classics.
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I suppose it would be redundant to say that I’ve never heard of that, since you already point that out in your post. But now I’m going to have to try it, and see if I can get that stuff as popular here in Idaho as it is in Alabama!
Just based on the ingredients, it seems similar to the sauce I use for making coleslaw/crab salad, except that I also add milk. Which means that I’m sure to love this white barbecue sauce, because I love my recipe for coleslaw and crab salad!
This is nearly identical to my Mother’s cole slaw dressing! It’s delicious and I will have to try it on french fries and other foods – I never thought about it being good on anything else, but I do know it’s wonderful on cole slaw.
Living in Biloxi currently and I’ve never heard of it, but it certainly seems like it would be right up my ally. Yum!
Arika
My Yummy Life
White BBQ sauce… Sounds interesting! Is it very vinegar-ey? My hubby is on a vinegar kick lately, we’ve recently discovered malt vinegar on french fries. I might have to try this!
I never did try this – kept saying I was going to – I saw this on paula deen’s show!
-DTW
http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
Hey there. I will definitly have to try this. I have never heard of it before. Sounds really cool.
Sharon:)
As soon as I saw your Twitter about this, I made a beeline over here to see about this white BBQ sauce. I want to try this, too. With french fries. I’m excited! I really want to try this!
And if I haven’t told you before, I really like the new digs.
As you well know, I like new stuff and the sauce is a first for me. Sounds tasty! That restaurant looks great. Here is Texas there is alot of that kind of decor in our BBQ places. He is going to do great. I wish I lived closer. I can only imagine what his desserts are! I drug my husband all the way to Savannah for Paula Deen, why not not Athens for Bill?
Have a great weekend!
Christy, its been a little while since I’ve stopped by but it looks great! I love how you’ve updated the site. I’m overseas right now so I’m not really online very much, but I had to check back for a quick look.
I’ve heard of and seen White BBQ sauce, but then, I live in southern TN, in spittin’ distance of the Alabama border! Can’t wait to try this!
I work in TN and live in AL. Ricks barbecue is where I get it. They are in Lawrenceburg, TN and Florence, AL and all towns in between! YUMM!
Hi Susan,
My husband is from Lawrenceburg TN….the Ricks BBQ’s has white sauce? I will have to try it when we go there on our next visit….gonna try some here at home too
K Brewer
Sounds great!
Love white BBQ sauce! That’s from my neck of the woods!
See, now I want to go fire up the grill. I just cleaned it! No fair!
I love mayo and vinegar and sugar. All three mixed together sounds like something I need to make and pour over lots of stuff.
I am from North Alabama, and in fact my wife is from Athens. Truly a small world…
It’s always a personal preference, but my absolute favorite barbecue in the whole wide world is Whitt’s barbecue. Since we are Bama expatriates, we can only get it when we come back home. As a matter of fact, we tried once to get them to put a few pounds of pulled pork on dry ice and ship it to us.
When I make my own white sauce, I like to add a little garlic powder and paprika. It’s a nice little twist.
Glad I stumbled on your site. I promise I’ll be back.
I’d never heard of white BBQ sauce – I’ll have to try this!
Stephanie Hehe! You made me smile! I love your idea of making it as popular in Idaho! Its going to be strange in a few years when I find myself in a restaurant in Idaho that serves “Idaho White Sauce”!!! Go you! I bet you will love it!!!! If you are at all a vinegar person, this is heaven.
Arika Thank you Arika, I’m enjoying your blog, too! Welcome to Southern Plate!
Heather It is very vinegar-ey!! I can GUARANTEE that if you like malt vinegar on fries this is EVEN BETTER! I love it on big old steak fries!!!!!
Darius Paula made white sauce! I didn’t know that, WOOT! I actually make it a point not to watch paula deen or any other cooking show just to prevent myself subconsciously copying them! LOL Southern Plate came in and my foodie viewing had to go out!!! You know I just adore your blog, Darius!
It’s always a pleasure to see you at SP!
Sharon It is wonderful, thank you so much Sharon!!!
Nikki Hehe, I knew you’d like it, Nikki! You and I seem to just have the same taste in our “root food”. I’m glad you like the new design!! I’m ALMOST used to it! Its tough when you are always wanting to improve though! I read where you were going to do the post every day for a month thing, Girl you are a brave woman!! You work so hard! When are you going to sleep!?
Joan Hehe, You come on down but you better call me first! I’ll drive you there myself!! The desserts are all homemade using family recipes. They do a different cake each weekend and yeah, there are so good I don’t dare even get close enough to SMELL them!!!!!
Su I hope to see you back soon, Su! Have a great trip and be careful!
Mssue6 oops, removed! Hehe! Hope you’re having a good day!
Jalera Yup, you’re like me, I claim dual Alabama/Tennessee citizenship because I’ve always lived so close!!! Howdy Neighbor!
BillGent Always love to see any comment from my “Gent”!
Sew Gracious And I LOVE your handbags!!!!!! Thank you for visiting Southern Plate! Come back often !
Michelle hehe, just do what I do and raid your brother’s bbq joint! Oh it does sound like you’d like this, let me know if you get to try it!
Big John WOW, very small world!!! Whitts is awesome bbq, I have to admit. Back in the day when I worked at First Alabama bank, the owner was our customer and he was just the NICEST man!! I think that has a lot to do with why their bbq is so good. I am going to hold you to that promise of coming back, now!
Tamy Every time I see your name I just have to smile! I swear, you must know exactly what my life is like sometimes! LOL Let me know if you try it!
Love y’all!
Christy
The first time I ever had white sauce was at the Golden Rule BBQ in Oxford, AL a few months ago. I put it on my barbecue chicken stuffed potato and it was great.
LOL one of these days I will remember to add the i to my name. *headdesk*
Hey, Neighbor!
I moved to Athens, Alabama, about five months ago. I like my white sauce a little thicker – so I just put in a little more mayo. Some folks leave out the sugar, but I feel like it is essential! I’m a forty-something mom and wife, going back to college to get my degree in education. Just looking at your website reminds me of my grandmothers’ home cooking. I love your easy recipes and your “style”. Keep up the good (delicious) work.
I made a batch and love it. Will it keep a while?
Christy you mention a BBQ place on Hwy 72 west in Athens Al. Good grief Charlie Brown, that is where I am from, well I am from that area. I know that area very well. And the White sauce is a favorite of mine as well. Big Bob Gibson BBQ in Decatur Al. I have visited many times and his white sauce is fab. What you need to add to your white sauce recipe is Salad Dressing instead of Mayo. It has a much tangier taste to the flavor. I am in Pensacola Fl now and have been since 1954, that is why wnen I hear someone mention N. Alabama I just about cry for home sickness.
Thank you for all your recipes and tips in your blog, I have just discovered it and it is great. Your very helpful. Chris
So I finally got around to trying this sauce. And let me tell you, I CAN’T BELIEVE I WAITED THIS LONG TO TRY IT!!! This stuff is incredible! It’s vinegary, it’s lemony, it’s peppery, it’s mayo-y, it’s deliciously flavorful, it’s indescribable! I made it to go with some roast potato wedges (which are actually still in the oven right now!) and tasted a bit on my finger. Then I went crazy looking for things around the kitchen that I could dip in it because I suddenly couldn’t wait until the potatoes were done. I dipped popcorn and saltines and they were great! Then I dipped my fingers some more.
And all this was before realizing that I had forgotten the sugar. I added it, and wouldn’t you know it was even better than before!
Yeah, long story short, you have made an Alabama White Barbecue Sauce lover out of this Idaho/Utah gal.
Mmmmm… I’m eating it with the potato wedges now… I’m in heaven…
I have been in Birmingham for 17 years and just a month ago tried Golden Rule’s White BBQ sauce. I wish I hadn’t thought “that just ain’t right” for so long. Love the White BBQ sauce. It is definitely a Northern Alabama thing. Just like Catalina on pizza is a Mississippi Coast thing. Try it before you think “that just ain’t right”.
My daddy and pawpaw use to have a BBQ restuarant in Birmingham on the old fair grounds many many years ago. So of course I was raised on this stuff. I make it all the time now in the summer when we are grilling. he would start cooking in neighborhood and everyone would start coming over to see what he was cooking. and they all had to have their white sauce to take home with them.
Oh my goodness this is my absolute favorite!! it’s soooo good. I’ll eat it with anything, chicken, pork, potatoes, rolls. My favorite bbq place here in east tn has a white sauce just like this they call Alabama white sauce!
Greetings from Tucson, AZ. Your picture pulled me into this website. I have heard of white BBQ sauce for years. Now that I’ve got this recipe, I’ll try it. Thanks
[...] Alabama White Barbecue Sauce: This is truly a regional thing, but also a regional requirement. EVERY BBQ restaurant in North Alabama features white bbq sauce on their menu, their meats, and their tables and North Alabamians eat it with everything from french fries to bread to chicken and ribs. This unique, tangy flavor is the perfect compliment to just about everything. Personally, I like to use so much that my food is swimming in it. How about we make up a batch for you? Recipe from Southern Plate. [...]
I’m from North Alabama, the Cullman/Decatur area. This has been a staple in our home for 25 years. I use it on everything Pork Chops are wonderful I baste them while grilling and smother them afterwards. I like to use fresh squeezed lemon juice when I can. This is the first time I’ve visited your blog and I am enjoying your recipes.
Christy-
Can this be canned? If so what’s the processing time. I think this would go well in some baskets I am making with Jams and BBQ Sauce and even your recipe for Apple butter which I might add is rootin tootin finger lickin! Also, you have me addicted to this hobbyist canning- it is a nice little way to make friends round the town.
I’m from Decatur Al Yes this sauce is a north Alabama tradition.I love white sauce on chicken.My daughter eats it on everything.We especially love it on hushpuppie.I found this site today and i love it. Thanks.
Thank YOU!!
Christy, I’m like you I luv Whitesauce, but to me the best BBQ with whitesauce is the Old Greenbrier Resturant. They bring a basket of hushpuppies and have 3 different sauces on the table: WhiteSauce,RibSauce,and Vinegar BBQ Sauce. All three are wonderful!!!We lived for a long 3 years in St. Louis, and when we would come through Athens on the way home,we would detour to Old Greenbrier and take home BBQ and Ribs. YUMMO!!
Hey, I grew up in Gardendale Alabama, (now live in Baltimore)…definitely North ‘bama, and I had never heard of white sauce until I was with my family at our place in Cullman on Smith Lake. There was this little place called the Smokehouse, that makes the most kickin’ smoked ribs, chicken and put in your order little cartons of white sauce. Had never seen it or heard of it, but wow…it was fantastic. It compliments the meat, but never overwhelms it like a sweet sauce can. Count me a fan.
My sister lives in Madison AL and introduced me to the white BBQ sauce. We grew up in Madison TN, suburb of Nashville, and never heard of such. Only 2 hours away. But Honey, it is great! I can’t believe it isn’t at all the BBQ joints. I’m glad to have a recipe to make my own.
I am wondering if anyone has the recipe for a White marinade? When I lived in the South I had this great chicken off the grill. All I remember is it has 3 equal parts of white ingredients. Don’t know if it was vinegar, sugar, oil, salt but it was three things in equal parts. I do know there wasn’t any mayonnaise in it. It was the best chicken I have ever had. If anyone has the recipe I would love to know it! Anytime I search for white barbecue I get the one with mayo in it. I do know this one did not have mayo. Thanks!
Taryn,
Maybe this is what you are looking for:
WHITE MARINADE
Yield: Makes 1 3/4 cups sauce for 4 barbecued chicken quarters
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Creole mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon coarsely ground pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 (3-pound) whole chicken, cut into quarters
Preparation
Whisk together first 8 ingredients until blended. Reserve 1/2 cup sauce to serve with chicken.
Place chicken in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag, and add remaining sauce. Seal and turn to coat chicken; chill 4 hours. Remove chicken, and discard marinade.
Grill chicken according to directions below. Serve cooked chicken with reserved 1/2 cup sauce.
I have lived in Michigan all of my life, but my Dad grew up in Falkville, Alabama and I can remember him making “white sauce” for his bbq chicken. We all loved it. I am going to try this recipe. It has been a long time since I had it.
Thanks!
Aww, bless your sweet daddy! I hope you like this!
Jeff,
MY dad, Bob Phillips, grew up in Falkville, as well, graduated from Falkville High School in the early 1950s, I think…anyway before he went in the Navy and was in the Korean war. My mom grew up in Hartselle. Wonder whether your dad was in the same generation as mine, and if they knew one another. It’s not a huge place!
My great-grandparents were James and Audrey Liles; he was a mail carrier; both are buried there.
Dad’s in TN now; I’m living in Northern Va. after 30+ years in North Carolina (NE NC, then Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Cary, NC), but I’m missing the SOuth!
This is soooooooooooo Awesome! i knew about how to make but wasn’t really sure! so glad i found this! I moved to Illinois from Alabama an I SO TOTALLY VERY MUCH miss the down home BBQ an the Sauces tooo! You ask for White Sauce here an they look at ya crazy an offer mayo or ranch dressing! LOL,. Ummm NO People!
an thank you sooooooo very much we LOVE you recipes!
oh thank YOU!!!!
lol!
Yeah, I’ve heard people say they think its like ranch dressing on more than one occasion and that always throws me!
Chicken with white BBQ sauce was always my favorite dinner at the sorority house at U of AL. I have hunted for the recipe online to make my own down here in FL. Can’t wait to try it out!
Isn’t the Bama campus just gorgeous? I’m so glad I could help bring a bit of it back! hope you enjoy it!
Gratefully,
Christy
Once again I have the same day to day struggle(whats for dinner).This looks like it will do us just fine.
Thanks for always helping me solve my (Whats for dinner?)
Mamie
~GRINS~ And thank YOU for always being so incredibly sweet to me and making me feel so good!
Gratefully,
Christy
Fresh ground pepper makes this so tasty….I have also substituted splenda…which worked well.
Never thought about Splenda, Sandy! I’ll have to grind my pepper now, too!!
Gratefully,
Christy
I have made this before and for a lil added kick I add about 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons of prepared horseradish…and I leave out the sugar..
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had horseradish in my life! Gotta try this your way sometime!
This is what originally brought me to your website. I made this & used what was left over to make coleslaw, I added some Tony Chachere cajun seasoning to it. My son’s teacher came for lunch & I fed her the chicken & the cole slaw, oh by the way I baked the chicken instead of grilling it, I also let the chicken marinate overnight, it was so delish!!!!
Christy, I’m on a low-carb diet, so substituting everything I can with Splenda or some other sugar substitute or sometimes not adding the sugar at all. Have you made this with Splenda, will it turn out the same? Is it a sticky sauce or more of a runny sauce?
I’m definitely going to try this! My husband is from Mobile and I’m sure he has never heard of this, or I would have had some at the many family dinners we’ve been to. Even with the sugar, it seems like a more healthy sauce than traditional bbq sauce. Oh, which reminds me I’m going to try apple cider vinegar (I’ll let you know how it turns out).
Been reading your blog for quite a while, but I’ve never posted before, you are great and I’ve been able to rediscover some of my Nini’s old recipes from when I was a kid! Thanks for keeping those old crazy southern recipes alive and well!
Nothing better than good ol’ Alabama BBQ white sauce on BBQ chicken. I’ve tried to duplicate it here in NC–and we do have the best BBQ pork–but none of the recipes I’ve found quite measure up—or maybe it’s me.
Anyway, anxious to give this a try. Thanks, Christy
Can’t wait to try this sauce. I’d sure love to find a chalkboard PIG like that! I ♥LOVE♥ him!!!!
I love White Barbecue Sauce. Now I would like to share one with you.
As you go to the ocean beaches around MD all of the churches and orgnizations sell BBQ chicken along side the road to raise money. This is what they use. This is very good also.
Eastern Shore Barbecue Sauce
============================
1/4 pint cooking oil
1/2 pint cider vinegar
2-1/2 tablespoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 egg
.
Mix dry ingredients first, then add vinegar. Add well beaten egg. Mix
thoroughly. At last, add oil and mix well again. keep refrigerated.
This surely proves that a good sauce has no limits. I’ve been using this as the dressing for a broccoli salad for years, and it is absolutely delicious with raw vegetables. There’s never any salad left when I take it to parties, and one friend always asks for it no matter what the occasion. Hadn’t used it with meats yet, but I sure will try it! The only difference between recipes is that I add some garlic, nolemon juice. I’ll try it next time with the lemon juice.
Hi,
This is the same dressing I use for my Broccoli Salad as well!
Plus I use it on a spinach salad with onions and bacon (and a hint of warm bacon fat at the last minute).
Wow…now I can use it for baked potatoes and chicken.
Thanks a bunch!
Love from Paradise……..fort lauderdale,
Joyous
I first had white bbq sauce when we lived in Birmingham. A place call Steak Out had it on their menu and I loved it on the baked potatoes. They called it Billy’s of Mountain Brook white BBQ sauce. (If I remember, Billy’s is a restaurant in Mountain Brook. After we moved to Atlanta, I never saw it again. I made my own version on occasion.
I love this stuff but my husband fusses at me for using too much mayo. (My favorite is Dukes because it has no sugar. Elixir of the gods.) Love the vinegar-y taste and the mayo.
Thanks so much for posting this! I love white bar b q sauce. I have a recipe that requires cooking on the stove, and three times I have tried to make it, and just as I get ready to take it off the eye, it curdles! I believe I can handle making your recipe! Once again, Thanks!
I LIVE IN ATHENS. I DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THE NEW BBQ PLACE BUT WILL HEAD THAT WAY TO TRY IT. I EAT THE WHITE SAUCE AT LAWLERS ON 72 IN THE LITTLE LOG CABIN LIKE BUILDING WITH THE AWESOME FOOD!! BEST LOADED BAKED POTATOES I EVER HAD VERY BIG. I GET MINE WITH BBQ TURKEY ON IT. THEN I PUT THE WHITE BBQ SAUCE ON IT. YUM! WE GO THERE ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. MY FAV BBQ RESTURANT EVERYTHING IS DELICOUS! THE PEOPLE, FOOD AND CHARMING ARMOSPHERE THAT REMINDS YOU OF A FISHING CABIN IN THE WOODS OR THE MOUNTAINS IS DIVINE.
Christy:
I’ve shared your site with many friends and we all love it! Can’t wait to try this Alabama white barbeque sauce! Thanks so much and keep sharing your great southern recipes.
I remember this one time when I was in Northern Alabama for some military training, I went to a restaurant with a friend and was told I absolutely HAD to try the white BBQ sauce. I looked at her like she was crazy (and I still think she is hehe) because BBQ sauce is NOT supposed to be white!!! Well, I tried it nevertheless and it was pretty darn good! Now that I have finally read how it’s made I understand why! You see, I’m from WAAAY upstate NY and we have this thing for vinegar up there. We put it on everything just about. I also happen to love mayo. Hmmm…put the two together and add some seasoning and I can see why it’s so good!! lol
Thanks for bringing this post back to life Christy!! I may have to use some during one of my cookouts this summer!
Hey, Christy, Yes, this is a North Alabama tradition:) One thing I do different is I use powdered sugar rather than granulated. I like the way it blends better. Either way White Sauce cannot be beat! My children grew up eating it and would put it on anything I would allow them to. BTW, I live in Decatur, AL and we are the home of Bob Gibson’s BBQ. They are world known for their white sauce which is sold in stores and can be ordered from them:)
I also live in decatur al . i love greenbrier white sauce. wish i knew their recipe.