Not all BBQ sauce is the thick red stuff. Kansas City brings sticky sweet tomato, Carolina runs on vinegar or golden mustard, Texas keeps it thin and peppery, and Alabama goes creamy white. We've lined up sauces from makers like Blues Hog, Meat Mitch, Lillie's Q, Croix Valley, Butchers Axe and Cobra Chilli so you can match the sauce to the meat. Brush it on late, serve it on the side, or mop it through the cook. Flat $10 shipping Australia-wide.
American BBQ sauce styles, sorted
American barbecue sauce is regional. Each style grew up around a local meat and a local way of cooking, so picking the style first makes the rest easy.
| Style | What it tastes like | Goes with | On the shelf |
| Kansas City | Thick, sweet, tomato and molasses | Ribs, burnt ends, chicken | Meat Mitch WHOMP!, Blues Hog Original, Three Little Pigs Competition |
| Carolina vinegar | Thin, sharp, peppery | Pulled pork | Lillie's Q Carolina Barbeque Sauce |
| Carolina gold | Mustard-based, tangy-sweet | Pork, chicken, snags | Lillie's Q Gold, Croix Valley Sweet Carolina Gold, Butchers Axe Mustard BBQ Sauce, The Feedlot Gold Rush |
| Texas | Thinner, savoury, less sugar | Brisket, beef ribs | The Feedlot Trailblazer Texas Style |
| Alabama white | Creamy, tangy, peppery | Smoked chook, wings | Cobra Chilli White Magic |
What's the best BBQ sauce for brisket?
For brisket, most cooks reach for a thinner, savoury sauce rather than a sticky sweet one, because good brisket bark already carries plenty of flavour. A Texas-style sauce like The Feedlot Trailblazer works as a dip on the side. For burnt ends, a thicker sauce like Hardcore Carnivore Burnt Ends Sauce is built for the job.
Want the whole cook covered? Start with a brisket rub and read our brisket recipe from the Smugglers Recipe Vault.
Sweet, smoky, fruity or hot
Once you've picked a style, pick a flavour lane. Fruit-led sauces like Kosmos Q Peach Habanero, Loot N' Booty Apple Cherry and Croix Valley Sweet Peach are good on pork and chook. Coffee and dark notes show up in Fancy Hanks Coffee & Molasses and The Feedlot Barnyard Brew Espresso. Booze-forward bottles include Smoke on Wheels Bootleg Bourbon and Blues Hog Whiskey Blues.
Like a bit of bite? Meat Mitch Stay Hot, Blues Hog Sizzlin' Heat, Kosmos Q Honey Jalapeno and Danny Balboas Rehab bring the heat. For the serious end, Uncle Mungos Bhut Jolokia BBQ and Cobra Chilli Black Magic sit near the top, and every product page shows its Hub Heat rating out of 11. For straight chilli, head to our hot sauce range.
How to use a grilling sauce without burning it
Most BBQ sauces carry sugar, and sugar burns. Brush sauce on in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the cook so it sets into a glaze instead of turning black. For pulled pork, mix a thin vinegar sauce through the meat after shredding. For a stickier finish, look at our BBQ glazes.
Pair it with a rub
Sauce and rub should work together. Try a Kansas City sauce over a sweet Kansas City rub, or a Carolina gold over a pork rub. Browse every maker on our brands page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Kansas City and Carolina BBQ sauce?
Kansas City sauce is thick, sweet and tomato-based, while Carolina sauce is thin and built on vinegar or, in South Carolina, mustard. Kansas City sauce clings to ribs and chicken as a glaze. Carolina sauces are made to soak into pulled pork and cut through the richness of the fat.
What is Alabama white sauce?
Alabama white sauce is a creamy, mayonnaise-based BBQ sauce with vinegar and black pepper. It comes from northern Alabama, where it is traditionally used on smoked chicken, either as a dip or brushed over the bird at the end. It also works well on wings, turkey and grilled vegetables.
When should I put BBQ sauce on meat?
Put BBQ sauce on in the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking. Most sauces contain sugar, which burns and turns bitter over long heat. Adding it late lets the sauce set into a tacky glaze. Thin vinegar sauces are the exception, as they can be mopped on during the cook.
What's the best BBQ sauce for pulled pork?
It depends on how you like your pork. A thin vinegar sauce like Lillie's Q Carolina Barbeque Sauce keeps it tangy, a mustard sauce like Croix Valley Sweet Carolina Gold adds a golden tang, and a sweeter sauce like Blues Hog Original gives a stickier, richer finish. Many cooks serve two side by side.
Is Texas BBQ sauce different from other styles?
Yes, Texas BBQ sauce is usually thinner and more savoury than Kansas City sauce, with less sugar. In Texas, beef is the star and the rub does most of the work, so sauce is often served on the side for dipping rather than brushed on. It suits brisket and beef ribs.