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Alabama White Sauce Chicken hero image coming soon
1920s-present - Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama
Grilled or smoked chicken served with Alabama white barbecue sauce, a mayonnaise-and-vinegar sauce associated with Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur.
Difficulty
Moderate
Prep time
20 minutes
Cook time
45 minutes
Total time
1 hour 5 minutes
Servings
4
Region
Northern Alabama
Era introduced
1920s-present
Introduced by
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama
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Alabama white sauce stands apart from tomato-, mustard-, and vinegar-based barbecue sauces. It is pale, tangy, peppery, and especially tied to smoked chicken in northern Alabama. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur is the landmark most associated with the style, where cooked chicken is famously paired with a mayonnaise-and-vinegar sauce. This home version grills chicken pieces and serves the sauce on the side or brushed on at the end so the flavor stays bright.
Drafted with Alabama white sauce background and Big Bob Gibson references from Food & Wine (https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/big-bob-gibsons-chicken-white-barbecue-sauce), Meatwave (https://meatwave.com/recipes/smoked-chicken-with-big-bob-gibsons-alabama-white-barbecue-sauce-recipe), and poultry safety guidance from USDA/FSIS (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/chicken-farm-table).
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