Easy Homemade BBQ Dry Rub for Chicken, Pork, or Ribs
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If you’re looking for an easy homemade seasoning to keep on hand for quick family dinners, this sweet, smoky dry rub is a simple pantry blend that adds big flavor with almost no effort. Just mix a few everyday spices together, and you’ll have a versatile BBQ seasoning that works beautifully on chicken, pork, ribs, or even roasted vegetables.
When you need an easy way to add big flavor to dinner without extra work, homemade seasoning blends are one of the best shortcuts. If you love simple pantry mixes like this, you might also enjoy our other easy family dinner recipes, grilling ideas, and homemade seasoning blends that help make weeknight cooking faster and more flavorful. This sweet smoky BBQ dry rub is made with simple pantry spices and comes together in just minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or weekend cookouts.
Homemade dry rubs are one of the easiest ways to add consistent flavor to everyday meals without relying on store-bought seasoning blends. Having a simple BBQ rub ready in your pantry makes it easy to season chicken, pork, or ribs any time you cook. This sweet smoky blend is designed to be an all-purpose family-friendly seasoning you can use year-round.
❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS DRY RUB
- ✔ Made with simple pantry ingredients you probably already have
- ✔ Takes only minutes to mix together
- ✔ Sweet, smoky, and perfectly balanced for family-friendly meals
- ✔ Works on chicken, pork, ribs, burgers, and more
- ✔ Stores well so you can make it once and use it for months
You’ll Need
- ¼ cup sea salt (coarse works best, but fine is okay — avoid table salt; kosher salt works well)
- ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp Spanish paprika or smoked paprika (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp. minced dried onion flakes
How to Make Sweet Smoky Dry Rub
Add all ingredients to a medium mixing bowl.
Stir well until the spices and sugars are evenly combined.
Store the dry rub in an airtight jar or container.
That’s it — your homemade seasoning is ready to use.
Expert Tips
You can double, triple, or quadruple this recipe! “The more the better” is what I say.
How to Use This Dry Rub
This sweet smoky seasoning works great on:
- grilled chicken
- pork chops
- ribs
- baked chicken
- burgers
- roasted vegetables
Sprinkle generously over meat before cooking, or rub it in and let it sit for 30 minutes for extra flavor.
What meats work best with this seasoning?
This dry rub is especially good on:
- chicken
- pork chops
- ribs
- burgers
- roasted vegetables
Do I need to let the seasoning sit on the meat before cooking?
For the best flavor, let the dry rub sit on the meat for about 30 minutes before cooking. If you’re short on time, you can cook it right away.
❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use regular table salt instead of sea salt?
It’s best to use coarse sea salt or kosher salt for this recipe. Regular table salt can make the seasoning taste too salty because it’s more concentrated.
How long does homemade BBQ dry rub last?
When stored in an airtight container in a cool pantry, this dry rub can last up to 6 months. Shake the jar before using to redistribute the spices.
Can I make this dry rub less smoky?
Yes! Simply reduce the smoked paprika slightly or use regular paprika instead for a milder flavor.
Storage
Store the dry rub in an airtight jar in a cool pantry for up to 6 months. Shake or stir before using to redistribute the spices.
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BEST SERVING SIZE
Yield: 1 cup dry rub
Servings: about 16 servings
TIME
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sea salt (coarse works best, but fine is okay — avoid table salt; kosher salt works well)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 tbsp +2 tsp. Spanish paprika or smoked paprika (adjust to taste)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp minced dried onion flakes
Instructions
- dd all ingredients to a medium mixing bowl.
- Stir well until the spices and sugars are evenly combined.
- Store the dry rub in an airtight jar or container.
- That’s it — your homemade seasoning is ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition
~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.com
When you say dried onion, do you mean flakes or powder? Like the BBQ gift idea!
Sorry for the confusion. I used onion flakes. Thank you for asking. I’m sure I’ve confused others, as well. I’ll go edit the recipe to make it more clear.
I am almost out of my batch. 🙁 Drumsticks just won’t be the same without it! I need to get myself into the kitchen to make some more.
Awesome, love your recipe but unfortunately I am mustard allergy. Can I replace mustard with other ingredient ? I am so happy if you could answer my question.
Hi Anthony. You can leave the mustard out, altogether. Ground mustard is one of my favorite spices to add to any grilled meat dish. It’s in my top 3. It adds a little depth to the flavor, holds in moisture, and packs a little spicy heat. But, with so many other spices coming together for this blend, I don’t think you’ll miss out on flavor…at all! I really encourage you to make this, even without the mustard, and make a double batch. You’ll be so happy when all you have to do is rub this blend on your meat and instantly grill. It’s such a great time saver, and it gets compliments time and time again. If you really want to find a substitute for the mustard, then take a look at this link…I think the Turmeric powder would be your best bet. Here’s the link to ground mustard substitutions
I say more Garlic! 😉 hahahaha
I would never argue with that idea. You can never have enough garlic, right?! 🙂
Hi, I do not have Course or fine salt..can I use kosher salt? that is the closest to course salt that I have.
Yes, Kosher salt would be fantastic!
I’m thrilled to find a rub recipe that doesn’t have cayenne pepper, chili spice and is still tasty! Plus it’s wonderful on all meats and fowl! ! Thank you. My poor sensitive gut thanks you too! Sign me: canttaketheheat!
How long do you leave your rub on before cooking
There’s literally no wait time. Just rub the seasoning onto the meat and grill. The flavor is immediate. If you’d like to give the seasoning more time to flavor the meat, 30 minutes should be enough time.