Updated onMay 02, 2024
Some barbecue sauces are tangy and sweet, while others are thick and spicy.
Here’s what you oughta know about regional barbecue sauce styles from across the country.
Whats the difference between the sauces from Alabama and Texas?
Kansas City and St. Louis?
We break it down in this guide to the countrys most popular sauces.
(Be sure to check out thebest barbecue recipes across America.)
Alabama
Youll immediately notice what makes this regional barbecue sauce unique: Its white!
Big Bog Gibson is credited with creating the mayonnaise-basedAlabama BBQ saucein 1925 for his signature hickory-smoked chicken.
Its perfect for cutting through fatty pork, but we think it tastes pretty good onchicken, too.
South Carolina
If youre a mustard-on-your-hot-dog kind of person, youll loveSouth Carolina barbecue sauce.
It doesnt contain any ketchup at all, and its almost always made with plain yellow mustard.
Its rich, spicy and tangywithout any semblance of sweetnessmaking it perfect for pork or chicken.
Its usually basted on the meat or fish as it cooks.
Baltimore
Baltimore-style barbecue is different from anywhere else in the country.
These Marylanders are famous for their pit beef sandwich, which is grilled rather than smoked.
This sandwich is traditionally served up with a creamy horseradish sauce.
The spicier the sauce, the better!
Kansas City
When you think of traditional barbecue sauce, its probablyKansas City-style.
Its good on everything, but its especially tasty on arack of ribs.
Because of the high sugar content, youll want to use this sauce after cooking so it doesnt burn.
ThisNashville barbecue sauceis the most authentic to the area.
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