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Made with simple ingredients this homemade dry rub is sweet, savory, and spicy and perfect for flavoring meat or vegetables.
Use this dry rub recipe to add an irresistible flavor to dishes such as Chicken Bites, Instant Pot Ribs, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, or Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.
The Best Dry Rub Recipe
Using a dry rub is one of the quickest ways to impart intense flavor to your cooking. It is as simple as rubbing your protein of choice or vegetable with the dry rub and cooking as desired--no lengthy time is required for marinating!
And my recipe for a dry rub is the best! It is sweet from the brown sugar, smoky from the smoked paprika, and slightly spicy thanks to the addition of cayenne pepper. Rounded out with garlic powder and onion powder, this spice rub is the perfect contrast of sweet, savory, and spicy.
It is suitable to adding flavorful to anything from chicken to beef to pork to fish to tofu to even vegetables. And will guarantee better-tasting results!
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Recipe Highlights
How to Make Homemade Dry Rub
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Unlike my recipes for Taco Seasoning and Chili Seasoning, I recommend preparing this dry rub right before intending to use it. Due to the brown sugar in the dry rub, it can begin to clump up and cake together if stored for an extended period of time.
Thankfully, this dry rub recipe takes only a minute or two to put together, so you can prep it quickly whenever needed! It is as easy as combining the brown sugar with the salt and dried spices until well combined.
Kristen's Tip
Get the Most from this Dry Rub Recipe
Before applying this homemade dry rub to anything, it is important to pat the meat or vegetables dry. This will ensure that the spice mixture adheres to the surface and your recipes turn out delicious!
More Homemade Spice Blends
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
All-Purpose Dry Rub
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- Combine the 1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper together in a small bowl until everything is well combined.
- Use immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the pantry.
- Before applying a dry rub, it is important to pat the meat or vegetables dry with a paper towel to ensure that the rub sticks evenly to the surface and adheres well.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How after you put the on before you can cook the Boston butt?
Hi Wilma! I have instructions for cooking a boston pork butt using this rub in both the crockpot and Instant Pot. Enjoy!
An easy all around seasoning. The smoke paprika adds just enough character for any dish.
Wonderful! I am thrilled you enjoyed, Ric and appreciate you leaving a review.
This rub is the best!! We use it on so many meats!! It definitely adds great flavor!! I always try to have some on hand!
trying to find a all around rub for meat and fish
Yes! This will do the trick!
Used this dry rub for seasoning chicken for our dinner and it turned out great! The chicken was so tender and flavorful!
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
So far I have used this for steak and chicken and it's PERFECT!! 5 stars from the whole family!
Oh thank you, Shari!!