SaveThis Carolina BBQ sauce recipe makes the thin, tangy vinegar-and-pepper sauce served with pulled pork in the eastern Carolinas style. Cider vinegar and a splash of white vinegar are warmed just long enough to dissolve a little brown sugar and salt, then seasoned with red pepper flakes, black pepper and hot sauce. It takes about 10 minutes, plus an hour’s rest so the pepper infuses the vinegar. Below you’ll find how it differs from thick tomato barbecue sauce, how to use it as a finishing sauce or mop, and how to adjust the heat.
What Is Carolina BBQ Sauce?
“Carolina barbecue sauce” covers several regional styles. This recipe is the vinegar-based eastern style: thin, sharp and peppery, with no ketchup or tomato and only a little sugar to round off the acid. It isn’t meant to coat meat like a thick sauce. Instead, it’s splashed over chopped or pulled pork, where it soaks in and cuts through the richness.
Carolina vinegar sauce vs. other barbecue sauces
| Carolina vinegar sauce | Honey BBQ sauce | Alabama white sauce | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Cider and white vinegar | Ketchup and honey | Mayonnaise and vinegar |
| Texture | Thin, watery | Thick, sticky | Creamy, pourable |
| Flavor | Sharp, tangy, peppery | Sweet, smoky | Tangy, creamy, peppery |
| Best with | Pulled pork | Ribs, wings | Chicken, turkey |
For a thick, sweet sauce, try our honey BBQ sauce. For another regional favorite, see our Alabama white sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Apple cider vinegar (1 1/4 cups): the base, tangy with a mild fruity note.
- Distilled white vinegar (1/4 cup): a sharper edge.
- Brown sugar (1 tablespoon): just enough to soften the acid.
- Red pepper flakes (1 1/2 teaspoons): the heat and the signature red flecks.
- Kosher salt (1 teaspoon): seasoning that helps the sauce flavor the meat.
- Black pepper (3/4 teaspoon), freshly ground: a second layer of pepper bite.
- Hot sauce (2 teaspoons): a vinegar-based Louisiana-style hot sauce adds heat and tang.
How to Make Carolina BBQ Sauce
- Warm. In a small non-reactive saucepan (stainless steel or enameled), combine the cider vinegar, white vinegar, brown sugar and salt. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, just until the sugar and salt dissolve. Don’t boil it.
- Season. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the red pepper flakes, black pepper and hot sauce.
- Rest. Pour into a glass jar, let it cool, cover and let it sit for at least 1 hour so the pepper flavors the vinegar.
- Shake and serve. Shake or stir before using; the pepper settles to the bottom.
No-cook option: shake everything together in a glass jar until the sugar and salt dissolve, then let it rest.
How to Use It on Pulled Pork and Chicken
- As a finishing sauce: toss chopped or pulled pork with a few spoonfuls, taste, and add more a little at a time. Serve extra at the table.
- As a mop or baste: brush it on pork or chicken during the last part of cooking. Before you start, set the table portion aside in its own jar; University of Illinois Extension advises keeping sauce meant for serving away from anything that has touched raw meat. Baste from a second small bowl and discard what’s left. Cook chicken to 165°F and whole cuts of pork to 145°F with a 3-minute rest, as the CDC recommends.
- On coleslaw: a splash adds tang to a vinegar slaw.
Adjusting the Heat and Tang
| You want | Change |
|---|---|
| Milder | Use 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes and skip the hot sauce |
| Hotter | Add more red pepper flakes or hot sauce |
| Less sharp | Add 1 to 2 teaspoons more brown sugar |
| All cider vinegar | Replace the white vinegar with more cider vinegar |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carolina BBQ sauce made of?
The eastern vinegar style is cider and/or white vinegar seasoned with red pepper flakes, black pepper, salt, a little sugar and often hot sauce.
Does Carolina BBQ sauce have ketchup?
This eastern-style version doesn’t. Some other Carolina styles add ketchup or mustard.
Is Carolina vinegar sauce spicy?
It’s peppery with a moderate kick. Use fewer red pepper flakes for a milder sauce.
How do I use vinegar BBQ sauce?
Toss it with pulled or chopped pork, use it as a mop while cooking, or serve it at the table for splashing.
How should I store it?
Keep it in a covered glass jar in the refrigerator, and shake before using.
