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    Home » Hunger

    Ultimate Summer Barbecue Spice Rub

    By Lauren on May 13, 2019, Updated April 27, 2021 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Are you looking for the best spice rub to make your barbecue the best? This Ultimate Summer BBQ Spice Rub has all the best flavors! It's a little sweet, with just enough heat and plenty of spice to jazz up any meat or vegetable you throw on the grill.

    You, you look ready. I see you. Ready to own the title of grill master, pit boss, smoker of meat and flipper of hamburgers. It's May and that means one thing. We're taking things outside and getting lit....I mean the grill, the grill is getting lit.

    IT IS BBQ SEASON.

    This post first appeared on Hunger Thirst Play in May 2017 and updated May 2019 with tastier photos and better tips!

    overhead view of spice rub in a mason jar

    When the first sneak peak of summer arrives there is one thing that we always keep stocked in the pantry - a quart size mason jar of this spice rub. It's so versatile. When we smoke racks of ribs, that's our rub. If we need to season chicken, we sprinkle it on. Hell, if it's raining and I want to stay inside I rub it on some boneless pork and make myself some Instant Pot Carnitas. If seasoning was a precious metal, this spice rub right here would be gold.

    Summer and BBQ season is nice because it's also the only time that Henry and I can cook together. Our cooking styles are hilariously incompatible in the kitchen. He'll season something when my back is turned, I'll adjust the heat when he's not looking, and so on. But when it's BBQ season, we're totally on the same page.

    spooning spice rub from a bowl

    What makes a good bbq spice rub?

    For us, it's kind of like a symphony of balanced flavors. I'm going to make this a music analogy because #bandgeekforlife. 

    Take the Boston Pops for example, right? There's a brass section, the wind instruments, percussion, strings and the keys. Everyone has a different part to play and the sounds are so different from one another but then BOOM! you put them together and it is sweet sweet music in your ears.

    mixing of spice ingredients by hand

    The same goes for this spice rub. The paprika and chili powder are going to be predominant like the brass instruments, you can always seem to hear those. Two kinds of sweet for both the taste and to caramelize into softness - I'm looking at you wind! 

    And then heat mellows in there like the beautiful sound of the string instruments and holy crap your food is making music in your mouth. It's unreal and this rub is going to get you a front row seat.

    bbq spice rub in a bowl

    So again just tor recap, here's why this rub is the ultimate summer season you want for your BBQ:

    • Sweet - brown sugar and turbinado sugar (aka sugar in the raw)
    • Heat - cayenne, ground mustard
    • Spice - paprika, chili powder, onion powder
    • Overall tenderizer and flavor booster - salt

    My favorite not-so-secret-anymore weapon in the rub is the turbinado sugar or raw sugar. Its larger crystal size gives such a great caramelization without being too sweet.

    overhead view of spice rub ingredients separated

    How to use a spice rub

    You can really get creative with what you put it on, but the how is just as easy as it's name...you rub it on.

    • On the smoker - be generous and rub the spice mix all over the protein (brisket, ribs, pork shoulder, etc.) . You want the rub to crust nicely on the outside.
    • On the grill - you can go for more of a sprinkle on the grill, make sure you coat the proteins and/or vegetables (try it on chicken, kebabs or asparagus!) When using this spice rub on the grill, it's more of a seasoning than a rub but still bringing a ton of flavor
    • In the Instant Pot/Slow Cooker - the instant pot carnitas I have coming for you guys uses this rub and it is SO DANG GOOD. But in the meantime, you can definitely make a batch of these slow cooker pulled pork sliders using this mix.

    bbq spice rub mix in a mason jar

    A beautiful, sunny day filled with a full grill, a low and slow smoker, or just eating al fresco with some deliciously seasoned eats - doesn't it all sound fantastic?!

    Love this spice rub? Here are some suggestions for what to serve beyond the protein:

    What to serve with your summer BBQ Spice Rub proteins:

    • Instant Pot Collard Greens with Jalapeño + Bacon
    • Endless Summer Broccoli Salad with Avocado Dressing
    • Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad from by best pal Leslie!
    • Easy Pepper Jack Skillet Cornbread
    • Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars

    Thirsty? Try these summer cocktails!

    • Earl Grey Lavender Bourbon Punch
    • Grapefruit and Rose Sangria
    • Blackberry Honey Bourbon Smash
    • Grapefruit Thyme Paloma
    • Watermelon Margarita from Vintage Kitty

    If you're loving this spice rub but don't have the time right now, you can grab the pin right here and pin it for later!

    spice mix in a bowl

    Barbecue Spice Rub

    Fire up those grills and smokers! This bbq spice rub recipe is perfect for grilling, smoking or even just braising your meats. Let your barbecue stand out with this perfect blend of spice, heat and sugar.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
    Course: Seasoning
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: barbecue rub, bbq spice rub, spice rub, spice rub for smoker
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 10 minutes mins
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 398kcal
    Author: Lauren
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
    • ¼ cup turbinado sugar (like Sugar in the Raw)
    • ¼ cup kosher salt
    • ½ cup paprika
    • 4 tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
    • 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
    • Using a whisk or clean, dry hands, thoroughly mix the spices.
    • Use liberally on protein of choice.
    • Store in an air tight container.

    Notes

    • If doubling the recipe, reduce chili powder by 1 tablespoon.
    • The brown sugar may cause some clumping after storage, if it occurs, remix using a whisk.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 98g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9629mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 90g | Vitamin A: 4506IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 3mg

     

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    Comments

    1. Jo says

      May 20, 2019 at 1:41 am

      I love all homemade spices and spice rubs. This is the ultimate BBQ rub. It looks absolutely wonderful.So easy to make as well.

      Reply
    2. Analida Braeger says

      May 19, 2019 at 10:38 pm

      very descriptive recipe with info on methods and proper use ! Along with a greta blend. It just got nice enough to get out the smoker and this is one rub i will try !

      Reply
    3. Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says

      May 19, 2019 at 7:52 pm

      The weird thing is, I never make my own spices. Even though it is so easy to do!! I seriously need to try this out!

      Reply
    4. Natalie says

      May 19, 2019 at 2:39 pm

      I always buy BBQ spice mix in store but now I'll just stop. This flavor combination sounds perfect and so amazing. + super easy to make. Can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    5. Lorie says

      May 19, 2019 at 9:01 am

      This one is gonna be on repeat all summer long for us. My hubby is the grilling king and is always looking for amazing ways to spice things up!

      Reply
    6. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

      May 18, 2019 at 8:00 pm

      God bless homemade spice rubs! They are economical, easy, make great gifts and are so easy to make! Loving this recipe’

      Reply
    7. Veronika's Kitchen says

      May 17, 2019 at 11:47 am

      I love homemade BBQ spice rubs and you always can play with ingredients and make it to your liking! Your version looks great and I am going to try it this weekend as we have friends coming over for a BBQ party!

      Reply
    8. Jenni says

      May 16, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      This spice rub sounds amazing! I love that is makes a giant vat of it, too! I can see myself using this on everything all summer long!

      Reply
    9. Dan from Platter Talk says

      May 16, 2019 at 5:34 am

      Barbecue season is here and we are always on the look-out for new rubs and spice mixes for our grill fare. Thanks for sharing this awesome-sounding rub; looking forward to giving it a try!

      Reply
    10. Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli says

      May 15, 2019 at 11:36 am

      We already loved it on Instagram, now saving the recipe to make it! It looks perfectly balanced and will add an amazing touch to our bbq dishes.

      Reply
    11. Elaine Benoit says

      May 14, 2019 at 8:39 am

      I don't grill but my sister does all the time, even in the winter. She's always complaining about how costly bbq spice rubs are, so I just sent her your recipe! I can't wait for her to try it so I can try it! 🙂

      Reply
    12. Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says

      May 13, 2019 at 6:16 pm

      YES...grilling time is finally here. You can never have TOO many rubs. Making your own blend is the best. You can customize it to exactly the way you like. Love getting spice rubs as hostess gifts too.

      Reply
    13. Linda says

      May 13, 2019 at 4:45 pm

      I just had a. Brilliant idea. I see Christmas gift in my future for friend gifts! Thanks Lauren!!

      Reply
    14. Leslie Kiszka says

      May 13, 2019 at 11:47 am

      I love, love, LOVE using turbinado sugar in my rubs, too - it seriously does make a difference in the final result.

      To be clear, I mean spice rubs. Not, like, back rubs. That would be weird.

      Reply
      • Lauren says

        May 13, 2019 at 12:26 pm

        This made me snort my coffee, so thank you for that. For our wedding, I made foot scrubs out of salt, oil and essential oils to put in the welcome bags and my BIL thought it was a toast spread. He wasn't a big fan of that.

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Lauren! This is my slice of the internet to share seasonally-inspired recipes. I live in the heart of New England with my two kiddos. Life is busy AND delicious!

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