Why it works: Apple cider vinegar and honey work together. They rank in the top 11% of all ingredient pairs, and 169 recipes mention both. Both carry ethyl octanoate, which smells fruity. The science ↓
North Carolina Style BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Season chicken liberally with the barbecue rub and gently massage the rub into the meat.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce.
Light the grill
Place enough charcoal briquets to fill the charcoal compartment of a large chimney starter.
Wad up some oil-moistened newspaper, stick it under the compartment, and light.
Wait 15 minutes.
Once the coals are heated, disperse them evenly along the bottom of the grill.
Toss in soaked hickory chunks and reapply the grate.
Grill and serve
Grill chicken over medium-low, turning often and brushing with the vinegar mixture when turned, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Remove and let rest for 7 minutes.
While the chicken is resting, boil the remaining vinegar mixture on high for 5 minutes.
Drizzle the boiled mixture over the chicken and serve warm.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much aroma chemistry they share, and how many recipes mention both.
-
Apple cider vinegar + honeytop 11% of all pairsAroma overlaplowMentioned together169 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity).
-
Chicken + saucetop 23% of all pairsAroma overlaplowMentioned together4,513 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Chicken + honeytop 23% of all pairsAroma overlapmoderateMentioned together1,073 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl caproate (fruity).
-
Chicken + apple cider vinegartop 27% of all pairsAroma overlaplowMentioned together137 recipes
Shared aroma: sotolon (curry, maple).
-
Honey + saucetop 29% of all pairsAroma overlaplowMentioned together638 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Chicken thighs and drumsticks
- Bone-in dark meat stays moist and tender over the long, gentle cooking time.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Adds acidity that brightens the sauce and helps balance the richness of the meat.
- Honey
- Sweetness that caramelizes on the surface of the chicken, adding browning.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Adds savory depth and umami to the vinegar mopping sauce.
- Hickory chips
- Provides smoky aroma flavoring the chicken as it cooks over the coals.
The step that matters
Grilling to 165°F over medium-low heat. Dark meat is forgiving but pulling early leaves it underdone, while high heat burns the honey in the sauce before the meat cooks through. Turning and brushing often keeps the surface from scorching.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
Chicken Broth257 recipes
Chicken Soup156 recipes
Creamed Chicken89 recipes
Chicken Panada75 recipesThe Sunday pairing: one pairing, the chemistry behind it, and how to cook it. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account for sign-in; Pro adds the full results and chemistry.