Smoked Chicken with Alabama White Sauce

Name: Smoked Chicken with Alabama White Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 3-4 Chicken Leg Quarters; 1 cup Mayo; 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar; 1/4 cup horseradish; 1/4 cup Classic BBQ Rub; 1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce; 1 TBS Hot Sauce; 1/2 TBS kosher salt; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp cayenne; 1/2 tsp msg (optional)

Posted on Jun 20th, 2020

by Andrew Armstrong

Categories:

Large plate of smoked chicken covered in sauce

If you asked any of my friends or family to describe me with one word, they would probably say BBQ. Cooking and eating BBQ are two of my favorite things. When I’m not doing either of those I love learning about BBQ. From different regions, different countries, different cultures I try to soak up as much as I can. One of the more interesting and unique styles is smoked chicken with Alabama white sauce.

White BBQ Sauce?

White BBQ Sauce? Yep. It’s a tangy mayo and vinegar-based sauce that is amazing on chicken. Besides chicken, it’s fantastic on just about anything you would want to use Ranch dressing on. I’m especially partial to using it on grilled carrots.

The Legend

Alabama White Sauce was made famous at the legendary Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ in Decatur, Alabama. Big Bob Gibson created his smoked chicken with Alabama white sauce way back in 1925. Since then, his small bbq operation has grown into a world-famous institution. Since 2000, the crew from Big Bob Gibson’s, lead by pitmaster Chris Lilly, have been crowned Grand Champion 5 times at the Memphis in May World Championships. Needless to say, they know BBQ.

The sign outside of Big Bob Gibson's BBQ — I stopped in and had some grub on my way down to Gulf Shores for a family vacation.

Two Memphis in May World Championship trophies. — They take their competition BBQ VERY seriously. The dedication is evident by all the Championship trophies scattered around the restaurant.

Mainstream Attention

In recent years the white sauce has risen to fame in many areas outside the state of Alabama. Today, BBQ restaurants from all over the country offer their version of smoked chicken with Alabama white sauce. As I said before I consider myself a student of the art of BBQ. I couldn’t help but tinker with my own version. After several different iterations, I’ve come up with a sauce that I think pays tribute to the original but is different enough to call my own.

In this particular recipe, I’ve made the decision to use chicken leg quarters because I had some leftover from butchering whole chickens. The truth is, its great on all the different parts of the chicken. It would go just as good on Whole Spatchcock Chickens or even as a substitute on these Sweet and Spicy Wings. As always if you make the recipe hit me up on social media @ilovemeatdotcom . If you make your own twist to this recipe I’d love to hear about that too. Enjoy the video!