THE BEST BARBECUE CHICKEN

For the Dry Rub

In a mixing bowl, combine all dry rub ingredients and whisk until fully incorporated.

For the Barbecue Sauce

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan - bring to a bare simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-10 minutes.

For the Chicken:

Using kitchen scissors, break down the whole chicken into 10 standard pieces and set aside on a baking sheet for dry rub. Sprinkle the dry rub evenly over the pieces, and rub thoroughly onto the broken down chicken.

Set dry-rubbed chicken aside on a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight.

Heat gas grill on high for 10-15 minutes - turn off heat, thoroughly brush grates, and coat with neutral-flavored oil. Return all burners to high and allow oil to cure for another 5-10 minutes.

Wrap wood chips or pellets in a foil packet, poking holes in the top - repeat 3x.

Turn off all burners except one on the far right of the grill, bringing ambient temperature to around 225-275F. Lift grill grates over burner, and place wood chip packet directly over heat shield. NOTE: if your burners are more powerful, you might be able to simply place the wood chip packet on the grill grates.

Maintaining the ambient temperature, place chicken pieces on the opposite side of the grill as the active burner, white meat further from the heat than the dark. Close the grill and try to keep it closed as long as possible, opening only to spray the chicken with apple juice (optional), and to replace the wood chip packet every 30 minutes. Rearrange the chicken if some pieces’ temperatures are rising faster than others.

Once the white meat registers 130F at its thickest point and dark meat 140F, turn on the burners directly underneath the chicken. Paint the top side with barbecue sauce, close the grill, and allow to blacken for 3-5 minutes. Once charred, flip the chicken, and paint its underside with barbecue sauce. Close the grill again, and char for another 3-5 minutes. Once the skin has picked up some nice color, flip once more, and paint with a final layer of barbecue sauce. Adjust the burners as necessary if the chicken is at or near target temp (155F white meat, 175F dark). Remove from heat, slather with remaining barbecue sauce, and serve.

For the Coleslaw

Soak shredded green cabbage in large bowl of heavily salted ice water - refrigerate for 1-4 hours. Rinse and drain. Pat dry on a rimmed baking sheet.

In a large bowl, combine mayo, cajun seasoning, sugar, salt, pepper, and olive oil - whisk until combined. Add cabbage and remaining vegetables, tossing to evenly dress. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

For the Homemade Mayo:

In a blender cup the same width as the head of your immersion blender, combine garlic, egg, mustard, lemon juice, and salt. Blitz with the immersion blender until smooth. With the blender head still in the cup, carefully stream the oil down the side of the cup, so that it settles on top of the egg. With the immersion blender on max speed, blend while pulsing upward, emulsifying the oil and egg mixture together into mayo. Refrigerate until ready to use.