For Unforgettable Alabama-Style BBQ Chicken, Add A Packet Of This Seasoning

If you've never heard of Alabama white sauce, you're in for a treat. Rich and creamy, it's unlike any other style of barbeque, first and foremost because of its color. Thick, white sauce bespeckled with black pepper, its creamy texture delivers a boatload of flavor from a mixture of vinegar, mayonnaise, and ingredients that vary from home to home, including various styles of mustard, horseradish, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. A gift to basically any cut of smoked or grilled meat, it's most often served on chicken, which some insist is its most delicious application — especially if that chicken is dusted with ranch seasoning before it hits the grill.

Since Alabama white BBQ sauce gets its signature white hue from its mayo base, and most recipes for making ranch dip from the seasoning packet call for mayonnaise, it's easy to see where the flavor profiles for these two tasty condiments overlap. Both are tangy and zesty, with the ranch seasoning's lightly astringent herby notes gently cutting through the barbecue sauce's deep smoky-sweet richness.

Plus, ranch seasoning isn't just the best thing to sprinkle on homemade Chex mix or add to 3-ingredient Hidden Valley Ranch-style popcorn, it's also a classic seasoning for various cuts of chicken. Knowing this, the next logical step to making juicy and delicious chicken bursting with flavor is to use that flavorful seasoning packet as a dry rub on your favorite chicken pieces, then drape the char-grilled results with Alabama white sauce for the ultimate barbecue-meets-ranch summer cookout indulgence.

Possibly the only issue with combining these two delicious flavors is keeping them properly balanced. If you plan to use classic plain ranch seasoning, this won't be an issue, as regular ranch is often herb-forward with a beautifully subtle tanginess from powdered buttermilk that doesn't overshadow the spicy umami of Alabama white sauce. However, if you decide to use any seasonings that add a twist to the classic ranch base, you'll need to watch out for combinations that could dilute the barbecue sauce. For example, if you use a packet of buffalo flavored ranch seasoning , some of the nuances in the Alabama white sauce could get lost.

Of course, there are also creative ranch seasoning blends that can elevate the flavors of the barbecue sauce while infusing your chicken with a delicious flavor bomb. Black pepper and lemon juice are common ingredients in Alabama white sauce, so using a lemon pepper ranch seasoning packet as a dry rub for your chicken showcases those flavors. Your chicken gets an initial hit of citrusy, spicy goodness, which helps marry the ranch to the white sauce with those flavors as a bridge.

The biggest thing to watch out for is using flavors in either condiment that could clash with each other. For instance, Parmesan-infused ranch may not be the best choice, as the nutty, earthy notes could get muddled in the barbecue sauce. Though they might seem on point, you may also want to avoid taco-style ranch blends, as they're also fairly earthy, and distinct flavor profiles in both condiments will get lost. Stick to tangy, sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors for white barbecue chicken that really sings.