Mustard BBQ sauce is lip smacking and tangy and it’ll add a delicious twist to your summer grilling menu. Even better, you can make this recipe for Carolina gold sauce in just 10 minutes!

Are you crazy about condiments? I definitely am, especially when it comes to grilled foods. It could be a bbq dry rub or a new twist on a favorite barbecue sauce, but when I can create something simple to take the flavor up a notch, I’m SO there!
Barbecue recipes vary by region, especially across the U.S. Each region has their own idea of what makes the “perfect barbecue”. For Texans, it’s all about the meat itself. Using the perfect spice rubs and smoking it to perfection.
Kansas City style bbq sauce is a sticky molasses and tomato-based bbq sauce. Head down to Alabama and you’ll see them use a unique, mayo-based Alabama white sauce that is beyond delicious!
Mustard BBQ Sauce
The Carolinas are known for their barbecue sauce as well. North Carolina and South Carolina each have a unique sauce that they consider to be the very best. North Carolina bbq sauce has a lot of vinegar, while South Carolina sauce has a base of vinegar and mustard.
The golden yellow color is why mustard bbq sauce is known as Carolina gold sauce.
If you’ve never tried Carolina gold BBQ sauce before, it’s something you should definitely try! It’s not overly sweet like some red bbq sauces. The flavor is tangy from the vinegar, but rather than sweet, mustard bbq sauce has a bold, edgy flavor.

How to use Carolina gold sauce
I think the best way to use a mustard-based sauce like Carolina gold sauce is for dipping meat into rather than for basting the meat.
I find that the mustard in the sauce takes on a bitter flavor as it cooks on the grill. It’s completely up to you, though.

What meat tastes the best with Carolina mustard bbq sauce?
When it comes to the type of meat, I think mustard bbq sauce is fantastic on everything from roasted garlic chicken to baby back ribs and smoked bbq meatballs.
I think the bold flavor works best with pork, but don’t let that stop you from trying it with turkey legs or even smoked salmon!

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Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup yellow mustard
- 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce (I use Tabasco)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In small saucepan whisk together all the ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool before using.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Nutrition

How long can this be stored for ? refrigerated
Up to 2 weeks Debbie!
The South Carolina mustard-based BBQ sauce was made famous by Maurice Bessinger, who had several restaurants in SC. The mustard sauce was wonderful and unique. I believe the meat was basted with the sauce, which is a dark yellow in color. I’m from NC and there are 2 BBQ sauces here: a tomato-based BBQ sauce in Western NC and a vinegar-based sauce in Eastern NC. I love all 3 of the sauces unique to each area! Thanks for featuring the Carolinas in your post.
This would be a huge hit at my house! I cannot wait to try it!
They are always a huge hit!