What is Memphis BBQ Chicken? The Flavorful Southern Tradition You Need to Try

Memphis BBQ chicken is a mouthwatering Tennessee tradition that brings together the perfect blend of spices in a dry rub without necessarily needing sauce. Unlike other regional BBQ styles, Memphis chicken can be enjoyed “dry” with just the rub creating a delicious crust that locks in moisture and flavor. This unique approach to barbecue chicken has made it a standout in Southern cuisine.

The Origins of Memphis BBQ Chicken

Memphis, Tennessee sits at a crossroads of barbecue influences. To the southeast, you’ve got Alabama with its distinctive white barbecue sauce. Head east and you’ll find Carolina styles with their variety of sauces. Northwest brings you to St. Louis and Kansas City with their own unique approaches to cuts, sauces, and smoking techniques.

What makes Memphis BBQ chicken special is its ability to stand on its own without drowning in sauce. The city’s barbecue tradition comes in two main styles

• “Wet” – with barbecue sauce
• “Dry” – without barbecue sauce, relying on a sugar-based rub

The dry style is particularly unique to Memphis and is what gives their chicken its distinctive character. When cooked correctly, the sugar in the rub caramelizes to form a flavorful bark around the chicken that seals in moisture and creates an incredible depth of flavor.

What Makes Memphis Chicken Different from Other Southern Chicken?

I’ve tried lots of Southern chicken styles, and Memphis definitely stands out for a few key reasons:

1. The Dry Rub Focus While Nashville Hot Chicken gets doused in spicy sauce, Memphis Chicken lets the dry rub do the talking

2. Cooking Flexibility: Memphis chicken can be grilled, baked, or fried – making it super versatile compared to other regional styles.

3. Balanced Heat Profile You get tons of flavor without necessarily burning your face off Memphis chicken strikes that perfect balance between spice and taste

4. Smoking Technique: The use of hickory or pecan wood for smoking gives Memphis chicken its signature flavor.

The Essential Memphis BBQ Chicken Dry Rub

The heart and soul of Memphis BBQ chicken is the rub. While every pitmaster has their own secret formula, most Memphis dry rubs include:

• Granulated sugar
• Paprika
• Salt
• Onion powder
• Chili powder
• Black pepper
• Sometimes garlic powder and cayenne for extra kick

This blend of spices creates that distinctive Memphis flavor profile that’s got enough heat to be interesting but won’t leave you reaching desperately for water.

How to Make Authentic Memphis BBQ Chicken

Let me share with you how to make authentic Memphis style BBQ chicken at home. Trust me, your friends and family will be mighty impressed!

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs (or drumsticks/chicken breasts if preferred)
• 2.5 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons ground chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Materials:

• Disposable aluminum pan
• Hickory or Pecan wood chips

Instructions:

1. Prep Day Before: Mix all dry rub ingredients in a bowl until uniform. Apply generously to chicken and refrigerate overnight.

2. Prep Wood Chips: About an hour before cooking, soak your wood chips in water in the aluminum pan.

3. Set Up Your Grill: Arrange charcoal in two piles on either side of the charcoal tray, leaving space in the middle for your aluminum pan of wood chips.

4. Control Temperature: Aim for 300-350°F. Add charcoal or adjust airflow as needed.

5. Cook Indirectly: Place chicken thighs in the center of the grill, right above the pan of wood chips. This is crucial – cook for about 45 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165°F.

6. Let it Rest: After removing from the grill, let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

The key here is DO NOT FLIP THE CHICKEN! This is where many people mess up. Since we’re doing barbecue, not grilling, flipping will cause the sugar-based rub to fall off and get patchy. The sugar melts during cooking to create that amazing crust, and if you flip, the skin will peel off as the sugar fuses to the grates.

Best Cuts for Memphis BBQ Chicken

While you can use any chicken parts for Memphis BBQ, some cuts work better than others:

• Chicken Thighs: My personal favorite for the best combo of flavor and value
• Drumsticks: Great option, especially for parties
• Chicken Breasts: If you prefer white meat, go for bone-in, skin-on for best results
• Wings: Not typically recommended for Memphis style (though there are other great grilled wing recipes out there)

The bone provides structure and flavor during cooking, while the skin gives the rub something to “stick” to during the cooking process.

Memphis BBQ Sauce – The “Wet” Option

Even though Memphis is famous for its dry rub chicken, they do have their own style of BBQ sauce for those who prefer the “wet” approach. Memphis sauce occupies a middle ground in the BBQ sauce spectrum:

• Thinner than the sweet, thick sauces of Texas and Kansas City
• More substantial than the vinegar-based Carolina sauces
• Tomato-based with a balanced sweet-tangy profile
• Versatile enough to work on everything from ribs to chicken to burgers

If you do decide to use sauce with your Memphis chicken, it’s typically basted on during cooking rather than served on the side. This allows the sauce to caramelize slightly, adding another layer of flavor complexity.

Why Memphis BBQ Chicken is Gaining Popularity

I’ve noticed Memphis BBQ chicken gaining a lot more attention lately, and for good reason:

1. It’s Super Versatile: You can cook it multiple ways, making it perfect for both summer barbecues and cozy indoor dinners.

2. Unique Flavor Profile: The specific blend of spices in the dry rub gives it a taste that’s distinctly different from typical spicy or fried chicken.

3. Customizable Heat: You can easily adjust how spicy you want it by tweaking the amount of cayenne or adding milder spices.

4. Not Just Ribs: Memphis is known for ribs, but their chicken approach shows the depth of their BBQ tradition.

The Secret to Perfect Memphis BBQ Chicken

After trying to make this several times, I’ve found a few secrets to nailing authentic Memphis BBQ chicken:

Indirect Heat is Non-Negotiable

Direct heat will cook the outside too quickly while leaving the inside raw – not good for chicken! Always use indirect heat for even cooking.

Wood Choice Matters

Hickory is the traditional wood for Memphis BBQ chicken. If you can’t find hickory, pecan wood makes a good substitute. The smoke infusion is what gives that authentic Memphis taste.

Don’t Rush the Prep

Let the dry rub sit on your chicken overnight in the refrigerator. This extra time allows the flavors to penetrate the meat deeply.

Temperature Control is Key

Keep your grill between 300-350°F for proper cooking. Too hot and the sugar will burn; too cool and you’ll dry out the chicken waiting for it to reach safe temperature.

Memphis BBQ Chicken in Modern Cuisine

Memphis BBQ chicken isn’t just stuck in tradition – it’s finding its way into all sorts of modern dishes. Some creative uses I’ve seen include:

• Memphis BBQ chicken pizza
• Memphis BBQ chicken tacos
• Memphis BBQ chicken mac and cheese
• Memphis style chicken sandwiches

The versatility of the flavor profile makes it adaptable to fusion cuisines and modern interpretations while still honoring its Southern roots.

Regional BBQ Rivalry: How Memphis Stacks Up

Every BBQ region claims superiority, but Memphis holds its own in the never-ending debate. Here’s how it compares:

Final Thoughts on Memphis BBQ Chicken

Memphis BBQ chicken represents one of America’s great regional food traditions. While it might not get as much attention as the city’s famous ribs, the chicken showcases the same attention to spice blends, smoking techniques, and cooking methods that make Memphis BBQ special.

What I love most about Memphis BBQ chicken is how it celebrates the idea that sometimes less is more. By focusing on a perfect dry rub and proper smoking technique, you can create chicken that doesn’t need to hide behind sauce – though their tomato-based sauce is mighty tasty too if you prefer the “wet” style!

Whether you’re a BBQ novice or a seasoned pitmaster, Memphis BBQ chicken deserves a place in your cooking repertoire. It’s approachable enough for beginners but has enough nuance to satisfy BBQ purists. Plus, it’s just plain delicious!

So next time you’re firing up the grill or smoker, why not give Memphis BBQ chicken a try? You might just discover your new favorite way to enjoy chicken!