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Carolina Gold BBQ Chicken is made with a tangy mustard-based barbecue sauce featuring yellow mustard, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and warm spices for that signature sweet-sharp flavor. This easy grilled chicken recipe comes together in about 40 minutes and is perfect for cookouts, weeknight dinners, or anytime you want a fresh twist on classic barbecue chicken.
Kellie’s Note
Carolina Gold Chicken
I fell in love with Carolina Gold BBQ sauce on my trips to South Carolina over the years. It’s the perfect balance of tangy and sweet with hints of mustard that make it perfect on chicken, pork and even grilled corn.
What makes this Carolina Gold BBQ Chicken recipe work so well is the sauce itself. The mustard gives it body, the vinegar keeps it bright, and repeated basting on the grill creates that glossy golden coating that makes Carolina-style barbecue so memorable. If you love barbecue sauces that are tangy, a little sweet, and full of personality, this is one to keep on repeat.
This recipe was inspired by the tangy mustard-based barbecue sauces served throughout the Carolinas, especially the golden style that clings beautifully to grilled chicken and adds bold flavor without feeling heavy.
Ingredients for Carolina Gold Chicken
This Carolina Gold-style sauce uses a few simple ingredients, but plays an important role in the balance of flavor in this classic sauce recipe.
- Yellow mustard gives the sauce its signature golden color, tang, and body.
- Brown sugar adds sweetness and helps balance the mustard and vinegar.
- Apple cider vinegar keeps the sauce bright and sharp.
- Fish sauce adds savory depth and makes the sauce taste fuller without making it taste fishy.
- Chili powder, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper round out the sauce with smoky warmth and a little heat.
- Chicken thighs and drumsticks are especially good here because they stay juicy on the grill and hold up well to repeated basting.
How to Make Carolina Gold BBQ Chicken
This recipe is simple: first, you simmer the Carolina Gold sauce until slightly thickened. Then you grill the chicken, turning and basting it several times so the sauce builds into a glossy golden coating without burning. A short rest at the end helps the juices settle before serving.
- Make the mustard barbecue sauce.
- Grill the chicken skin-side down first.
- Flip and baste in stages.
- Keep grilling and basting until the chicken is cooked through and golden.
- Rest for 5 minutes, then serve with extra sauce.
Kellie’s Tips and Substitutions
A few easy swaps can help if you’re missing an ingredient or want to adjust the flavor:
- No fish sauce? Use Worcestershire sauce instead.
- Want less heat? Reduce or omit the cayenne.
- Want more sweetness? Add a little extra brown sugar or honey.
- Using chicken breasts? You can, but watch them closely and cook just until done so they don’t dry out.
- Prefer a sharper mustard flavor? Use part yellow mustard and part Dijon, knowing it will taste less traditional.
What is Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce?
This Carolina BBQ Sauce is more of a vinegar/mustard based sauce rather than the tomato-y sauce that is so common to many of us. There are so many variations of Carolina Barbecue Sauce and many people will say it’s just vinegar based…no mustard and others will totally say they’re sooooo wrong…mustard is a necessity.
Well, to me…for the purpose of barbecue, I like my sauce a little thicker so I use mustard to give it a little body and help it adhere to the chicken better. Plus, it’s a very lovely color….and since we eat with our eyes this Carolina BBQ Chicken recipe is basted several times to ensure it develops that gorgeous golden color. So delish!
What does Carolina BBQ Sauce taste like?
With much less sugar than traditional BBQ sauce recipes, Carolina BBQ Sauce is much more tart and vinegar-y in flavor. Depending on the spiciness of the mustard you use, you can also have a much more pronounced peppery bite. A little of everything dances around in the BEST BBQ sauce recipe ever made…in my opinion.
What To Serve with Carolina Gold BBQ Chicken
This chicken pairs especially well with simple summer sides and classic barbecue favorites. Try serving it with:
- Easy Creamy Coleslaw
- The Best Way to Cook Corn on the Cob
- Easy German Potato Salad
- Easy Boston Baked Beans
- Buttermilk Cornbread
- Cucumber Onion Salad
- Amish Macaroni Salad
It’s also great sliced and served over my BBQ Chicken Cobb salad, tucked into sandwiches, or used for leftovers the next day.
If you’re looking for a few more easy BBQ recipes, we are also making this Blueberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce a ton and this Spicy BBQ Sauce is nothing short of miraculous. We also LOVE this Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce and, literally, put it on just about everything.
Carolina Gold BBQ Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- saucepan
- silicon spatula
- measuring spoon
- measuring cups
- grill
- basting brush
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups yellow mustard
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 4 chicken thighs
- 4 chicken legs
Instructions
- Preheat the grill for medium heat.
- Make the sauce: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the mustard, brown sugar, and cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Stir in the butter, water, fish sauce, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Start grilling the chicken: Place the chicken on the grill skin-side down and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Flip and baste: Turn the chicken over and baste generously with the sauce. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Continue basting: Turn the chicken again, baste, and cook for another 3 minutes. Repeat this process two more times, moving the chicken to a cooler part of the grill if the sauce starts to darken too quickly.
- Check for doneness: Continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through and reaches a safe internal temperature.
- Rest and serve: Transfer the chicken to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with extra sauce on the side if desired.
Notes
- Sauce can be made up to 5 days in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. Stir well before using.
- If the sauce thickens too much in the refrigerator, whisk in a small splash of water before basting.
- Worcestershire sauce can be used in place of fish sauce.
- Boneless chicken or chicken breasts can be used, but cooking time will be shorter.
- If grilling isn’t possible, roast the chicken in the oven at 425°F until cooked through, brushing with sauce during the final part of cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store extra Carolina Gold sauce separately in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To reheat chicken: Warm it in a 325°F oven until heated through, brushing with a little extra sauce to keep it moist. You can also reheat it gently in the microwave in short intervals.
- To reheat sauce: Warm it gently on the stovetop or microwave it briefly, stirring until smooth.
More Ways to Use Leftovers
Leftover Carolina Gold BBQ chicken is excellent chopped into salads, layered into sandwiches, or served in wraps the next day. It also works well with slaw for an easy lunch or quick weeknight dinner.
Super yummy BBQ sauce unlike any other that I’ve made. Thought I’d miss the ketchup, but nope! Actually used the sauce on a 2lb pork loin roast. Very, very good.
Looking forward to making this!!! Can you substitute fish oil with something else? And can you use chicken brest?
You can omit it or use Worcestershire sauce.
This was very tasty! I did my chicken in the oven @425 since it is cold and wet outside and turned the broil on low the last few minutes for some extra color. Sauce easily covered my 14-16 chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks) which I basted 3 times. Enough leftover for another 8ish pieces atleast? I can’t help but wonder how honey instead of the sugar would change the outcome, but it is very good as is.
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you liked it!
I love this recipe. I had never had this type of bbq sauce before. It is now something I will make all year round & It’s great on pork as well. Hubby gave it thumbs up & I can’t wait to share with guests.
I am anxious to try this barbecue chicken recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing, have to say I love your writing style too
Thank you so much!