Alabama White Sauce Recipe: Tangy with a Mix of Heat

This Alabama white sauce offers the perfect amount of tang and sweetness (and spiciness if you opt for it).

It compliments chicken, turkey, pork, and more.

Ingredients for Alabama White Sauce

Combine the following ingredients:

• 1 Cup Mayo
• 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 Cup Apple Juice
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
• 2 Tbsp Prepared Horseradish*
• 1/2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
• 1 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 Tsp Diamond Crystal Kosher salt
• 1/4 Tsp Paprika
• 1/2 Tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Optional: 1/4 tsp Cayenne – this is for heat.

If you don’t have ground cayenne, use a tablespoon of Frank’s Red Hot or similar hot sauce.

Ingredient Explanations and Possible Substitutes for this Recipe

The Mayo

The basis of all “white sauces” is mayonnaise.

If you’re from the South, you’ll likely use Duke’s. If you’re from anywhere else, you’ll likely use Hellman’s.

I’m from New Hampshire and I use Hellman’s.

Vinegar

I prefer Apple Cider vinegar in this recipe.

I’m not a huge fan of lots of vinegar, so I go with 1/4 cup. If you like more tang, you’ll want to use 1/3 cup.

If you don’t have ACV, use distilled white vinegar.

Apple Juice Instead of Granulated Sugar

Lots of recipes for this sauce like to include granulated sugar which I don’t find mixes super well – especially considering we’re not heating the sauce.

The apple juice is sweet, mixes better, and helps thin the sauce out.

If you like more tang than sweet, omit this ingredient and only use 1/3 cup of ACV.

Dijon Mustard Instead of Mustard Powder

A lot of recipes like to use Mustard powder instead but I find I can barely taste it.

Dijon I can actually taste and it adds a spicy note alongside the bitterness you’d get from mustard powder.

Prepared Horseradish

Recipes you’ll find for this sauce will either include or omit Horseradish.

Personally, I love horseradish and use a tad more than most – it’s pungent and spicy and works well in this recipe.

If you find it’s too strong for you, just know the vinegar will really mellow it out; OR use 1 tablespoon instead OR omit.

Making Alabama White Sauce

To make this sauce simply add all these ingredients to a bowl and whisk together/mix well.

Once mixed, refrigerate for 24 hours and then serve.

I always find the sauce tastes better the next day.

Print Pin Recipe

Alabama White Sauce Recipe

Tangy with a Mix of Heat

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Condiments

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Whisk

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Cup Mayo
• ▢ 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• ▢ 1/4 Cup Apple Juice
• ▢ Juice of 1 Lemon
• ▢ 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
• ▢ 2 Tbsp Horseradish
• ▢ 1/2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
• ▢ 1 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• ▢ 1/2 Tsp Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
• ▢ 1/4 Tsp Paprika
• ▢ 1/2 Tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Optional for Heat

• ▢ 1/4 Tsp Ground Cayenne

Instructions

• Add the ingredients in the specified quantities to a large mixing bowl and whisk.
• Refrigerate for 24 hours and then serve the next day.