BBQ sauce recipes vary greatly from one region to another. This makes it such a versatile addition to almost any recipes, especially in the summer!
With National BBQ Day coming up, it would be fun to look at the different types of bbq sauces. They vary greatly between regions of the United States. I love BBQ sauce; it’s one of my favorite sauces to dip meat in. But the sauce, as well as the style, varies significantly from country to country and from one area of the country to another.
Originally Published On: May 15, 2018
Last Updated On: September 17, 2020
BBQ Styles
Some of the most notable styles within the US are based primarily on the traditions of the state or region they are from. I’ve learned that I am not a big fan of Texas BBQ because it contains a lot of smoke flavor of which I am not a fan. I like either the Memphis style or Florida style since they are sweeter and don’t have the added meat/smoke flavor.
The following descriptions are from the Wikipedia page about BBQ Sauce:
East Carolina Sauce
Most American barbecue sauces can trace their roots to two sauces common in North Carolina and South Carolina. The simplest and the earliest were supposedly popularized by African slaves. They also advanced the development of American barbecue. They were made with vinegar, ground black pepper, and hot chili pepper flakes. It is used as a “mopping” sauce to baste the meat while it was cooking and as a dipping sauce when it is served. Thin and sharp, it penetrates the meat and cuts the fats in the mouth. There is little or no sugar in this sauce. Which, in turn, has a noticeably more sour flavor than most other barbecue sauces.
Lexington Dip (a.k.a. Western Carolina Dip or Piedmont Dip)
In Lexington and the “Piedmont” hilly areas of western North Carolina, the sauce is often called a dip. It is a lot like the East Carolina Sauce (above) with tomato paste, tomato sauce, or ketchup added.
Kansas City
Thick, reddish-brown, tomato or ketchup-based with sugars, vinegar, and spices. Evolved from the Lexington Dip (above), it is significantly different. It is thick and sweet and does not penetrate the meat as much as sit on the surface. This is the most common and popular sauce in the US. All other tomato-based sauces are variations on the theme using more or less of the main ingredients.
Memphis
Similar to the Kansas City style. Typically having the same ingredients but tending to have a larger percentage of vinegar and use molasses as a sweetener.
Florida
Similar to the Memphis style because it has a higher percentage of vinegar than Kansas City style. Florida style is characterized by tropical fruit flavors such as orange, mango, guava, papaya, pineapple, and tamarind as well as peppers with some heat such as chipotle and habanero. Because of its fruity flavor, it is commonly served with pork, beef, chicken, and seafood.
South Carolina Mustard Sauce
Part of South Carolina is known for its yellow barbecue sauces made primarily of yellow mustard, vinegar, sugar, and spices. This sauce is most common in a belt from Columbia to Charleston, an area settled by many Germans. Vinegar-based sauces with black pepper are common in the coastal plains region as in North Carolina. Thin tomato- and vinegar-based sauces are common in the hilly regions as in North Carolina.
Texas
In some of the older, more traditional restaurants the sauces are heavily seasoned with cumin, chili peppers, bell peppers, chili powder or ancho powder, lots of black pepper, fresh onion, only a touch of tomato, little or no sugar. They often contain meat drippings and smoke flavor because meats are dipped into them. Texas sauces are medium thick and often resemble a thin tomato soup. They penetrate the meat easily rather than sit on top. Bottled barbecue sauces from Texas are often different from those used in restaurants because they do not contain meat drippings.
Alabama White Sauce
North Alabama is known for its distinctive white sauce, a mayonnaise-based sauce, which is used predominantly on chicken and pork. It is composed of eggs and oil (or mayonnaise), apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper.
Barbecue Ranch
A fusion of barbecue sauce and ranch sauce.
BBQ Sauce Recipes from Son Shine Kitchen
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Combine BBQ sauce with Italian dressing for a delicious sauce with shredded chicken on a bun with melted cheese for perfect slow cooker sandwiches.
Delicious BBQ Sauce Recipes from Friends of Son Shine Kitchen
I’ve gathered a few recipes from other food bloggers from around the web (with their permission, of course) to share with you as well. There are so many different ways to make delicious BBQ recipes, so I wanted to give a variety of options.
Appetizers
BBQ Bacon French Onion Dip
Easy homemade french onion dip with a twist. This BBQ Bacon French Onion Dip will be a great appetizer for your next cookout or potluck.
These Slow Cooker Chicken Wings are cooked in a tasty Honey BBQ sauce until fall off the bone tender. Quickly broiled until golden then served smothered in more sauce! These crock pot chicken wings are always a crowd pleaser!
One pan BBQ pulled pork and rice skillet dinner is full of flavor and texture. It will have everyone coming back for a little more and leave you with very few dishes too!
Big, bold barbecue flavors make these oven roasted barbecue potato wedges an incredibly delicious side to any meal. They are seasoned perfectly with a crispy exterior and soft, almost buttery insides! Like your favorite BBQ potato chips, they are hard to resist once you get started!
These delicious boozy Southern-Style Bourbon Meatballs are going to be the hit of your next gathering; be ready for people to immediately run over to the meatballs on the buffet table and beg for this retro Southern recipe.
This Roasted Plantain + BBQ Chickpea Vegan Bowl recipe is the ultimate dinner idea that comes packed with a sweet + spicy side of chickpeas, fresh spinach, baked sweet potatoes, snow peas, and a twist of oven roasted sweet plantains. Pure perfection in one dish.
Barbecue Cauliflower Pitas with Avocado Ranch Slaw
Pita loaves are stuffed with crunchy avocado ranch dressed slaw and barbecue smothered cauliflower in these scrumptious barbecue cauliflower sandwiches.
These tofu burgers are spiced with an irresistibly sweet and spicy BBQ Pineapple sauce and are a tasty option for non-beef eaters and spice-lovers alike! These burgers also happen to be totally gluten free and vegan.
Yummmmmmm! I’m literally going to try making all of these sauces because I tend to get bored with the same old sauce all the time. The weather is warming up so I’ll have lots of time to taste test 😀
You might find this crazy but I have never had REAL BBQ sauce before because I cannot eat sugar and back when I could, I was a total KETCHUP GIRL over anything else!!!! 😮 I have tried some sugar-free versions but I feel like that’s just NOT the same!
Yummy! I love the way, you have listed all of these sauces. Would definitely try these in future…. These sauces makes me starving, 😉 Thanks for sharing such a detailed article with proper references.
I love BBQ anything! I’m saving this as a master list for this summer.
Whoa who knew there was so much variation in BBQ sauce? I’d never even heard of BBQ ranch!!!
Nothing like homemade BBQ sauce. Haven’t meant one I didn’t like. Going to enjoy checking these out.
Yummmmmmm! I’m literally going to try making all of these sauces because I tend to get bored with the same old sauce all the time. The weather is warming up so I’ll have lots of time to taste test 😀
I usually use sauses to dip meat in. But I never try BBQ sauses. How does it taste? I will try it.
When we think of summer – we think of BBQ. This sounds like a really good BBQ sauce to try out when we put some meat on the grill again.
Oh yum! I love a good bbq sauce, perfect timing for grilling season too! I’ll have to try a few of these.
Yum. Good BBQ sauce is important, especially as we get closer to BBQ season.
I love some good bbq recipes and this sauce looks amazing. There are so many different possibilities!
BBQ is one of my all-time favorites. I prefer a cross between Memphis and Kansas style. Love reading the history
You might find this crazy but I have never had REAL BBQ sauce before because I cannot eat sugar and back when I could, I was a total KETCHUP GIRL over anything else!!!! 😮 I have tried some sugar-free versions but I feel like that’s just NOT the same!
Yummy! I love the way, you have listed all of these sauces. Would definitely try these in future…. These sauces makes me starving, 😉 Thanks for sharing such a detailed article with proper references.
This is the first time I listened about the recipe in my life. It will feel great to have them IRL😋
Oh, I miss having a BBQ with family and close friends. These recipes sound delicious. I ant wait to give some a try.
Brilliant. I love a BBQ. Can’t wait to try these recipes.
I love BBQ very much, but never tried to make my own BBQ sauce before
Mmm yum, I love BBQ sauce, would love to try a few of these!
My husband doesn’t like BBQ sauce but I love it! All of these recipes look delicious, have got to try them soon!
I’ve never done BBQ sauce. I would love to make my own, that is an amazing idea…
oh bbq sauce sounds amazing! Haven’t had it in ages