BBQ Rub Seasoning Recipe
Published January 26, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This BBQ rub seasoning recipe has notes of smoky, sweet, and a hint of spice, making it the perfect flavor for your smoked BBQ meats. You will love how amazing this tastes.
Using dry spices is a great way to taste your food over the top. It’s a simple procedure that will pay dividends in the flavor department. Try my Blackening Seasoning or my Lebanese 7 Spice; if you love using spices and seasoning blends,
BBQ Rub
BBQ rub combines dry spices and sugar that can be used on any proteins or vegetables before smoking or grilling. This can also be used as a dry brine on beef, chicken, pork, or poultry for 12 to 72 hours to help enhance the flavor. You can purchase several pre-made rubs to use, but most of the spices in this recipe can most likely be found in your cupboard.
This is very easy to prepare at home and will last if your dry spices do. I add salt to my recipe, so there is no need to add further seasoning to whatever you add. Try this BBQ rub on my Smoked Pork Shoulder or Smoked Chicken wings.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Salt – I always use sea salt in my cooking and baking.
- Pepper – freshly ground or pre-ground black pepper
- Sugar – I like to use light brown sugar for sweetness in this rub.
- Cumin – This will add some lovely earthy tones to this recipe.
- Onion – I prefer to use granules as opposed to powder.
- Garlic – Granules work better than powder.
- Paprika – Some smoked paprika will add smoky flavors to the rub.
- Cayenne – This will add some spice to the recipe.
- Mustard – Ground mustard adds great flavors to it.
How to Make a BBQ Rub
Add all the dry spices to a medium-sized bowl.
Using a fork, spoon, or whisk, mix everything until combined. Use, or cover and store.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this homemade BBQ spice rub several days or weeks before you’re ready to use it.
How to Store: Put in an airtight container and store in a cool dark place for up to 6 months.
Chef Notes + Tips
- You can add other dry spices: red pepper flakes, sugar, chili powder, cinnamon, or celery seed.
- You can also store this in glass jars with an air-tight lid.
More Seasoning Rub Recipes
BBQ Rub Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons sea salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ tablespoons onion granules
- 1 ½ tablespoons garlic granules
- 1 ½ tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
Instructions
- Add all the dry spices to a medium-sized bowl.
- Using a fork, spoon, or whisk, mix everything until combined. Use, or cover and store.
This was amazing! I did cut way back on the sugar because I am diabetic, but it was still great! I used it on chicken wings.
thanks for giving it a shot!!
This is a great rub and I use it on all my pork meat that I smoke or BBQ. Great Flavors
YUM!!! You don’t want to miss having this available in your pantry.
excellent!
👏🏼👏🏼 This is the best BBQ rub I’ve ever used, and I’ve purchased many “award” winning rubs over the years. I smoked a pork tenderloin for my family and didn’t tell them about this rub. I just waited for comments after we sat down and started to eat. After the first bite of pork they immediately commented on the flavor. I heard “dad, this is the best tenderloin you’ve ever smoked”. They raved about the “just right” amount of seasoning. “No sauce needed” was another comment. I use nothing else now on all my smoked meats. I even use it when I grill chicken. It’s perfect in that it enhances the flavor and doesn’t overpower it.
Love it!
Great recipe!!!!
many thanks!
Making this today.
This rub is amazing on all pork as well as poultry. Thank you, Chef Billy!
Awesome!
Can I omit the salt?
why not?
OMG, this rub is SO good! I made it and we used it on boneless pork ribs. Wow, what amazing flavor it added. This would also be great on chicken or steak. *I did substitute the brown sure for Swerve brown sugar, because we follow a diabetic diet. I used the same amount as called for with regular brown sugar and it worked well!
It’s a good one!
I have made many of your recipes but this is the most recent. Not alot of skill required but excellent flavor! I tripled it and have used it multiple times!
awesome
Yum and smells so good
so good!!
This is an excellent rub.
I had everything in my spice cabinet to make it.
I highly recommend this rub.
Awesome!