Rib Rub
Updated
Updated
Sweet and smoky, this Dry Rib Rub is made with brown sugar and a handful of seasonings to get that outdoor smoked flavor you crave in BBQ ribs. Perfect for summertime grilling.
We love to grill up ribs and serve them with some macaroni salad and coleslaw for a delicious backyard cookout!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItThis post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
The Best Dry Rub for Ribs
One thing our family loves is allll of the grilled meats. Whether it’s chicken, steak, or ribs, we’re firing up the grill at least a few times a week when the weather is nice.
BBQ ribs are definitely a favorite, especially if they’re coated in this BBQ rib rub. It has a brown sugar base which makes it more sweet than salty, with added spices like smoked paprika and cumin for that warm, smoky flavor. It’s perfect on its own or when paired with a BBQ sauce.
This recipe makes a 1/2 cup of dry rib rub, which is the perfect amount for 1 rack (2 1/2 pound) of baby back ribs, rubbing both sides of the rib rack generously with the mixture.
BBQ Rub Ingredients
All you need is brown sugar and a handful of spices. (Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Brown sugar – The molasses flavor in the brown sugar adds a light sweetness to the dry rub to balance out the heat of the other ingredients.
- Seasonings – In addition to salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, and dry mustard make up the spice mixture in this BBQ rub.
How to Make Rib Rub
Making homemade rib rub couldn’t be easier. (Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Combine the ingredients. Mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Use or store. Use right away on the ribs or store for later use. See below for storage directions.
BBQ Rub FAQs
Ribs (or other meat) should be rinsed and patted dry with paper towels, then use one hand to sprinkle the BBQ spice rub onto the ribs and the other hand to massage it into the meat.
BBQ rib rub can be used on ribs that will be smoked, grilled, baked, or even cooked in the instant pot. Dry rub can be used alone or in conjunction with BBQ sauce and should be added at least 15 minutes before cooking.
You can leave dry rub on as little as 15 minutes before cooking ribs, though 1 to 2 hours is recommended. The longer the dry rub is on the ribs, the stronger the flavor will be. You can leave the rub on for up to 12 hours.
You can leave the rub on the ribs for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. Any more than that and the salt will begin to pull moisture out of the meat.
I’ve found that 1/2 cup of dry rub is the perfect amount for a 2 1/2 pound rack of ribs. You want the ribs to be generously coated with the rub, so that it infuses into each bite.
Can I Use This On Other Meat?
While this BBQ spice rub is perfect for ribs, don’t feel like you need to limit yourself to just ribs. The brown sugar BBQ rub is great on grilled steak, chicken, and pork too! It adds a lovely savory, smoked flavor to any meat and makes a great all-purpose dry rub.
Proper Storage
If not using right away, you can store extra BBQ rub with your other spices. In fact, we like to make a double (or triple!) batch of this, so we always have some on hand for the next batch of ribs.
This dry rub seasoning mix will store well in an airtight container in a cool, dry place at room temperature, and away from sunlight, for up to 6 months. However, for the best flavor, use the rub within 2 months.
More Seasoning Mixes:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Rib Rub
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients until thoroughly incorporated.
- Use right away or store for later.
- We've found that a 1/2 cup of dry rub is the perfect amount for a 2 1/2 pound rack of ribs, rubbing both sides of the rib rack generously with the mixture.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
Doubled the amnt.& did a full rack of ribs.everyone was very impressed with the flavor. I might add they all had an opinion about the rub before tasting the end result. All differences vanished when they tasted the ribs.Great recipe. Thanks, Mike
I didnt use the chili powder in this recipe but it was delicious! Even my sons said not to change a thing! Thank you!
The best dry rub I’ve tried! Even my rib smoking friends say it’s awesome!
This is pretty much the rub I have been making for years except I leave the brown sugar out. Mainly because our favorite bbq sauce has enough sugar in it for the ribs. And we really aren’t into sweet things. But they come out perfect everytime.
This is the only way I do my ribs now. My husband is glad I found this recipe.
Sooo good!
Great rub!
Great rub recipe! The only seasoning I added was 1/2 teaspoon celery powder.
My family loved this mix. Perfect flavors.