Best Homemade Spice Rub Recipe (Perfect for Grilling & Roasting)
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Ever wondered how to take your grilled meats and veggies from good to unforgettable? This homemade spice rub is the secret weapon you need—packed with bold flavors that will make everyone ask for your recipe.
Our BBQ Spice Rub recipe is smokey, slightly sweet, and packed with some heat. We’ll explain how to use it, why we use it, and how to make this Spice Rub the only one you’ll ever need.
Why Make Your Own Homemade Spice Rub?
A few years ago I did a spice cabinet deep dive. It was filled with spice blends that we used maybe once or twice. They weren’t what we were looking for so we would try another one. Now we have one mix that works for everything. There’s no need for multiple seasoning blends cluttering the pantry.
Store-bought spice blends can be bland or overly salty. Making your own homemade rub lets you tweak the flavors to match your taste—whether you love a smoky, sweet, or spicy kick.
We also found that pre-packaged rubs often contain preservatives, anti-caking agents, and unnecessary fillers. Homemade blends use only fresh, real ingredients for the best taste. Probably, they’re already in your pantry.
BBQ Spice Rub
John and I love to grill. We used to put a lot of sauce on our meat while grilling. Now, we really enjoy how dry rub brings out the true flavor of meat like our Oven Brisket. For saucy barbecue, we serve it on the side or slather it together at the end as we do with our BBQ Brisket Sandwich.
Pantry Spice Ingredients
The smoked paprika brings a rich, earthy depth, while the brown sugar adds just enough sweetness to balance the heat of the cayenne. Just take a look at all the ways you can use it.
This easy spice blend works on everything and is ready in 5 minutes! Grab a mixing bowl, add your ingredients, and whisk together.
All-Purpose Spice Blend – Usage Suggestions
Chicken – Rub generously on chicken breasts, thighs, or wings before grilling or roasting.
Pork – Perfect for pork chops, ribs, or pulled pork. Adds a smokey sweet crust.
Beef – Blend it into burgers or add a rub to steaks or brisket.
Seafood – Sprinkle lightly on shrimp, salmon, or tilapia for a bold twist.
Vegetables – Sprinkle over sweet potatoes or toss with roasted potatoes, corn, or cauliflower for extra flavor.
Popcorn & Nuts – Add a pinch to your favorite snack for a fun spicy kick!
Storage Recommendations
Homemade spice blends last up to 6 months if stored properly.
Use an airtight container. We recommend glass such as a mason jar or spice jar. Plastic containers work too but can absorb odors over time.
Keep It Cool & Dry. Store in a pantry or spice cabinet, away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight to prevent clumping and flavor loss.
Label It! Write the date on the jar so you know what it is and when you made it!
The brown sugar can cause it to clump over time. Just give it a shake or stir before using it. If the spices lose their aroma, it’s time to mix up a new batch.
Hostess Tips
You can double or even triple this recipe. Put it into a spice jar and it’s ready when your grilling inspiration hits.
If you like it spicy, add a touch more cayenne. It will boost the heat without changing the flavor. For a little more sweetness, add brown sugar. Add an herbal twist with dried thyme or oregano.
There are many varieties of paprika. Choosing the right one is key to making the best dry rub for grilling.
- Sweet Paprika – Mild, slightly sweet, and vibrant red. Best for adding color and subtle flavor without heat.
- Smoked Paprika – Rich, smoky, and earthy. Made from smoked dried peppers, it’s perfect for BBQ rubs and grilled meats.
- Hot Paprika – Similar to sweet paprika but with a spicy kick. Great for those who like a little heat in their rub.
Don’t show up empty-handed. DIY spice rubs make great gifts for food lovers! Packaged in a cute jar, they’re a thoughtful homemade present for holidays, BBQ parties, or housewarmings.
If you love this homemade spice rub, you’ll want to check out some of my other flavor-packed recipes! My Homemade Taco Seasoning is a must-have for quick and easy Mexican-inspired meals. And if you’re in the mood for something bold and savory, don’t miss my Creole Seasoning and homemade Blackening Seasoning recipes.
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Best Homemade Spice Rub Recipe – Perfect for BBQ & Grilling
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 4 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp dry mustard
- ½ tsp cayenne
- 1½ tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
This spice rub recipe was first released on April 1, 2016. It has been updated to improve our readers’ experience. We added simple details and new images. No changes were made to the actual recipe.
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This is our spice rub for about anything! It’s great on ribs or chicken. I make it by the pint now LOL.
Hi Julie, I have a question. Do you think this would be good on salmon? Also, what is your favorite meat to put it on? I am planning on trying it this week.
I love it on pork, beef or chicken, I’ve never put it on salmon. I’ve used it on wings, chops and ribs is amazing. It has that spice sweet thing going on, and if that appeals to you on salmon, I’d give it a try. Mix some up and taste it. I think that would help you decide? Let me know what you do.
Thanks, Julie! I will let you know. I love spicy/sweet! Looking forward to trying it.
Hi Julie, I just wanted to let you know I did try your rub recipe on salmon, and it was so good! I loved the combination of spicy and sweet. I am glad it makes a lot because I can’t wait to try it on other types of meat. Thanks so much for coming up with such a yummy combination of spices and sharing it with us!
Thank you Shari! I really appreciate you stopping back and letting me know. John just went on a fishing trip and brought a bunch back and now I know it would be good on fish too. Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
This sounds so good, Julie! I love all of the ingredients. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for doing all the work for us figuring out the best combination and measurements!
We love it on a lot of grilled meat Shari or even some veggies. I can’t wait until we can be outside and enjoy some great grilling.
Fabulous flavors and colors on that spice mix, Julie
Thank you sweet girl! Hope you are enjoying your weekend and FF!
That’s awesome Julie!
Thank you!
Perfect Julie, what a brilliant idea and just loving the name of your mix 🙂 I like the idea of brown sugar in it and with that heat and cumin, it can’t be beat! Roll on summer!
Thank you Loretta! I agree 100%. Bring on summer!!
Julie, I just love that you have your own spice rub recipe. How cool is that? 🙂 It looks like all the good stuff is in this one too: brown sugar, paprika, cayenne, black pepper. Nice! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe! Pinning. 🙂
Thank you Demeter! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
It sounds like a great spice mix – I’m always trying new ones and love discovering different combinations!
Thank you Corina! The name of your blog says it all!
Whenever my dad would go to US he would always pick up some Goode Company dry rub. It was my favourite thing on any sort of barbecued meat. This reminds me of it, with the sugar and spices. Sticky and glazed is one thing, but dry rub is another! It sounds so delicious Julie!
Awe thank you so much. I love traveling and seeing experiences the different spice combinations.
Slightly sweet with a bit of heat sounds great to me and I love your flavor combinations! Rubs are great because it’s a fantastic way to add tons of flavor quickly! Hope you have a great weekend!
Thank you Kathleen! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too.
I love the slightly-sweet and spicy flavorings in this–sounds so good, Julie!
Thank you Nancy! I just love what rubs do, especially on the grill. Have a wonderful weekend!
Very similar to what we use. Love those rubs!!
I bet your griller has some amazing mixes up his sleeve! I just love hanging out by the grill with an adult beverage. I’m waiting for some great weather. Enjoy your weekend!
I like this combination: a little heat and a little sweetness. I’m sure it goes well with any meat! 🙂
Thank you Ana! I’ve been using it for a couple of years and was worried that I’d loose it so thought it was time to get it on the blog. Thank you so much for your support!
I’ve been looking for a good rub, this might also be good with my honey powder. A keeper, I’ve pinned it. Thank you.
Honey powder? I’m going to have to check that out. Thank you Liz!
Fabulous spice mix, I’ll be making it for sure
Thank you Elaine! I hope you have a great weekend!