Barbecue Dry Rub Recipe for the Best Barbecue!

Print this recipe  

Looking for a great barbecue dry rub recipe? Here you go.

Barbecue dry rubs are an essential part of real southern barbecue.

They can be as simple as salt and pepper, or as complicated as an I.R.S. tax form.

I like to keep things simple, so that's what we're going to do.

But remember...

To make great barbecue, you need to use a dry rub.

Why You Should Use a Barbecue Dry Rub

A dry rub does many things to make your barbecue delicious

  • The salt helps to pull moisture from the surface of the meat which gives you a nice, crisp bark.
  •  The salt also seasons the meat and brings out its natural flavors.
  • The sugar helps to brown the meat and add the "sweet" in sweet and spicy.
  • The salt and sugar act as natural preservatives, which cures the meat slightly, giving it a little more shelf life than meats cooked without a rub.
  • The spices give you the heat and earthy flavors that are essential to great barbecue.

The Secret Formula...

This barbecue dry rub recipe is absolutely fantastic. And that doesn't even do it justice.

The first time I made this rub, I kept sticking my finger in it like I was a little kid with a sugar bowl! I still do that on occasion.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

I discovered this recipe from Rockin' Ronnie Shewchuk's Podcast and now I'm going to reveal it to you!

Basically, the secret to the recipe is this; a third, a third, a third.

What do I mean by that? A third part sugar, a third part salt, and a third part spice. Then add 1 to 3 teaspoons of additional spices and herbs.

In this recipe, the last three ingredients; cumin, oregano and chipotle powder are the 1-3 teaspoons of additional herbs and spices. They complement the overall barbecue flavor profile very well and are an excellent choice for many barbecued foods.

This is a delicious blend of spices, seasonings and herbs that tastes great on just about anything. It's especially good on chicken and pork.

Print this recipe

Barbecue Dry Rub Recipe

  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup seasoned salt
  • 1/4 cup garlic salt
  • 1/4 cup onion salt
  • 1/4 cup celery salt
  • 1/3 cup freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup chili powder
  • 1/3 cup paprika or smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Store in an airtight container, or one of those big spice containers that you get at Costco for easy sprinkling.

For peak flavor, use only freshly ground black pepper.

Grinding 1/3 cup of black pepper by hand can be a chore. A spice grinder makes this an easy job.

Always use fresh spices and herbs, and use within three months of concocting.

This makes 3 cups of fantastic, lip-smacking rub. It's a lot, but you're going to be doing a lot of cooking, right? Besides, this taste good on just about anything, from French fries to veggies.  

Print this recipe

If you like this recipe, you have to check out Rockin' Ronnie's Book Barbecue Secrets Deluxe.

It's got barbecue, grilling and planking recipes. Ronnie also gives you lots of cooking tips and reveals the techniques he used to become a barbecue champion.

Really cool!

Image of Barbecue Secrets Deluxe BookBarbecue Secrets Deluxe!

Recipe Talk.

Be a Barbecue Know-Hower!

Do you have a question or comment about this recipe? Enter it below.

Have you've tried this recipe? Give us your review on it.

You'll be helping everyone who reads this page. And who knows, you may become famous!

Write your comments about this page in the box below.