If you grew up in Oklahoma and then moved to another part of the country, you might notice that BBQ in other parts of the United States can be strikingly different. You might wish to replicate the type of BBQ that you loved at home, but find yourself stumped. The problem is that Oklahoma BBQ is difficult to define because it is a combination of different styles found throughout Texas and the Southeast. 

Wood-Smoked Meats

Oak-smoked meat is one of the most common BBQ dishes found in Oklahoma. Unlike with other types of wood, oak has a more mild flavor. Therefore, you're more likely to taste the meat than you are to taste the wood. Hickory wood will make your BBQ taste too much like it has come from Kansas City.

Oklahoma Sauces

One type of Oklahoma sauce is a sweet and spicy sauce that uses onions, paprika, garlic, celery seed, olive oil, and lemon juice. A sweet and spicy sauce is great when applied to a brisket. However, you don't want to rely too much on sauces because too much sauce will make your BBQ seem too similar to Kansas City BBQ. If the meat has too much of a tangy taste, it will taste too much like it's from Memphis. If it has a more vinegary taste, it will taste too much like it's from North Carolina.

Oklahoma Rubs

When a sauce is overused, this is often to disguise the fact that the meat has been over-cooked and is dried out. You don't want your meat to be dry because it will taste too much like the most classic Texas BBQ. If you're avoiding using too many sauces, you might instead choose a Memphis-style rub. This is what they mean when they say that you'll "get it dry." The rub is meant to make the meat spicier. 

Oklahoma Meats

Fortunately, there are a lot of meat selections you can choose from that are associated with Oklahoma. The most common are:

• Ribs
• Bologna sausage
• Beef brisket
• Chicken
• Pork
• Turkey

The types of meats you can use in a classic Oklahoma BBQ are flexible because this type of BBQ was invented by migrant European workers who were looking for any type of meat that they could purchase at an affordable price and flavor at a low cost. However, if you can't decide which meat to use, pork is the most associated with Oklahoma BBQ.