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    Home » Recipes » Spice Blends

    BBQ Rub (for smoking and grilling)

    Published: Jun 1, 2020 · Modified: Nov 15, 2022 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments Jump To Video
    ultimate bbq rub recipe. pinterest image | foodologygeek
    homemade bbq rub recipe. pinterest image | fooodology geek
    ultimate bbq rub recipe. pinterest image | foodology geek

    This BBQ rub is perfect for brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and shrimp. Don't even get me started on how good this seasoning rub is on roasted sweet potatoes.

    I've tried hundreds of store-bought dry rubs and never found one I was completely in love with. So, I made my own.

    homemade bbq rub on a white plate | foodology geek

    You won't find a BBQ rub with a more balanced flavor profile anywhere! Make a batch today and store it in the cupboard.

    There are a few culinary categories that I have crowned myself an expert at.

    I feel like once you have eaten a metric ton of a particular food item and analyzed every detail of its character, it's reasonable to consider yourself an aficionado. Am I right?

    Barbecue is one of those food categories. While I'm still working on perfecting my grill maven status, I know what fantastic BBQ should taste like.

    BBQ should be smokey and sweet. A little bit of char and a lot of chewing bark. Slow-cooked over a cool smoke to perfection. My mouth is watering, just thinking of the next rack of ribs I'm going to make.

    It's my goal this summer to get on the Kamado grill train!

    bbq rub in a jar with a gold teaspoon

    What you'll love about this rub recipe.

    • Easy: Most of these ingredients you already have in your pantry. All you have to do is mix them up and then store them in an airtight container.
    • Super Handy: You can use this seasoning blend to season almost anything. Did I mention the sweet potatoes?
    • So Much Flavor: This bbq seasoning blend, of course, can be used when you are grilling, but it can also be used when you want to bake up a quick batch of chicken or add flavor to some pan-fried shrimp.

    Recipe Notes

    This recipe doesn't require much explanation. Simply add all the ingredients to a bowl, mix them together and then store them in an airtight container.

    My only advice is to find the highest quality spices that you can.

    My favorite spice merchants are:

    I usually order my spices in bulk. I put together a lovely magnetic spice rack in my kitchen if you are interested in checking it out, visit the post on how to build a spice pantry.

    • Mountain Rose Herbs
    • World Spice Merchants
    • Penzeys Spice Merchants
    Peach and bourbon with a sweet and spicy kick! You know you want it!
    Keep a batch of signature spice mix on hand – ALL THE TIME!

    PRO TIP: If I'm not using this rub right away I leave out the salt so I can adjust it to the type of meat I'm using. I find that pulled pork needs more salt than say bbq shrimp.

    Salt is an important element in barbecue so make sure that you season your meat well with a generous helping of kosher or sea salt. (ditch the iodized salt, please)

    Ingredient Notes for making BBQ Rub Seasoning

    Brown Sugar: I usually use coconut sugar or panela sugar. I like the rich flavor of these sugars in my bbq rub. Both of these sugars are less processed, still maintain some nutritional elements, and have a lower glycemic index when compared to traditional brown sugar.

    Salt: Barbecue needs a good amount of salt. Always Kosher salt. However, sometimes I leave the salt out of this recipe and add the salt in before cooking. That way, I can adjust the amount of salt I'm using. Fattier cuts of meat, like pork shoulder, can handle much more salt than shrimp.

    Paprika: This recipe can use regular sweet paprika or smoked paprika. I usually use smoked paprika. If you aren't going to be smoking your meat, smoked paprika adds a lovely element of smokey flavor to any dish.

    Chili Powder: Chili powder is a blend of spices. I use a lot of chili powder in cooking, which adds great flavor here! The spices in chili powder are similar to the ones used in this rub, in different ratios.

    Garlic Granules: I like to use garlic granules in my spice blends. I find that the granules are less cakey. They seem to keep better when storing.

    Dry Mustard: Dry mustard has virtually no flavor until it is mixed with liquid. Then it yields an earthy, spicy element to the essential barbecue rub.

    Oregano: Dried oregano provides an earthy, pungent, and slightly astringent flavor element to sauces.

    Cumin: Cumin is used in many different types of food to provide an earthy note. It is the main ingredient in Chili Powder. It's used heavily in Mexican, Thai, Indian and Vietnamese cooking. Some of my favorite kinds of food!

    Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a spicy, musty bite to recipes. Peppercorns have somewhat of a floral, piney character. I most often use tellicherry black peppercorns in cooking.

    Cayenne Pepper: Ahhh, cayenne. Sweet heat. Cayenne doesn't have a lot of flavors it has bitterness and tartness and a whole heck of a lot of spicinesses. Cayenne is the main ingredient in Tabasco sauce. Adjust the amount of cayenne in this recipe to suit your preference level.

    scoopful of bbq rub with the jar in the background | foodology geek
    This is seriously the BEST BBQ Rub recipe.

    What can you make with BBQ Spice Rub?

    • Pulled Pork
    • BBQ Pork Skewers
    • Easy Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Roasted Potatoes
    • Grilled Chicken Thighs
    • Spatchcocked Turkey (or Chicken)
    • BBQ Sauce Recipe- Sweet & Tangy
    • Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce
    • The BEST Smoked Ribs - Better Than 3-2-1
    • Smoked Pulled Pork

    What To Serve With BBQ

    • Spam Fried Rice
    • Watermelon Salad
    • Hawaiian Mac Salad
    • Classic Potato Salad
    • Baked Beans
    • Southern Coleslaw
    • Soft Fluffy Rolls
    • Potluck Recipes
    • Hawaiian Coleslaw - Sweet & Savory
    • How To Cut Butternut Squash
    • Street Corn Fritters With Spicy Sauce

    Other Spice Blends to Try

    • Buffalo Seasoning Blend
    • Mediterranean Seasoning
    • Poultry Seasoning
    • Dry Rub For Turkey
    • Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
    • Seasoning Blend Recipes
    • How to Make Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend from Scratch
    • Mediterranean Seasoning Blend

    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

    homemade bbq rub featured image | foodology geek
    Favorite Saved!

    BBQ Rub Seasoning Blend

    Laura Reigel
    This AMAZING BBQ rub recipe can be used to add flavor to so many things. It's way cheaper than buying a specialty rub in the store. Make a batch right in your own kitchen and then store it to use anytime you are craving that smokey-sweet bbq flavor.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 tablespoons
    Calories 75 kcal

    Equipment

    • spice jars

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup coconut sugar or panela sugar, or brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup kosher salt
    • ¼ cup smoked paprika
    • ¼ cup chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon garlic granules
    • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
    • 2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 2 teaspoon cumin
    • ¾ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
    • Store in an airtight container.

    Video

    Laura's Tips + Notes

    My favorite spice merchants are:

    I usually order my spices in bulk. I put together a lovely magnetic spice rack in my kitchen if you are interested in checking it out, visit the post on how to build a spice pantry.
    • Mountain Rose Herbs
    • World Spice Merchants
    • Penzeys Spice Merchants

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 145mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gCalcium: 47mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword bbq, Spice Mix, spice rub
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

    More Homemade Seasoning Blend Recipes

    • Homemade Poultry Seasoning Recipe
    • Dry Rub For Turkey
    • How To Make Butcher Salt
    • Chai Latte with Homemade Chai Spice Blend
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    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

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