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BBQ Rub Recipe

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This all-purpose BBQ Rub recipe is something everyone should have. This is my go-to spice blend when I’m heading to the grill. It’s perfect for all types of grilled meats; you can even use it for your grilled vegetables! Whether you are grilling pork ribs, chicken, or beef, this barbecue rub will help amp up the flavors!

Looking for more amazing homemade grilling ideas? Why not check out this fantastic homemade BBQ Sauce? If you haven’t tried our extraordinary Montreal Steak Seasoning, you need to check it out!

BBQ Rub in a mason jar with a wooden spoon in the top.

HELPFUL ITEMS FOR THIS RECIPE

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small portion from qualifying purchases at no extra charge to you.

Stainless Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons Set

Wooden Cooking Spoons

16 Oz Mason Jars With Lids

What is BBQ rub made of?

BBQ Rub ingredients laid out in wooden spoons on a large wooden cutting board.

There are some common ingredients for most BBQ rubs. If you have a reasonably well-stocked spice cupboard, you likely have all or almost all of the ingredients already.

INGREDIENTS

  • Paprika (sweet or smoky, your choice)
  • Kosher salt
  • Brown sugar
  • Chili powder
  • Ground black pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Cayenne pepper

How to Make Your Own BBQ Rub

This recipe is so easy you are never going to buy any kind of dry rub from the store again! This spice rub is basically an “everyone in the pool” type of recipe. Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix, making sure that it is all well blended.

BBQ rub ingredients mixed together in a white bowl.

What can I use This BBQ rub for?

Homemade BBQ rub sprinkled on a rack of pork ribs.

I call this my “all-purpose” BBQ rub because you can use it simply for anything you want to grill, smoke or BBQ. It works as a dry rub marinade, a seasoning you apply just before cooking, and even as a finishing spice sprinkled on just before serving!

You can use this rub on chicken wings, steak, pork ribs, pork shoulder, and even turkey! I will almost always sprinkle some barbecue rub on everything I am grilling or smoking, even if I am planning to serve a sauce with my meal.

The base flavors of the rub enhance the overall flavors of the meat, even if you are smothering it in a sauce or serving a sauce on the side for dipping.

What style of BBQ are you cooking?

BBQ Rub on a wooden spoon over a bowl full of BBQ rub.

Texas-style BBQ is all about the dry rub. This all-purpose BBQ rub is perfect if you are looking to cook your beef Texas style because, in Texas, it’s mostly all about the beef, right?

Memphis-style BBQ can be either “dry” just using a dry rub or “wet” using a dry rub and, of course, BBQ sauce; whichever way you are preparing your Memphis BBQ, this rub will serve you well!

Even if you are looking to cook Kansas-style BBQ, which is typically covered with a thick sweet sauce, you need to start with a dry rub before you start to BBQ. Again this BBQ rub is going to make your Kansas City BBQ taste fantastic!

Homemade BBQ Rub mixed in a small white bowl.

Look at all the great flavors in that BBQ rub! It is like an explosion of taste; you just know that anything you put this rub on is going to taste great!

Can I change the recipe?

A clear mason jar fill to the top with BBQ Rub.

The best thing about homemade products is you can always make changes to suit your tastes or to suit a specific requirement. As you become comfortable with the ingredients in the rub, you can play around with different flavor profiles.

Say, for example, if you want your rub to have a little more kick, you can add some more cayenne pepper or some ancho chili pepper to the mix. If you like your rub to have a smoky flavor to it, use smoked paprika rather than sweet paprika.

If you want to substitute the lighter color and courser turbinado sugar in place of the finer darker brown sugar, feel free! You can modify this rub to fit whatever style or taste of grill or BBQ that you want. That’s what is great about making your own and not buying premade store-bought products that may have been sitting on the shelf for who knows how long!

BBQ Rub in a clear glass mason jar with a small wooden spoon in the rub.

Pin it Here!!

This all-purpose BBQ rub is perfect for anything from chicken to beef to pork that you are grilling, BBQing, or smoking.

Pin it HERE!!

This all-purpose BBQ rub is perfect for anything from chicken to beef to pork that you are grilling, BBQing, or smoking.

Homemade BBQ rub in a mason jar with a wooden spoon in the top

BBQ Rub Recipe

Ken Noland
Stop buying BQQ rub at the grocery store; make your own. It's easy, it tastes better, and best of all, you control the ingredients!!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Miscellaneous
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Cups
Calories 19 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 cup Paprika sweet or smoky, your choice
  • 1/4 cup Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 3 Tbsp ground black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 Tbsp onion powder
  • 1 Tbsp cayenne

Instructions
 

  • Mix the spices together in a small bowl.
  • Generously sprinkle the spice mixture over your meat before cooking, grilling, or smoking.
  • Store leftover spice in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.

Equipment

TILUCK Stainless Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons Set, Cups and Spoons,Kitchen Gadgets for Cooking & Baking (4+6)
TILUCK Stainless Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons Set, Cups and Spoons,Kitchen Gadgets for Cooking & Baking (4+6)
Kitchen Wooden Cooking Spoon, Solid Acacia Wood Serving Spoons for Mixing Stirring, Nonstick Kitchen Utensils Tableware Ladle Scoop for Soup Stews Salad Pasta Sauce Chili (2 Pieces)
Kitchen Wooden Cooking Spoon, Solid Acacia Wood Serving Spoons for Mixing Stirring, Nonstick Kitchen Utensils Tableware Ladle Scoop for Soup Stews Salad Pasta Sauce Chili (2 Pieces)
16 Oz Mason Jars With Lids, Labels and Measures! 6-Pack Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Glass Jar with Lid and Band. Airtight Canning Jars, Overnight Oats Jars, Salad Jars, Sourdough Starter Jar
16 Oz Mason Jars With Lids, Labels and Measures! 6-Pack Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Glass Jar with Lid and Band. Airtight Canning Jars, Overnight Oats Jars, Salad Jars, Sourdough Starter Jar

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 19kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gSodium: 504mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g
Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


1 Comment

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  1. Diana says

    May 25, 2025 at 12:06 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much! This is there perfect rub for all sorts of meats. I used it for my Memorial Day baby back ribs and they turned out yummy. Now I’m going to be adventurous and try it out on some veggies to roast 🙂

    Reply
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Hi, I’m Ken thanks for stopping by BBQing with the Nolands! I was born and raised in Western Canada. I grew up on the great wide open farmlands that produce some of the worlds’ best livestock and grains.
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