Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce Recipe (Carolina Style)

Carolina Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce in a jar

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4.65 from 48 votes

Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce Recipe (Carolina Style)

Easy and basic vinegar based BBQ sauce that's great on pulled pork and chicken, inspired by Carolina Style BBQ.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: BBQ, Barbecue

Servings: cups

Author: Mary Cressler

Cost: $6

Ingredients

2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup ketchup
½ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup hot sauce, (we err towards a savory style hot sauce, like Valentina)
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons whole peppercorn
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon red chili pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until sugar and spices all dissolve. Bring to a low simmer and cook 10-15 minutes, then turn off the heat.
Strain the sauce into a bowl to remove the chili pepper flakes and peppercorns (and discard the pepper flakes and peppercorns). Then, when cool, place BBQ sauce into a jar with a tight sealing lid. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

For more heat, add more chili pepper flakes and let it sit unstrained for a period of time.

Want to jazz up this sauce? Try adding mustard and honey!

Mustard Based BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

2 Cups Vinegar Based Sauce (from above)
1 Tablespoon honey
¼ cup Dijon mustard (I find yellow mustard a touch acidic)

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat up, whisk to incorporate the honey and mustard until a simmer, then turn off heat. If you like it a sweeter style, just add more honey.

Nutrition