THE STORY BEHIND THE BBQ

The Redneck BBQ Lab was founded January 2017 by Jerry L. Stephenson, Jr. and a college buddy who had a crazy idea to start a restaurant based on Jerry’s award winning BBQ. After a few years of conversations over drinks and ribs, the two found a spot in McGee’s Crossroads.

The Lab is focused on North Carolina BBQ with a scientific twist. We’re a North Carolina BBQ restaurant wanting to grow into a large tree in the Johnston County dirt we call home.

Never one to sit back and rest on laurels, the Lab features innovations and new recipes every month. Our sauces and rubs are made from our own recipes honed from years of competitions and caterings.

The Lab is outfitted with all sorts of BBQ and cooking gear, but what you won’t find is a freezer. Meats and sides are prepared each day. Our Redneck Technicians hand trim and season all the meats, hand strip collards and bake cornbread from scratch each morning.  

And when it’s gone, it’s gone. Real BBQ takes time, and our meats go on the smokers many hours before they are served.

Jerry’s sister, Roxanne, handled all the interior work. The walls are covered with vintage photographs of local Johnston County families working in fields, harvesting tobacco or standing in front of old farm houses.  Antique tobacco baskets and signs adorn the walls, and hand painted murals are outside.

The Lab is located at 12101 NC 210, Benson better known as exit 319 off I-40 at McGee’s Crossroads.