Charred, Smoky-Sweet Perfection for Your Fave BBQ Staples
Grilling season is our favorite time of year and this homemade BBQ rub is one of the reasons why. Our tried and true BBQ seasoning recipe is filled with flavor and takes less than 5 minutes to mix up. You’ll want to use it on everything!
All you need are 8 simple spices, many of which are probably already in your pantry. Chili powder, paprika, and cumin add a rich smokiness while garlic, onion, and mustard powder add plenty of aromatics. But our favorite part that makes this rub extra special is the touch of brown sugar—its sweetness balances the other flavors and also caramelizes beautifully on the grill. It’s the secret to gloriously charred edges and grill marks!
While grilled BBQ chicken is one of our faves, the spiced sweetness of this BBQ seasoning is also great with pork, steak, summer veggies, ribs, burgers, you name it. It also makes a quick and easy Shredded BBQ Chicken for the ultimate meal prep! This is an all-purpose BBQ dry rub that’s so versatile, we often make a double or triple batch to store and use all summer long. A go-to spice blend for good reason! 🔥
Grill Like a Backyard Pro ⭐
Step-by-step tutorials (like how to light the grill without burning your eyebrows off) & obsessively-tested tips (for juicy, charred results). Designed for meat lovers & vegetarians alike!
What’s a BBQ Spice Rub?
Like any cooking method, barbequed meats and veggies always benefit from seasoning. A BBQ dry rub is a blend of smoky, aromatic spices and a touch of sugar that season BBQ staples like pork and chicken or even tofu and veggies. The spice blend is “rubbed” into a protein or vegetable to add tons of flavor.
Why a rub? → A dry rub infuses the meat or veggie with tons of smoky, sweet goodness throughout the entire cooking process. Unlike a marinade, the BBQ dry rub stays in contact with the meat the whole time, giving off tons of flavor as it cooks.
Can you use dry rub and bbq sauce? → Sure thing—this is how we make our favorite grilled BBQ chicken! Season the meat with BBQ rub then grill and finish with a glaze of BBQ sauce.
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Buy Now → How to Make BBQ Dry Rub
Making this homemade dry rub couldn’t be easier! It takes about 5 minutes tops and is simple enough to memorize quickly. Hint: our BBQ rub recipe uses 1 ½ tsp of every spice except brown sugar.
To make this BBQ rub seasoning, simply gather your spices, measure, and mix! That’s it!
Make Ahead and Storage: This BBQ seasoning recipe is super make-ahead-friendly. One of our favorite tricks is to make a double or triple batch so we have plenty of BBQ dry rub on-hand during grilling season. It’ll last on your spice rack for up to 2 months!
Pro Tip! ⇢ Store a batch of homemade BBQ rub in an airtight container like a mason jar. Keep it within reach in your pantry or spice rack so you can use it over and over. You’ll know the BBQ seasoning is past its prime if it’s clumping together or losing its fragrance.
Serving Suggestions
Once you’ve made your BBQ rub, all that’s left is to sprinkle it on anything and everything. 🤤
To apply the dry rub, sprinkle the BBQ seasoning on the surface of your protein or vegetable and use your hands to “rub” it in. You want to make sure you are rubbing it in, but don’t want it to fall off. To do that, press the dry rub into the meat, tofu, or veggies, and repeat all over!
A few ideas to get you started…
- BBQ Pulled Pork – Great for sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, and more.
- Chicken – Use for drumsticks, breasts, chicken thighs, chicken wings, or even a whole grilled chicken. Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken is a fun spin on the classic, or try a BBQ Chicken Bowl or Shredded BBQ Chicken, perfect for stuffing inside sliders or sandwiches.
- Pork – Our Must-Have Pulled Pork and Grilled Baby Back Ribs are our favorite ways to pair with pork.
- Seafood – Delicate proteins like seafood don’t need as much seasoning as a hearty steak. Its tender flesh will soak up plenty of flavor. A little goes a long way here! We love a sprinkle of dry rub on shrimp or salmon most.
- Grilled Veggies – While this BBQ rub is delicious on all veggies, we particularly love it on grilled sweet potatoes, peppers, and onions. It also makes a great cauliflower steak. Simply dust the veggies in seasoning before you add them to the grill. One of the best parts of summer!
I can’t wait for you to try this BBQ Dry Rub! If you do, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!
Print
All-Purpose BBQ Dry Rub (Chicken, Pork, Ribs, and More!)
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: 1/3 cup 1x
- Category: Sauces & Condiments
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
The perfect BBQ Dry Rub for grilling season and more!
This easy BBQ seasoning uses a blend of smoky and aromatic cumin, paprika, garlic powder and mustard powder, plus brown sugar for a touch of sweetness. As a big bonus, the sugar caramelizes on the grill to give chicken, pork, steak, and veggies an irresistible char.
Mix the spices and sugar together, and store for up to 2 months! The ultimate BBQ rub recipe for backyard cookouts and easy weeknight meals! Made with 8 ingredients.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons mustard powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- optional: pinch – ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add all listed ingredients to a small bowl or jar. Stir to combine. Set aside, or store on your spice rack in an airtight container.
- Use the rub to season your favorite proteins. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make Ahead and Storage: This BBQ seasoning recipe is super make-ahead-friendly. One of our favorite tricks is to make a double or triple batch so we have plenty of BBQ dry rub on-hand during grilling season. It’ll last on your spice rack for up to 2 months!
