Best BBQ Seasoning & Dry Rub Recipe

Last Updated March 14, 2023. Published March 14, 2023 By Davinah Cenou Montezuma

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This homemade BBQ seasoning recipe is one of the best bbq dry rubs that will transform any ribs, pork, chicken, or roast. The sweet, spicy, and smokey flavors work well on my air fryer ribs, keto ribs, air fryer bbq wings, crockpot bbq chicken wings, and more.

spoonful of homemade bbq seasoning next to a jar of bbq dry rub

Why Make This

Competition Team Flavor: this easy BBQ dry rub recipe uses simple spices for the seasoning blend, but has all the flavor of rubs you might find on a BBQ competition team. This perfect blend of flavor enhancers will take your BBQ meats to the next level.
All-purpose BBQ Rub: this spice mix is all you need if you’re looking for a bbq dry rub for pork, barbecue spice mix, or bbq dry rub for chicken. It works on so many cuts of meat!
Option without sugar: most bbq dry rub recipes include brown sugar. This recipe includes the option to use a 1:1 brown sugar substitute.

What is BBQ Seasoning Made of?

Making your own homemade barbeque seasoning is super easy. All you need are a few aromatic spices and an airtight container.

For this recipe, you’ll need to gather the following:

Smoked Paprika: this gives the bbq seasoning a smoky taste without any smoke or grilling.
Cayenne Pepper: you can adjust this to taste. I personally like sweet and spicy flavors in my bbq spice mixes.
Brown Sugar: In this recipe, I’m using keto brown sugar because it tastes the same as regular brown sugar without actually having any sugar. You can pick this up in many grocers in the baking aisle. But, you can also any brown sugar that you prefer.
Sea Salt: I use fine-grain sea salt
Chili Powder
Black Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Italian Seasoning
Dried Thyme

You can get the full list of ingredient amounts and instructions from the full recipe card at the end of the post.

keto brown sugar, garlic and onion powder, salt, black pepper, chili powder and other spices in separate containers

How to Make BBQ Seasoning

Add all of the spices to a glass jar.
Shake or whisk until the spice blend is incorporated.

Top Tips & FAQs

Allow the bbq seasoning to sit on the meat: similar to my chicken dry rub, I recommend allowing this bbq seasoning to sit on the meat for at least four hours. This allows all the flavors to mix with the meat. It also creates a syrup-like coating that caramelizes when the meat is cooking.
Use regular brown sugar or keto brown sugar for the same results: you can certainly use whatever sweetener you prefer, but I find that I get the same results using keto brown sugar.
Use two tablespoons of bbq seasoning rub per pound of meat: I’ve used this on chicken and pork. I personally enjoy two tablespoons per pound of meat, which gives the best flavor.

How long should dry rub sit on pork?

When I make things like my keto ribs or air fryer ribs, I sit the dry rub on the meat overnight (or about 6-8 hours). You can also use this bbq spice rub on pork chops, pork roasts, or whatever your favorite pork protein may be.

Should I put rub on pork overnight?

Yes. This allows the flavors to soak into every part of the meat.

How long should rub be on pork before cooking?

6-8 hours.

How long should bbq seasoning sit on chicken before cooking?

When using this bbq rub on chicken, I find that you don’t need as much time. You can sit the rub on chicken for at least 4 hours. For chicken wings, I’ve had success using it right away.

Where to store the bbq seasoning mix?

Be sure to store this homemade bbq rub in a dry place, like your pantry or spice cabinet.

Recipes to Enjoy This BBQ Seasoning Recipe With

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