BBQ face-off: Tennessee battles Alabama

For dressing:
Mix dressing ingredients together in a bowl, except the oil and salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

For seasoning:
Combine paprika, sugar and onion powder in a bowl and stir well. Keep in an airtight container for up to six months.

For sauce:
In a large saucepan, combine sauce ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 1 hour 15 minutes.

For chicken:
Rinse chicken halves in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken in a large bowl or baking dish, coat with Italian dressing and evenly season with Neely's seasoning. For best results, allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

If cooking inside, take the chicken out of the refrigerator and brush chicken with Neely's barbecue sauce.

Place into a preheated 350 degree F oven for 45 minutes.

If grilling outside, 30 minutes before you're ready to cook, take the chicken out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature. Preheat the grill to a medium temperature, about 275 degrees F, preferably over hickory and charcoal.

Place the chicken halves on the grill, meat side down. Cover grill and cook for about 50 minutes. Flip chicken over and let it brown until the chicken becomes golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. The wing and the drumstick should become very tender and will easily pull away at the joints. Brush the chicken with Neely's barbecue sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Inactive prep time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes

For Alabama white sauce:
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend for 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined and mixture is smooth. Pour sauce into a bowl.

For chicken:
Make a cut through the chicken parallel and beside the backbone. This will enable you to butterfly the chicken. Once the chicken is opened, pop the keel bone or breastbone (the dark bone separating the two breasts) out of the chicken.

Lightly coat each side of chicken with olive oil. Sprinkle salt on both sides and place skin side up on the cooker, away from the hot coals. Cook using indirect heat for 1 hour 30 minutes at 300 degrees. Flip chicken and season "meat side" with coarse-ground black pepper. Cook for an additional 1 hour 30 minutes at 300 degrees.

Remove the chicken from the cooker and submerge in a pan of Alabama white sauce. Cut and serve.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 3 hours