Homemade BBQ Rub Recipes

Homemade BBQ rubs differ from marinades and BBQ sauces in that they are dry. Like the name implies, you rub them into foods to infuse their flavor. One of the great things about rubs is their shelf life. Since they are dry, you can simply store them in a cabinet for a long time to come. So, once you find a rub that you really like you can easily make a big batch and store it for later use.

BBQ rubs are very easy to make and generally only require you to mix together the right amounts of several different spices. Don't be fooled by their simplicity though, rubs can dramatically change the flavor of food. Rubs can be used on a variety of foods but are most commonly used on ribs, whole chickens and other large pieces of meat.

BBQ rubs work best when applied in advance of cooking. Somewhere between ten minutes and three hours should be enough for the seasoning to soak in thoroughly. Rubs fit perfectly in between marinades, which should be applied about eight hours in advance, and BBQ sauces, which are generally applied during cooking. Because of the fact that making rubs is such a simply process, you can make all the homemade BBQ rub recipes listed on this page in under ten minutes, assuming you have the correct ingredients handy.

This first homemade BBQ rub recipe is for a very basic rub. It may be simple but you will be surprised at how much extra flavor it will add to your food. This rub is good on any type of meat.

Basic Homemade Rub Recipe

• 1/2 cup Garlic Powder
• 1/2 cup Salt
• 1/2 cup Black Pepper

Simply place the ingredients in a bowl and stir well to mix thoroughly. It is highly recommended that you use freshly ground black pepper and coarse salt. Kosher salt or sea salt work best.

You should rub the meat with the seasonings about ten minutes before you plan on BBQing the meat. This rub recipe is great because it is made entirely from from common kitchen spices. This makes it easy to whip up at the last minute or when you are short on time.

This next homemade BBQ rub recipe is for an Italian style rub. It can used on a variety of meats but it best on steaks, fish and chicken.

Homemade Italian Style Rub Recipe

• 1 tsp Oregano (Dry)
• 3 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black Pepper

Simply put the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. It is highly recommended that you use freshly ground black pepper and coarse salt, sea salt or kosher salt.

You can add half a teaspoon of dry basil to this rub for some extra flavor . You may also use fresh oregano and basil for a stronger taste. You will not be able to store this rub for very long though, if you do. You only need to apply this rub about twenty minutes before you begin cooking.

Next we have a homemade BBQ rub recipe for a hot and sweet rub for pork ribs. This rub recipe is actually great for any type of pork or chicken.

Homemade Hot and Sweet Rub Recipe For Pork Ribs

• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Chili Powder
• 1 tbsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Black Pepper
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 2 tsp Onion Powder

Simply mix the ingredients together in a bowl. You may want to transfer the rub to a plate if you are going to cook ribs. This way you can set the ribs on the plate while you season them. It's a lot easier than using a bowl.

If you are going to use this rub to cook a whole chicken, be sure to try and get as much rub as possible under the skin. This way the seasoning will not fall off while you are cooking and the meat, rather than the skin, will get most of flavor. You only need to apply this rub about twenty minutes before cooking the meat.

This next homemade BBQ rub recipe is for a sweet and spicy rub for beef ribs. This is the most complicated recipe found in this article but it is still very easy to make. This recipe is somewhat similar to the previous one but is sweeter in taste with only a hint of spicy hot flavor. This rub is best on beef ribs but goes well with most any type of beef.

Homemade Sweet and Spicy Rub Recipe For Beef Ribs

• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 3 tbsp Garlic Powder
• 3 tbsp Black Pepper
• 2 tbsp Salt
• 2 tbsp Chili Powder
• 1/2 tsp Cumin (Ground)
• 1/2 tsp Thyme
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 Bay Leaf (Dry, Crushed)

Simply mix the ingredients in a bowl. You may want to transfer the rub to plate if you plan on using it for ribs.

This rub should be applied about 3 hours before you plan on cooking. A good tip is to wrap the meat in plastic wrap after you have applied the rub. Then, place the meat in the refrigerator. This will help prevent the rub from drying out. Be sure to take the meat out of the refrigerator in enough time to allow it to warm to room temperature before grilling.

Our last homemade BBQ rub recipe is for a pepper rub. This rub is simple but delicious. It is best on steaks and burgers but goes well with most types of meat.

Homemade Pepper Rub Recipe

• 3 tbsp White Pepper
• 1 tbsp Coriander (Ground)
• 1/4 cup Black Pepper
• 3 tbsp Salt

Simply mix the ingredients in a bowl and you are done. It is highly recommended that you use freshly ground pepper and coarse salt, like kosher salt or sea salt.

Apply this rub about ten minutes before you plan on BBQing the meat. To add some extra kick, try adding a teaspoon or two of dry ground habanero. Just be careful, habanero is very hot. A good suggestion is to serve a cool dip, like tzatziki, with the food. The cool dip will be a great contrast to the spicy hot flavor of the meat.

If you didn't find a flavor that suits you here, check our articles on Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipes, Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipes and Homemade Marinade Recipes for BBQs.

You could also try these rubs with the Roast Picnic Pork Shoulder Recipe found on your sister site.

A Quick BBQ Fact:

Did you know there are six different ways to spell barbecue in the english language? BBQ, Bar-BQ, Bar-B-Cue, Bar-B-Que, Barbeque and Barbecue. That's a lot of BBQs!