MSG Free Eastern Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
Tangy, fiery, and unapologetically simple, this classic Eastern Carolina-style sauce is everything a great vinegar BBQ sauce should be. The ingredient list is short and completely transparent — just two vinegars, a trio of peppers, sugar, and salt — which means you know exactly what's going into every drop. That matters more than people realize, because many store-bought BBQ sauces quietly sneak in flavor enhancers and additives that can be hard to spot on a label. Here, there's nothing to decode. The double vinegar base gives it that sharp, lip-smacking backbone, while the red pepper flakes and cayenne build a slow, satisfying heat. Letting the sauce steep off the heat is the key step — it gives the spices time to bloom and the whole thing to come together into something that tastes like it's been a family recipe for decades. Drizzle it over pulled pork, brush it onto grilled chicken, or just keep a jar in the fridge for whenever the craving hits.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tbsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- 1
Combine the apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking until the sugar and salt are fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes.
- 2
Remove from the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes, so the pepper flakes steep and the flavors meld.
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