In North Carolina, barbecue begins with eastern North Carolina BBQ sauce, known for its bold Carolina vinegar BBQ sauce flavor.
This thin, vinegar-based, sour, tangy, and spicy vinegar bbq sauce is the ultimate BBQ sauce for smoked or grilled pork. I have tried a lot of recipes, and this easy recipe is the closest to what you taste in small-town BBQ restaurants.
Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce Recipe-Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Skip the cooking and still make this bold sauce entirely by shaking all the ingredients in a jar—a method I trust at Home when I need quick, real flavor.
- Home cooks like the tangy vinegar base that helps make pork and chicken shine, and from my experience, that sharp kick brings simple barbecue to life.
It can be on the hot side, but you can adjust the cayenne pepper and tabasco sauce for a milder flavor based on your preference. My special version came from my dad, Steve, who taught me as a kid using old bullet-style smokers.
I still miss those simple days of making pulled pork together. We used this pulled pork finishing sauce over pulled pork or a smoked pulled pork sandwich, serving it as a finishing sauce or on the side.
Some bloggers get sentimental, but here is my small shout—this vinegar bbq sauce brings real flavor, memories, and the kind of meal that calls for stretchy pants with every sandwich.
Ingredients
- In my kitchen, a real Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce recipe begins with 2 cups apple cider, 1 1/2 water, and 1/4 cup ketchup. I often mix White Distilled and white vinegar with a splash of Apple Cider and extra Water or Ketchup for balance.
- For sweetness, I add 3 Tablespoons of Light Brown Sugar along with a little brown sugar, adjusting to taste as it simmers.
- For seasoning, I use salt, Kosher Salt, black pepper, Coarse Black Pepper, and a touch of ground spice. Heat comes from Teaspoons or a Teaspoon of Hot sauce, e.g., Tabasco™, plus Crushed Red Flakes, extra red pepper, and cayenne.
- A final tablespoon, a small note, and if needed another teaspoon, bring the Ingredients together just the way I like it.
Instructions
- I always Make this by using a medium bowl to Whisk and Combine all ingredients—white vinegar, cider, brown sugar, cayenne, pepper, hot sauce, salt and everything else—until the flavors begin to blend.
- Then Pour the sauce in one or two squeeze bottles with a funnel to help, or place it in a lidded jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid, shake well, Give it another quick mix, and Let it Rest and sit for 24 hours before using to allow the taste to fully develop.
- For best results, I recommend placing it in the fridge or refrigerator to Refrigerate, shaking occasionally, for a few hours, overnight, or 1 to 2 days.
- It will last up to 2 weeks, and you can Store it for months; just shake before serving and enjoy this bold Carolina BBQ sauce.
Tips for Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
- When I first learned to make this BBQ sauce, I was surprised how insanely simple and simple it is, but a few smart tips help you get it right:
- Adjust the spiciness to your liking. If you don’t want a super spicy vinegar sauce, cut down the amount of red pepper flakes you add to the mix. For a good burn, sprinkle extra peppers to give it a good kick, while keeping the vinegar mix balanced.
- For a traditional taste, omit the ketchup for an authentic eastern North Carolina experience. This recipe works great without sweetness—use it on pork as a good baste for a thinner, tangy finish to serve.
- A classic vinegar-based BBQ sauce pairs perfectly with pulled pork, where the natural pork flavor is enhanced in every bite.
Notes & Nutrition
Flavor Notes
This sauce is best when made a day or two in advance, though it remains excellent the day of serving.
The bold tang shows how the recipe hails from North Carolina, even if Texas Pete hot sauce sounds like Texas—it comes from the same region.
I’ve tested Louisiana, Frank’s, and Cholula, and as a longtime fan, I suggest using whatever you like best among these good sauces, adjusting ingredients and Amount while preparing it for personal consumption.
Nutrition Breakdown
The Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be treated as an approximation based on available nutrient data.
A Serving Size of 16 g with Servings Per Recipe 32 may list Calories as 20kcal, 10, or 4.
Carbohydrates may appear as 4g or 2.3 g, with Total Carbohydrate 1g, small Protein, and Fat including Saturated Fat, Unsaturated Fat, and Trans Fat, while Cholesterol may show 0 g or 0mg.
Sugar can range from 3g to 2.1 g, along with Total Sugars, Fiber, and Dietary Fiber.
Sodium may be 635mg, 212 mg, or 76mg; Potassium 43mg or 11mg; Vitamin A 125IU; Vitamin C; Calcium 7mg or 2mg; Iron 0.2mg or 0mg.
The % Daily Value and Percent Daily Values such as 3%, 0%, and 1% are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, though daily values may be higher or lower depending on calorie needs.
Some Nutrient information may be not available or not currently available, so always review each Information entry for every nutrient and, if you follow a medically restrictive diet, consult a doctor or registered dietitian.
My Best Homemade Recipes
For a full BBQ spread built around my Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce Recipe (Dad’s Secret), start with Pulled Pork Rub for Deep Bark & Bold BBQ Flavor to create that crust my dad loved on his old bullet smoker. For something different, try Cyprus-Inspired Lamb Marinade (Chops, Roast & BBQ), or deepen your smoke game with Smoked Turkey Rub with 24-Hour Flavor Secret—that overnight rest makes all the difference.
To balance the tangy heat, serve a crisp side with Creamy Salad Dressing Recipe (5-Minute Easy)—perfect for slaw next to a pulled pork sandwich. And for leftovers the next day, Creamy Rose Pasta Sauce with a Secret Shortcut keeps that comfort-food, stretchy-pants feeling alive at home.
