You’ll love this sweet and smoky BBQ seasoning is perfect for ribs, chicken, or pulled pork and will really take your dish to the next level! Using this blend of spices before the meat is cooked, adds an incredible flavor and is excellent for your next barbecue.
If you’re looking to add flavor to your smoked or grilled meats like smoked brisket or grilled chicken or baked chicken drumsticks dry barbecue rubs are the way to go. The key to extraordinary flavor is a good balance of sweetness and smokey notes which create delicious flavors.
BBQ spice rub is a mixture of spices, herbs, and other seasonings that are sprinkled onto the meat before cooking. This is called a “dry rub” because it doesn’t contain any liquid ingredients and has a great aroma.
Dry rubs can add flavor, texture, and color to your meat and can easily be turned into an easy barbecue sauce.
Ingredients in BBQ Seasoning
Spices are the backbone of any good BBQ seasoning blend. They add depth and complexity to the flavor profile and help balance out the sweetness of the sugar. Below is the list of the ingredients.
- Chili powder: It introduces a smoky and subtly spicy flavor.
- Paprika: It contributes a sweet and smoky taste.
- Ground mustard: It provides a tangy flavor profile.
- Brown sugar: It adds a touch of sweetness while contributing to the crust.
- Garlic powder: It brings in a savory and umami essence.
- Onion powder: It adds a slightly pungent and sweet flavor.
- Salt and pepper: It work together to enhance the flavors of the other seasonings.
How to Make BBQ Seasoning
- To prepare this dry BBQ rub recipe, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly using a small whisk or a spoon. Make sure to evenly combine the ingredients for optimal flavor.
- Then, transfer the bbq seasoning to an airtight jar and keep it at room temperature in a dry place, away from light and heat.
How to Use BBQ Seasoning
There are a few different methods for using BBQ seasoning, including grilling and smoking. You can even add it to your french fries or buttered popcorn!
Grilling
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Grilling is a popular method for cooking meat and vegetables with BBQ seasoning.
- Rub the seasoning onto chicken wings, a pork shoulder, or baby back ribs before grilling.
- Allow the seasoning to sit on the meat for about 30 minutes before grilling (no need to do this with vegetables).
- Grill the meat or vegetables as you normally would.
Smoking
Smoking is another popular method for cooking your favorite meats with BBQ seasoning.
- Rub the seasoning onto the meat before smoking.
- Allow the seasoning to sit on the meat for 30 minutes up to 48 hours before smoking depending on how big the meat is.
- Smoke the meat in a smoker.
No matter which method you choose, remember, you can always add more seasoning if needed, but it’s difficult to remove seasoning once it has been added.
Experiment with different amounts of seasoning to find the perfect balance for you.
Recipe Tips
- When making your own all-purpose rub, feel free to experiment with different combinations of spices, herbs, and sugars to find the perfect balance of flavors for your taste.
- You can experiment with different herbs and spices to create your own unique flavor with natural ingredients.
- Customize your own BBQ seasoning according to your preferences. Feel free to experiment with additional spices, such as cumin, coriander, or even a touch of cinnamon.
Recipe Variations
When it comes to BBQ seasoning, there are endless variations you can try. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Spicy: If you like a little heat with your sweet, try adding some cumin or cayenne pepper to your BBQ seasoning mix. This will give your meat a nice spicy flavor.
- Tangy and Zesty: If you prefer a tangy and zesty flavor, try adding some lemon zest, dried thyme and dried oregano. This blend is perfect for adding a fresh, citrusy flavor to your meat.
- Bold and Robust: For a bold and robust homemade BBQ rub, mix together some coffee grounds, cocoa powder, smoked paprika, and a touch of cayenne pepper. This adds a rich, complex flavor to your meat.
Storing BBQ Seasoning
To Store: Use an airtight container like a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid to store it. This will help prevent air and moisture from getting in, which can cause the seasoning to lose its flavor and aroma.
Keep it in a Cool, Dry Place: You should keep your seasoning in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and moisture at room temperature. A pantry or cupboard is a good place to store your seasoning.
Avoid Freezing or Refrigerating: Freezing or refrigerating can cause the moisture in the seasoning to crystallize. This can affect the flavor and texture of the seasoning.
Label and Date Your Container: To ensure you are using the freshest seasoning possible, it is a good idea to label and date your container. This will help you keep track of when you made the seasoning and when it needs to be replaced.
Ways to Use BBQ Seasoning
- Sprinkle BBQ seasoning on grilled meats like chicken, steak, pork chops, or burgers.
- Give your side dishes a flavor boost by tossing them with BBQ seasoning. Roasted sweet potatoes, grilled vegetables (think corn on the cob, bell peppers, or asparagus), or even potato salad and steak cabbage will all benefit from this tasty addition.
- Soak up the flavors of these baked chicken wings, oven baked ribs, or boil shrimp by adding this BBQ seasoning.
- Take your popcorn game to the next level by sprinkling BBQ seasoning on top.
- Elevate the flavour of your homemade fries or potato wedges by tossing them in BBQ seasoning before baking or frying. The result? Crispy, smoky, and utterly delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions
BBQ rubs can vary depending on the region and personal preference.
Some common ingredients in BBQ rubs include brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
Some people may also add cayenne pepper, mustard powder, or dried herbs like thyme or oregano to their rubs for great flavor.
BBQ rubs can vary depending on the region and personal preference.
Some common ingredients in BBQ rubs include brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Some people may also add cayenne pepper, mustard powder, or dried herbs like thyme or oregano to their rubs for great flavor.
BBQ rubs are typically a blend of spice mixes and herbs that are rubbed onto meat right before cooking. They are meant to add flavor to the meat and create a crust on the outside.
Wet rubs, on the other hand, are a blend of spices that include liquid like citrus juice or vinegar that are allowed to soak into the meat before cooking.
When making a homemade BBQ seasoning blend, start with a base of your favorite spices. From there, you can add other spices and herbs to customize the flavor to your liking.
Be sure to taste the combination of spices as you go and adjust the amounts of each ingredient as needed.
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BBQ Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 2 teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, salt, brown sugar, onion powder, chili powder, ground mustard, and black pepper.
- Store in a sealed container at room temperature.
Tips
- Make sure to store the bbq seasoning at a dry place like a pantry, kitchen cabinet or kitchen drawer. This will ensure its freshness.
- Use a glass jar to store it.
- The rub can be stored for at least 3 months.
- Use this recipe on any kind of protein and even some grilled veggie recipes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
pam says
good rub recipe, but I went light on salt + added white pepper for a bit
more heat. made 5x recipe and gave it out at a BBQ to guests that I knew would want recipe !!
Olivia says
That’s amazing. Great idea!