Alabama White Barbecue

:('s Note:

It's funny, I lived in Mississippi for a long time very close to Alabama and I never had this while I was there. It just figures that I would wait years to taste this deliciously different barbecue, which is creamy, tangy, and nicely smoky. The sauce will be thinner than what you normally expect with a tomato based sauce but it has just enough umph to make this chicken special. Now that my family has tried this, they wonder where it has been all their life!!!

• Total Time: 25 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 24 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 3

• 3 -3 1/2 lbs chicken pieces (legs, thighs, whatever)
• applewood smoking wood chips, soaked in hot water (optional)

For the Marinade

• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the White Barbecue Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons apple juice

Directions:

1. Clean chicken, cut into serving pieces, and set aside.
2. Mix together ingredients for marinade and pour over chicken in a resealable plastic bag or covered shallow dish.
3. Refrigerate chicken in marinade 6-24 hours, turning occasionally.
4. Allow chicken to come to room temp before cooking.
5. Drain chicken marinade and bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes in a small saucepan, then allow to cool (you will be using this as a baste during cooking).
6. Set up outdoor grill for cooking with indirect heat, using a drip pan to which you can add some apple juice or other liquid, if desired.
7. Sprinkle a small amount of drained soaked wood chips over coals just before adding chicken to the grill, and allow to smolder for the smoke to flavor the food.
8. You may add more chips to the coals occasionally as you baste, when the chips are gone and you need more.
9. When grill temp gets to 250-275F, grill chicken over the drip pan (not over the coals) for 90-100 minutes, basting occasionally, or until cooked through (about 180F), tender and golden, maintaining proper grill temperature throughout.
10. While chicken is cooking, whisk together sauce in a large enough bowl to hold the sauce and chicken (the sauce may appear thin).
11. When the chicken is cooked through, toss the chicken in the sauce and serve.
12. Don't sauce the chicken on the grill, as the sauce will tend to break down if you do that.

Reviews

[livingstonfran]

I just wanted to thank you for posting this recipe. I have always loved Alabama White BBQ Chicken. Hubby not so much. I saw your recipe and thought that the marinade was just what was missing when we had tried this dish before. I had an economy package of chicken thighs that were cheap so I thought no harm done if hubby did not like it. Hubby is anti outdoor BBQ cooking so I did have to do it in my oven. I baked it at 400 degrees and after a half hour I turned it down to 375. I marinated the chicken over night. I could not find my cayenne so I had so substitute hot sauce. And I did pat dry the chicken and season with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and salt and pepper before roasting. I made the BBQ as per your directions. Success, hubby loved it. He said, that now he understood the philosophy of Alabama White Barbecue.

[MichelleinHI]

My husband is SO picky and I'm a vegetarian so hard for me to decide what may be tasty or not. I decided to try this for him. We ended up not grilling until the next day so it marinated a little over 24 hours. It didn't smell good or look good. I wasn't sure if it would be good. Husband loved it! He can't wait to have it again!! Thanks for sharing such an interesting recipe.

[Babychops]

I didn't have any horseradish on hand so I used a tsp of wasabi powder, worked out fine. Delicious with a zing! Will keep this recipe on hand! Thanks Sue!