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We don’t think that it’s dramatic to say that barbecue is more than just cooking—it’s a craft rooted in tradition, patience, and regional pride. Anyone from Texas, Tennessee, or any other BBQ powerhouse state will attest to that! From slow-smoked brisket in Texas to vinegar-kissed pork in the Carolinas, regional BBQ styles vary widely but all have a common thread – delicious tradition.

Here’s a breakdown of SOME of the most influential styles and what sets each one apart.

## Texas BBQ: Beef and Smoke

In Texas, beef reigns supreme—particularly brisket. Texas BBQ techniques emphasize simple seasoning (usually just salt and black pepper but Dickey’s always puts a little extra secret something in there for your tastebuds to love), hickory wood for smoking, and letting the meat’s natural flavor shine. The focus is on bark development, smoke penetration, and perfect tenderness. That’s why it is so important to smoke your brisket on low heat for a long time. We smoke ours for 18 hours! Low and Slow is the name of the BBQ game, especially when it comes to Texas brisket!

![Pit 2.jpg](https://cms-www-dickeys-com.s3.amazonaws.com/Pit_2_1037a655f7.jpg)


You know, Texas is such a huge state that there are even sub-regional BBQ styles. Across the state of Texas, there are big variations. For example, in Central Texas, Brisket is the main pride and joy, focused on simple rubs and no heavy sauces but travel east and you’ll find chopped beef and pork that is a little more sauce-forward. Then you have South Texas with neighboring influence bringing Barbacoa smoking to the forefront. West Texas has its own style by cooking directly over mesquite. The commonality in the state; however, is clear: Honoring the meat and letting the smoke do the work.

## Kansas City BBQ: Sweet, Saucy, and Bold

Unlike Texas, Kansas City barbecue is known for its thick, tomato-based sauce which is the perfect balance of sweetness, tanginess, and other spices. The flavor profile leans bold with sauces that are rich and glossy. More often than not, meats are often fully coated before serving in this sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. It’s approachable, crowd-pleasing barbecue with big personality, but it’s safe to say, you’ll probably need some napkins for cleanup from that delicious sauce!

##  Carolina BBQ: Vinegar and Whole Hog

Looking east to the Carolinas, pork is king. If you’ve ever visited one of the Carolinas or have ever even just met someone from either of the Carolinas, they’ll tell you that they’ve got the best pork pulled in the country. North Carolina uses a vinegar-based sauce with minimal sweetness, while South Carolina leans into mustard-based sauces. Coming from someone who has tried them both, they are delicious and have a worthy claim to the title of delicious pulled pork.

##  Memphis BBQ: Pork and Dry Rubs

Another regional BBQ to look at would be Tennessee. While is a bit of a divide here, with ribs served in 1 of 2 way. Delicious and sweet are the 2 words I would use to describe this region’s BBQ. The 2 ways that Memphis ribs are served are:
 
•	**Dry** – Coated in a flavorful spice rub

•	**Wet** – Brushed with sauce before or after cooking

![smoked ribs](https://cms-www-dickeys-com.s3.amazonaws.com/176_Reduced_1_bb12daa9a9.png)



Loyalists will say that dry rub ribs are the true signature of this region. The seasoning creates a flavorful crust that doesn’t rely on sauce to carry the delicious pork flavor of the ribs. Then there are those loyal to the sauce that swear the sauce brushed on after cooking is what makes a rib a rib. Either way, Memphis BBQ highlights spice balance and technique.

## Kansas City BBQ: Sweet and Saucy

Kansas City barbecue is known for its thick, tomato-based sauce that balances sweetness, tang, and spice. Meats are often coated or glazed in sauce, creating a rich, glossy finish. Kansas City BBQ is bold, approachable, and layered with flavor — perfect for those who love a sweet-meets-smoky combination.

No matter your preference in style or technique, understanding these regional BBQ styles can inspire your own flavor experiments and help you appreciate the diversity of barbecue traditions. You can learn from every region’s traditions and best practices to create a BBQ style all your own. Don’t miss out on some additional blogs coming soon to continue your Ultimate Guide to Texas Barbecue.
 




Texas Barbecue: The Ultimate Guide Regional BBQ Styles Explained

CEO Magazine: Secret Sauce: Laura Rea Dickey & Roland Dickey Jr

Dickey’s CEO Among 17 Women Shaping Restaurant Leadership

*Back & better than ever, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit reopens beloved Perrysburg location after fire* 

Months later, the smoke is rising again at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on [Fremont Pike](https://www.dickeys.com/locations/ohio/perrysburg/perrysburg). After a kitchen fire shut down operations of the beloved, locally-owned barbecue spot, franchise owner and US Army Combat Veteran Steve Mowery has reopened the doors to his restaurant and is excited to serve the greater Toledo area iconic pit-smoked favorites once again. 

Mowery, who also serves as a local deputy sheriff, spent the last several months rebuilding his restaurant located at 10413 Fremont Pike in Perrysburg with new fixtures and equipment. 

“This is more than just a restaurant to us,” said Mowery. “After the fire, we were determined to come back better than ever. We've missed our Perrysburg neighbors and thank everyone for their patience while we worked to bring them an experience as special as this town deserves." 

The community is invited to come out and enjoy the renewed space, which will kick-off with week-long celebrations including live music, family activities and special food deals. Here’s the schedule of this week’s events: 

**WHEN:** Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 8 

**WHERE:** Dickey’s Barbecue Pit located at 10413 Fremont Pike Perrysburg, OH 43551 

**WHAT:**
- **Thursday, March 5: **The reopening celebrations kick-off with a ribbon cutting as well as an invite-only special preview of the renovated digs and live set from the Ben DeLong Band from 4 to 7 p.m. 

- **Friday, March 6:** Local musician Stephen B. Hardy is bringing the weekend energy with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. 

- **Saturday, March 7:** Saturday is family fun day with a petting zoo for kids, courtesy of Sharpesville Family Farm, from 1 to 4 p.m. followed by Disney family trivia where the grand prize winner will go home with a new big-screen TV. Additionally, Madison Mitchell will perform live music throughout the evening and a pulled pork eating content will round out the night at 7 p.m. with the grand prize winner scoring FREE Dickey’s for a year. 

- **Sunday, March 8: **The reopening celebrations aren’t over yet as the community can enjoy a petting zoo for the second day in a row along with live music courtesy of Ryan Roth, a kid’s karaoke session hosted by DJ Mandi and more. 

- **All Week Long:** Lastly, throughout the week fans can take advantage of pit-smoked, in-restaurant deals including:
- - Buy one, get one free pulled pork sandwiches
- - $5 brisket sandwiches
- - $12.99 [two-meat plates](https://www.dickeys.com/menu/everyday/build-your-own-plate/2-meat-plate-2)
- - Half-price slabs of ribs for the first 36 customers 

![Dickey's BBQ Pit.jpg](https://cms-www-dickeys-com.s3.amazonaws.com/Dickey_s_BBQ_Pit_01d582099e.jpg)
 

“At Dickey’s, service is the heart of what we do,” said [Laura Rea Dickey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UliZ9dbFcEA), CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “Steve's dedication to service as a business owner, combat veteran and first responder, is what makes this restaurant so special and why we’re proud to see these doors open again." 

Offers are valid during the designated event period only at Dickey’s Perrysburg location. Limit one offer per customer. For updates and details on the reopening celebrations, follow Dickey's Barbecue Pit Perrysburg on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/DickeysBarbecuePerrysburg). To learn more, follow Dickey’s on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dickeysbarbecuepit/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dickeysbarbecuepit/). Download the [Dickey’s Barbecue Pit app](https://www.dickeys.com/promos/check-the-app) from the [Apple App Store](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dickeys-barbecue-pit/id1288151925?mt=8) or [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.olodickeysapp). 

## About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. 
Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the world’s largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by World War I Veteran, Travis Dickey. For the past 85 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests Legit. Texas. Barbecue™ alongside their iconic Big Yellow Cup. The Dallas-based, family-founded barbecue franchise serves slow-smoked meats and home-style sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included for dine-in, drive-thru (select locations) and pick-up ‘Cue the catering experts at Dickey’s by dialing the Catering Hotline at [+1-866-227-2328](tel:+18662272328) or visiting Dickey’s website to order or get a quote. For more information, visit [www.dickeys.com](http://www.dickeys.com/).

Dickey’s CEO Among 17 Women Shaping Restaurant Leadership

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