Alabama white sauce is a tangy, peppery, mayo-based sauce, and it’s the classic partner for smoked chicken. It’s a surprising change if you only know red sauces.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of cayenne
How to Make It: Whisk everything together until smooth. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. It keeps for about a week.
How to Use It: Dunk smoked chicken in it, drizzle it on wings, or use it as a slaw dressing. It’s also good on potatoes and grilled vegetables.
24. Sweet and Tangy Kansas City BBQ Sauce (Better Than Store-Bought)
This is the thick, sweet, sticky sauce most people picture when they say “BBQ sauce.”
What You’ll Need:
- 1½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
How to Make It:
- Combine everything in a saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle simmer, then cook on low 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often, until thick.
- Cool and store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Pro Tip: Apply it in the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking. Sauce with this much sugar burns on a hot grill.


