Alabama White BBQ Sauce

I’ve been eating at Big Bob Gibson’s my whole life. It’s so fun to see this recipe and to hear from other locals! I’ve made this recipe a few times now, and my family enjoyed it! I like the Mayo:vinegar ratio and don’t use horseradish. I like to add smoked paprika (~1tsp/cup of Mayo), and generous amounts of freshly ground black pepper. Some salt never hurts, but is optional. PS - my family has their own white sauce recipe, and a small BBQ shack in Hartselle makes my favorite white sauce.

This sauce is much like the Irish Taco sauce from the NYTimes sans the Greek yogurt or sour cream. I use the Irish Taco sauce for fish tacos. It’s like a combination of tartar sauce and sour cream sauce. I will give this a try and see if it can work as a sauce for both BBQ and the tacos. I

I just visited Decatur, AL this past Tuesday and ate at Big Bob Gibson's for dinner. And I bought a t-shirt!

A squeeze of lemon juice, a little cayenne and lots of cracked black pepper added to the base in our formulation. Also, a bit of sweetener (sugar or stevia) for those who like it that way.

I'm so surprised to see this authentic recipe from my home state! I grew up eating at Gibson's in Huntsville, AL, and the white sauce was my favorite on a BBQ sandwich or with their delicious barbecued chicken. Now, if you can just get me their chess pie recipe!

The OG recipe is a classic. I'll add a squeeze of lemon juice on occasion as well . . .

I discovered white BBQ sauce several years ago while watching one of Steven Raichlen's cooking shows and I haven't looked back. It adds so much to the sauces and styles of barbecue and always stands behind my ever-loving beer can chicken. I'm always surprised that few people have ever heard of it.

Three yrs teaching UA/Tuscaloosa, then nearly a decade at Troy U, having to go home to Nashville/Franklin up I 65 from time to time, Big Bob's en route. My take: Duke's mayo, no horseradish but cayenne + red pepper flakes, sometimes rice vinegar for a change up. Contemporary pork loin so dry (so little fat), this sauce the perfect complement.

Hmm... Big Bob Gibson's BBQ cookbook (2009) includes a recipe for white sauce. See page 218. It includes 1/2 cup of apple juice, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp of cayenne. It also suggests 2 teaspoons of prepared horseradish. Chris Lilly (Executive Chef at Big Bob's, also married to a Big Bob granddaughter) also notes that "the great thing about passing secrets is that every time they are shared, they change slightly."

This reminds me of Pig Stand BBQ white sauce as well--delicious!

I grew up in Decatur, Alabama. Yes! Big Bob's White Sauce is the best. The recipe that I have passed down to my children includes buttermilk. Try it, you'll like it.

My Mom is from Harselle , Alabama. One town over from Decatur where Big Bob Gibson's is located. We have been making this sauce for 50 years. We have never used horseradish but it might be good. We always used tons of white pepper. It is ground finer. You can marinade the chicken in some sauce overnight before smoking it for many hours. Only baste the chicken with sauce at the very end. Moms recipe said Miricle Whip, i use Hellmans. Wonderful on pulled pork. Also, try it with balsamic vinegar.

I grew up on Big Bib Gibson's BBQ, so was usually disappointed by competitors. Living in NJ for a long time now, I'm so excited to have this recipe!