BBQ Secrets Revealed: How to Make Perfect Drumsticks with Alabama White Sauce!
This Drumsticks with Alabama White Sauce recipe is one of The Director’s favorite meals, so I best not screw this up…
Things to know:
What are the main ingredients in Alabama white sauce?
Alabama White Sauce is a tangy, creamy BBQ sauce with a mayonnaise base, featuring key ingredients like vinegar, black pepper, and often lemon juice, with variations adding mustard, horseradish, garlic powder, or cayenne for extra zest. It offers a unique alternative to tomato-based sauces, perfect for chicken.
Who invented Alabama white sauce?
Alabama white sauce was invented by Robert “Big Bob” Gibson in Decatur, Alabama, around 1925 at his Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, initially using a tangy mayonnaise-vinegar base to keep his famously moist chicken from drying out during weekend cookouts. His recipe became famous and spread, inspiring many variations, though the core ingredient remains a mayonnaise and vinegar emulsion with black pepper.
What does Alabama white sauce taste like?
The Director says “heaven,” but here is a more thorough review: Alabama white sauce tastes creamy, tangy, and peppery, a big departure from tomato-based sauces, with a mayonnaise base cut by apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, plus a kick from horseradish, cayenne, and lots of black pepper, creating a zesty, savory, slightly spicy flavor that’s great on smoked chicken or pork. It’s often compared to a sassier, vinegar-forward ranch dressing or zesty coleslaw dressing, not overly sweet but with a complex tang that complements smoky meats.
What meat goes with Alabama white sauce?
Grilled or Smoked Chicken.
Slather on a Pulled Pork Sandwich.
Drizzle on Grilled Veggies.
Use as a Base for Coleslaw.
Smother Grilled Corn on the Cob.
Use as a Dipping Sauce for Everything!
What makes Alabama white sauce unique?
White BBQ sauce is a Southern favorite. This sauce is mayonnaise-based instead of tomato-based. It’s filled with flavor from the apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, and spices. Since there’s no tomatoes in it, that’s what gives it the signature white color.
Ingredients:
6 Chicken drumsticks
3 T BBQ seasoning
1 cup Mayo
1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar
1 T Brown sugar
1 T Dijon mustard
1 T Hot sauce
1 T Honey or Agave
1 t Cayenne pepper
1 t Horseradish
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Start with butterflying the chicken drumsticks. Slice the meat around the bone without cutting if off completely. Press down on the meat and the chicken should easily spread open resembling wings.
2. Season both sides of the chicken with your choice of BBQ seasoning.
3. Preheat the grill to 400 degrees and set it for direct heat. Once the grill is to temperature, place the drumsticks on the grates and flip every few minutes until you get some nice color on the meat.
4. Once the butterflied chicken drumsticks reach 175 degrees internal temp, remove the drumsticks off the grill and let them rest for 10-15 minutes.
5. For the Alabama White sauce, in a mixing bowl, add mayo, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, horseradish and honey or agave. Mix the ingredients together until you get a nice smooth consistency.
6. Before serving, dunk the butterflied chicken drumsticks meat side down in the sauce. ENJOY!
Equipment used:
Yoder YS640 Smoker
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