BBQ by Region: Carolina, Texas, Memphis & More
By: Becky Bracken
Published: July 7, 2011

BBQ is so much more than just meats slathered with sauce. Oh no, friends, there are regions, partcularly in the Southern U.S., where BBQ teeters on the verge of spiritual pursuit. It's a deeply-rooted part of Southern culture that dates back to the 19th century. Communities would gather around smoky pits to talk politics, religion and swap news.
And then there was the BBQ. Plates heaped with smoky meats, sticky sauces and crisp slaws. That's what drew everyone from far and wide. And it still works like a charm in backyards across America today. 
Do you know what makes Memphis BBQ different from the Carolinas? Can you tell your vinegar-based sauces from tomato-based? Looking for authentic BBQ recipes that just beg for a cold beer and a cool swim? 
Here are more than a dozen recipes from ribs to burgers and beyond that represent the very best of American BBQ from Texas to Kansas City. Then, just call up a friends to show up hungry with a cooler full of beer. 
American regional BBQ facts and recipes continued here.