Made in just 10 minutes, this simple and easy mustard BBQ sauce channels classic South Carolina flavors and delivers true “liquid gold” for all your favorite plant‑based grilled dishes this summer.
While I love a good Kansas City/St. Louis style red BBQ Sauce, this "Carolina Gold" Mustard BBQ sauce is slowly becoming one of my favorite's condiments! It has completely replacement my need for honey mustard and its super easy and simple to make.
Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar note 1
- ¼ cup sugar free brown sugar note 1
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small-sized pot and mix well. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat continue simmering for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as you go.
- After 5 minutes have elapsed, remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour sauce in a mason jar or airtight container. Serve at room temperature or place in the refrigerator, stored for later use.
Notes
- If using regular brown sugar only, start with 2 tablespoons and increase from there based on your taste buds. If using sugar free brown sugar only, start with ¼ cup and increase from there if needed based on your liking.
Nutrition
Mustard BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- Base: Unlike a thick tomato heavy vegan BBQ Sauce, mustard is the base for this one. Regular yellow mustard is what I use but you can jazz it up with Dijon, whole grain, or even bring Louisiana to the table with Creole Mustard.
- Vinegar: Mustard is already pretty "vinegary" so I would recommend apple cider vinegar vs white distilled vinegar.
- Sweetener: The sweetness level is totally up to your taste and how closely you track your macros. In this version, I went with maple syrup, light brown sugar, and some sugar‑free brown sugar. If you prefer other options, Bee Free Honey, agave, or coconut nectar all work beautifully.
- Spices and Flavors: This will largely depend on your flavor profile and how spicy you like your Mustard BBQ Sauce. For this recipe, I used garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and small amount of ketchup to round out the flavors (don't use too much of this to avoid making it tomato heavy.)
Mustard BBQ Sauce Step by Step Photos
Step One: This recipe couldn't be simpler. Just add all your ingredients to a pot, mix, and simmer for 5 minutes. that's it!
What to use this Mustard BBQ Sauce on?
This 'liquid gold' is your new meal prep essential working beautifully as a tofu marinade. It also serves well over vegan pulled pork, a dipping sauce for fried oyster mushrooms or Impossible nuggets, and a dressing for vegan potato salad.
Making it Work for Your Vegan Curves
- Bulking Tips (Gaining Vegan Curves/Muscle Gains): Use the recipe as written and feel free to increase the serving size paired with a higher calorie meal prep bowl.
- Maintenance Tips (Maintaining Vegan Curves): Use the recipe as written as this sauce already fits easily into a balanced plate without any modifications needed.
- Cutting Tips (Lose the Gut, Keep the Butt!): Swap all added sugar for a zero-calorie alternative like Swerve or pure liquid stevia.
Quick note: As always, NO SINGLE FOOD is responsible for weight gain or weight loss. That comes down to your total calorie intake overall. For a deeper breakdown on how to calculate your calories as a vegan, check out my vegan weight gain article.
Make-Ahead Prep & Storage Tips:
- Make-Ahead: Make this a day ahead or a few hours ahead before you plan to use it, allowing the flavors to deepen and fully come together.
- How to Store: Store in an airtight container like a mason jar for up to 10 days. Be sure to label and date your sauce.
- Freezer Friendly? You can but it won't freeze solid. You can freeze up to 3 months. The texture may change a bit so thaw out fully before use.
More Sauce Recipes
Visit my Dips and Sauces page for other homemade sauces and dips.
Update Notes
- Original Publication: 17 Jun 2019
- Recent Update: 04 May 2026 (republished with updated new recipe from Mango BBQ sauce to Mustard BBQ Sauce)
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© Gina Marie Hoskins. Vegan With Curves. All Rights Reserved. Unless noted otherwise, all images, recipes, & content are copyright protected and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. My images and written content are NOT to be used without prior permission. Read full Copyright Disclosure.
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