Tangy Carolina Bbq Sauce

Get ready to elevate your barbecue game with this Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce, a bold and flavorful Southern classic perfect for grilling season. This vinegar-based sauce is a delicious balance of tangy apple cider vinegar, sweet brown sugar, and smoky spices like smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Enhanced with yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and a hint of optional hot sauce for a kick, this quick-and-easy recipe comes together in just 20 minutes. The result is a zesty, slightly sweet barbecue sauce with a distinctive tang that pairs beautifully with smoked meats, grilled chicken, pulled pork, or even as a dipping sauce. Make a batch ahead of time and store in the fridge—it’s the ultimate complement to all your backyard cookouts and BBQ feasts! Keywords: Carolina BBQ sauce, tangy barbecue sauce, Southern BBQ recipe, grilling sauce, vinegar-based BBQ sauce.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 1 cup Apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup Ketchup
• 0.33 cup Brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Hot sauce (optional, for added heat)
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Onion powder
• 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.25 cup Water

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and water. Whisk together until smooth.

Step 2

Add brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce (if using). Stir to combine.

Step 3

Stir in smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.

Step 4

Place the saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently to ensure the sugar dissolves and all ingredients are well blended.

Step 5

Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.

Step 6

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if desired (e.g., add more vinegar for tanginess, more sugar for sweetness, or more cayenne for heat).

Step 7

Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool slightly.

Step 8

Transfer the sauce to a clean jar or bottle. Once fully cooled, store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Step 9

Serve warm or at room temperature with your favorite grilled or smoked meats.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	645.1 grams (645.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	497

Total Fat 1.70g	2%
Saturated Fat 0.10g	1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2260mg	98%
Total Carbohydrate 116.10g	42%
Dietary Fiber 2.10g	8%
Total Sugars 92.10g
Protein 2.10g	4%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 113mg	9%
Iron 3mg	18%
Potassium 538mg	11%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 3.1%

Protein: 1.7%

Carbs: 95.1%