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Home » Grilling » BBQ Rub Recipe

Published: October 25, 2018 Last Modified: March 11, 2019 By Sara 70 Comments

BBQ Rub Recipe

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BBQ Rub Recipe | Homemade Spice Rub | Easy Spice Rub #spices #bbq #grilling #smoking #dinneratthezoo

This all purpose BBQ rub is a blend of barbecue spices that pairs perfectly with chicken, pork and beef. It’s great for grilled, roasted or smoked meats and you can even use it on vegetables and potatoes.

Barbecue spice rub is my to-go seasoning blend for meats, especially when it comes to grilling and smoking. I make a big batch and it lasts for months. You can even package up your spice blend and give it as gifts to the foodies in your life!

BBQ Rub Recipe | Homemade Spice Rub | Easy Spice Rub #spices #bbq #grilling #smoking #dinneratthezoo BBQ Rub Recipe | Homemade Spice Rub | Easy Spice Rub #spices #bbq #grilling #smoking #dinneratthezoo

A jar of BBQ rub made with brown sugar and a variety of spices.

I do a lot of grilling and smoking during the warmer months, and I decided it was high time I create an all purpose BBQ rub to season my meat. This spice rub is a little sweet, a little smoky, and loaded with aromatic spices to create a seasoning blend that can be used in so many ways.

How do you make BBQ Rub?

This recipe literally takes about 3 minutes to put together. The rub is a blend of brown sugar, regular paprika, smoked paprika, dry mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Stir everything together and you’re ready to get grilling.

 

A blend of brown sugar and spices to make BBQ rub.

This barbecue rub will keep for months if stored in a cool, dry place, so make a double or triple batch and you’ll have enough to get you through the spring and summer.

The ingredients for BBQ rub all mixed together in a bowl.

How do you use a BBQ rub?

I use this barbecue rub on so many different foods including

  • chicken thighs
  • steaks
  • chicken wings
  • burgers
  • pork tenderloin
  • chicken breasts
  • pork chops
  • roasted potatoes
  • roasted cauliflower
  • tofu

The only thing to keep in mind is that this rub does contain sugar, which means you want to take caution to make sure the sugar doesn’t burn if you’re grilling over high heat or broiling your meat.

BBQ rub on chicken thighs ready to be smoked or grilled.

BBQ Rub Variations

  • Spicy BBQ Rub: Add cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or ground chipotle pepper to the mix.
  • Garlic Lovers Rub: Double the amount of garlic in the recipe.
  • Mexican Rub: Add 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin and 1 teaspoon ground coriander to the mix.

Since this BBQ rub is shelf stable, it also makes a great gift for someone who loves to cook! Simply package the rub in small jars and add a homemade gift tag.

Smoked chicken thighs made with BBQ rub.

I use this BBQ rub at least once a week, it’s my favorite way to add a little zest to ordinary foods. This is also my go-to rub for smoking meat, simply rub your meat with the spices, smoke until a thermometer registers as done, and brush on a little BBQ sauce. You’re sure to get rave reviews!

More great grilling recipes

  • BBQ Pork Chops
  • Steak Kabobs
  • Jerk Shrimp Kabobs
  • Grilled Chicken Kabobs
  • Grilled Marinated Salmon
A jar of BBQ rub made with brown sugar and a variety of spices.
Print Pin
5 from 34 votes

BBQ Rub Recipe

This all purpose BBQ rub is a blend of spices that pairs perfectly with chicken, pork and beef. It's great for grilled, roasted or smoked meats and you can even use it on vegetables and potatoes.
Course Seasoning
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 6 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 53kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
  • Spice rub keeps for up to 3 months when stored in a cool, dry place.

Nutrition

Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Sodium: 388mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2300IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1.2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
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    Comments

    1. Jenna says

      October 9, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      I rubbed this all over a well-dried whole chicken and put it on a foil-lined broiler pan in the fridge, uncovered, overnight. I let it sit out at room temp for about an hour, rubbed it with 4 tbsp butter, roasted at 425 for 15min, then turned the temp down to 350 for a little more than an hour. The rub must have acted as kind of a dry brine because that was the best chicken I’ve ever made! It was seasoned to the bone, super juicy with the crispiest skin ever. I’ve roasted so many chickens over the years but THIS is my go to now. Thank you for sharing!!!

      Reply
    2. Charis says

      September 24, 2020 at 11:39 am

      5 stars
      This rub has become our go-to! We absolutely love it – chicken, pork, wings — whatever!! Love having this as a staple in the spice cabinet.

      Reply
    3. Jane says

      August 11, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect blend of seasonings! My chicken came out wonderful!

      Reply
    4. Marli says

      June 28, 2020 at 5:51 pm

      5 stars
      I have to say that I never leave reviews, but I felt like I needed to with this rub. I used this on chicken wings tonight and they were delicious! I even had to take a photo of them lol! Definitely keeping this recipe.

      Reply
      • Janet says

        July 16, 2020 at 7:32 am

        If I make these for a party on Saturday. Should I cook them on Friday night. Thank you

        Reply
    5. Irene says

      June 28, 2020 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      Just made baked chicken wings using this rub. Best wings ever.!! I followed the recipe exactly with the exception of the onion powder as I did not have any.

      Lots of rub for next time

      Thank you

      Reply
    6. Jennifer Burnier says

      June 21, 2020 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      I use this alot and love it. The first time I did a day ahead and took a whole 15 lbs precooked ham to a big Thanksgiving in baja ca and compliments from all over, calls from cousins saying it was the best ham they ever had, in fact one was mad his wife had finished the left overs I sent. Now I just home cured a 18 lbs pork leg for 9 days and just put the rub on sans salt and in the oven, the apple juice basting and maple glaze is going to take it over the top.

      Reply
      • Carol H King says

        July 24, 2020 at 1:07 am

        5 stars
        Will never fry wings again!!! Super

        Reply
    7. Jennifer Burnier says

      June 21, 2020 at 3:35 pm

      5 stars
      I use this alot and love it. The first time I did a day ahead and took a whole 15 lbs precooked ham to a big Thanksgiving in baja ca and compliments from all over, calls from cousins saying it was the best ham they ever had, in fact one was mad his wife had finished the left overs I sent. Now I just home cured a 18 lbs pork leg for 9 days and just put the rub on and in the oven, the apple juice basting and maple glaze is going to take it over the top.

      Reply
      • Carol H King says

        July 24, 2020 at 1:08 am

        Meant FRY, not try. They were the best.

        Reply
    8. Dionne says

      May 25, 2020 at 5:17 pm

      I used this today on chickens we smoked. I just left out the Cheyenne Pepper. It was great and I cannot wait to use it on a butt!!

      Reply
    9. Jessica says

      May 22, 2020 at 8:10 pm

      Thanks for sharing. If I don’t have smoked paprika on hand, could I substitute Spanish paprika or Hungarian paprika? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        May 22, 2020 at 8:14 pm

        Spanish paprika would work!

        Reply
    10. Raewyn says

      May 21, 2020 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      Two thumbs up. Chicken breasts rubbed with this, bbqed and then finished with a little sauce – such an easy delicious dinner.

      Reply
    11. Craig says

      May 8, 2020 at 5:58 am

      Absolutely delicious, I brined a whole chicken using your chicken brine recipe, used this rub and then smoked the chicken.
      BEST chicken I have ever tasted!! I did the chicken in a foil tray in the smoker. Whilst the chicken was resting I poured the juice from the tray into a small pan and reduced it on high heat to make the most delicious gravy ever!!

      Reply
    12. Shawna says

      May 5, 2020 at 8:33 am

      5 stars
      Our new go to! It’s great. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    13. Terrianne Williams says

      April 27, 2020 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      Awesome recipe, paired with the BBQ from your site we had the most amazing meal.

      Reply
    14. Natalie S says

      April 6, 2020 at 10:27 am

      I made this recipe tonight for dinner and all I can say is WOW. The flavor is absolutely incredible. I only added a fraction of the barbecue sauce after it was done cooking because the rub for the chicken tasted so go by itself. What a hit this was. I paired it with mashed potatoes and corn. Will be doing this again

      Reply
    15. Isabel Pelcastre says

      March 10, 2020 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Super quick to prep and very easy. My family loved this flavor and will be making it a part of our regular meals! It is a delicious flavor. Thanks for saving dinner tonight and helping me discover a quick prep meal that makes life easier and bellies happy!

      Reply
    16. Chisco says

      March 2, 2020 at 8:18 am

      5 stars
      Made beef ribs and pork ribs with this recipe and my family declared it the best ribs they have ever had. We love heat so I went heavy on the cayenne. I will make a quadruple batch for regular use! Thanks for sharing you fabulous recipe!

      Reply
      • Brian Clark says

        August 9, 2020 at 4:14 pm

        5 stars
        I have used baking powder, Not baking soda, in place of brown sugar when I bake chicken wings. The baking powder makes the wings crisp up nicely. I add as much baking powder as the amount of wings suggests. The Mexican spice rub variant is just as good as the BBQ standard rub. Well done with this rub, all around!

        Reply
    17. L.M. Herrmann says

      February 20, 2020 at 2:19 pm

      I just made this….going gung-ho on using the TBSP and put a tbsp of cayenne pepper in…lol!! Oh well….

      Reply
      • Masa says

        June 29, 2020 at 4:22 pm

        Can I use mustard instead of its powder?

        Reply
        • Sara says

          June 29, 2020 at 8:06 pm

          You can but you’d want to apply the mustard directly to your meat, don’t mix it into the spice blend!

          Reply
    18. Sharon says

      January 23, 2020 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      We liked this! When my husband first bit into the chicken he asked me if I used BBQ potato chips on it. 🙂 I told him that it was just spices and he said “good job”. Which tells me he liked it.
      I substituted some Stevia for about half the brown sugar. I’m on a no sugar diet but caved a little and added some of the brown sugar. It was tasty.
      Thanks !

      Reply
    19. Angela Bacon says

      January 17, 2020 at 5:36 pm

      Omg the aroma in my kitchen from this run should be made into an air freshener!

      Reply
    20. Amy says

      November 2, 2019 at 3:20 pm

      5 stars
      I used this run on a whole apple wood smoked chicken. It was really delicious and juicy!!!!! Thank you!!!

      Reply
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