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Homemade North Carolina Style BBQ Sauce

North Carolina Style BBQ Sauce

A tangy, vinegar-forward BBQ sauce with a solid cayenne kick and just a whisper of sweetness — a hybrid of Eastern NC vinegar sauce, Piedmont-style ketchup base, and a nod to South Carolina mustard gold.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tbsp dark brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp spicy brown mustard
  • 1 1/2 tsp Texas Pete's or Crystal hot sauce
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper

Equipment

  • Small Saucepan
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Whisk until the salt and sugar are dissolved and everything is fully combined.
  3. Continue heating, whisking occasionally, until just slightly thickened and glossy.
  4. Taste and adjust the red pepper flake to your preferred heat level, or for a sharper jolt, add a dash or two of cayenne pepper.

Notes

Makes about 2 cups. Keeps in the fridge for a few weeks — give it a shake before using since the spices settle.
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