• Recipe Box
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb & Keto
    • Whole30
    • Paleo
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Air Fryer
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Side Dishes
    • Drinks
    • Dips, Salad Dressings & Sauces
    • Web Stories
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
    • Work With Dr. Davinah’s Eats
    • Contact
  • My Keto Blog
    • Product Reviews & Guides
    • Recipe Collections
    • Keto Guide for Dummies: A Introduction to Keto
    • Get Exclusive Discounts
    • 360 Cookware
    • Amazon Favorites
    • Shop

↑

Dr. Davinah's Eats

Keto, Low Carb & Air Fryer Recipes for Foodies

  • Recipe Box
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb & Keto
    • Whole30
    • Paleo
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Ninja Foodi
    • Air Fryer
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Side Dishes
    • Drinks
    • Dips, Salad Dressings & Sauces
    • Web Stories
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
    • Work With Dr. Davinah’s Eats
    • Contact
  • My Keto Blog
    • Product Reviews & Guides
    • Recipe Collections
    • Keto Guide for Dummies: A Introduction to Keto
    • Get Exclusive Discounts
    • 360 Cookware
    • Amazon Favorites
    • Shop
Home » Recipes » Best Chicken Dry Rub Recipe

Best Chicken Dry Rub Recipe

Last Updated December 9, 2021. Published December 5, 2021 By Davinah Cenou Montezuma

116 shares
  • Share10
Jump to Recipe
chicken dry rub recipe pinterest image

This post may contain affiliate links to products I use and highly recommend. You can read my full disclosure .

Add flavor to your air fried, baked, and grilled chicken using the Best Chicken Dry Rub Recipe. It takes a few minutes and common spices to make. Use it over and over to season up to 8 pounds of chicken meat like my dry rub wings, dry rub chicken drumsticks, air fryer dry rub chicken breasts, and air fryer chicken thighs. Store it in an airtight container or spice jar for up to 6 months.

chicken dry rub in a glass jar

Why Make This

  • Control salt, flavor & ingredients: one of the reasons I love to make my own spice mixes for everything from Cajun seasoning to blackening seasoning and even ranch seasoning is because you get to control all the ingredients. This recipe is MSG free and a great balance of spices to season your chicken
  • Versatile: use it on all types of protein beside chicken. Plus, it tastes great whether you are air frying, baking or grilling your chicken

Ingredients Needed

Most of the spices needed to make this are probably in your pantry.

If not, they are easy to get from the spice aisle at your local market.

  • Smoked Paprika: this adds a smokey flavor. I don’t substitute regular paprika for smoked.
  • Cayenne Pepper: this adds the spicy kick. If you want to make this dry rub spicier, feel free to add more
  • Natural Ancient Sea Salt: I’m using fine, kosher sea salt
  • Chili Powder
  • Black Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Dried Thyme
photo of the spices used to make homemade chicken dry rub

How to Make This

  1. Add the spices to an airtight container or spice jar
  2. Mix the spices to incorporate them

Top Cooking Tips & FAQs

  • Use 2 tbsp per pound of chicken part. For whole chickens, I use 1 tbsp per pound
  • Let it sit on the chicken for maximum flavor, but no worries if you’re short on time. I’ve used this with and without letting the dry rub sit on the meat
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months
  • Use fresh spices: Make sure that your spices haven’t expired. It makes a difference in the overall taste

How long should dry rub sit on chicken?

For maximum flavor, I let my dry rubs sit on the chicken overnight (or at least 6 hours).

However, you can absolutely use this dry rub and cook immediately.

What does dry rub do to chicken?

It adds flavor to the meat in the same way that wet marinades add flavor.

The salt in the dry rub also helps the chicken retain moisture while it’s cooking.

Do you apply dry rub before or after cooking?

You should always apply dry rub to your raw chicken before cooking as it helps with flavor and moisture retention.

For added flavor, you can add a few sprinkles of dry rub to the finished meat in the same way you might add a finishing salt.

spicy chicken dry rub before mixing

Recipes using This

  • Dry Rub Chicken Wings
  • Dry Rub Chicken Drumsticks
  • Air Fryer Dry Rub Whole Chicken
  • Dry Rub Chicken Thighs
  • Air Fryer Dry Rub Chicken Breasts

If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! 

close-up of chicken dry rub in a glass jar

Best Chicken Dry Rub Recipe

Prep: 2 mins
Ready in: 2 mins
Cuisine: American
Course: Spice Blend
Servings: 16 tbsp
Calories:
Author: Davinah
Pin Rate Print

Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!

Equipment

Spice Jar

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup Smoked Paprika
  • 2 tbsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 4 tsp Chili Powder
  • 2 tbsp Black Pepper
  • 3 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 3 tbsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt, fine
  • 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tbsp dried thyme

Instructions

  • Add all of the spices to a spice jar
  • Mix to incorporate
  • Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months

The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!

Share this RecipeIf you enjoy this recipe, share a link to it via email or Facebook, pin it, or leave a rating. Please don’t copy/paste the instructions to other websites. Thanks for helping the website grow!

Related Posts

  • close-up of cajun seasoning in a glass jar
    Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe
  • Dry Rub Chicken Wings on a white plate, and one wing being dipped in ranch dressing.
    Spicy Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipe [+Video]
  • close up of homemade ranch seasoning in a glass jar
    Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe
  • keto chicken dinner recipes like crispy air fryer chicken legs, keto chicken and waffles, dry rub chicken thighs, and keto asian wings
    27 Keto Chicken Meals & Dinners Recipes

Subscribe for Free Recipes, Meal Ideas & Tips!

Join more than 8,000 people who get my top recipes, meal ideas & tips to their inboxes each week.

* indicates required

Filed Under: Recipes

Comments

  1. Annette K. says

    December 17, 2021 at 11:35 am

    5 stars
    Hi Davinah.

    My mother was a true southern cook. Now due to injuries I received as a child I had to loose weight and fast, Keto was my answer. I joined your site, just loved your recipes, and this rub is my all time favorite, now I love your recipes of all the chicken parts not just one….Thank you and keep those Keto Southern Recipes up…..their wonderful!!

    Annette

    Reply
    • Davinah says

      December 18, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Annette,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to review and rate this recipe. Your thoughtful feedback is truly helpful for others considering whether to make this. I’m also so glad to be able to join you on your journey via these recipes.

      Have an awesome day,
      Davinah

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

close up photo of Davinah - the blogger behind Dr. Davinah\'s Eats welcome text that reads, \"I\'m Davinah\" I'm an educator & hardcore foodie who realized eating "all the things" couldn’t last forever. After getting my PhD in Education, I decided to make eating healthier my next big goal. Here, you'll find my collection of keto, low-carb and whole food comfort food recipes. Read More

Search this Website

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

Spring Favorites

keto chicken tenders in a small pan with keto dipping sauce on the side

Keto Chicken Tenders [+VIDEO]

a close-up of six air fryer crab cakes in a metal bowl with lemon, dill, parsley, and homemade tartar sauce

Air Fryer Keto Crab Cakes [+VIDEO]

a close up of keto lemon cake with lemons topped with a sugar-free white chocolate glaze on top of a brown cutting board

Keto Lemon Pound Cake [+VIDEO]

double layer low carb strawberry shortcake on a cake stand

Low Carb Strawberry Shortcake [+VIDEO]

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bites on a white plate with lemon slices

Keto Lemon Cheesecake Bites with Blueberry Sauce

Double layer Low Carb Carrot Cake on a white plate with a mint leaf on top

The Best Keto Low Carb Carrot Cake Recipe [+VIDEO]

Most Popular Recipes

keto coleslaw in a bowl with a fork

Easy Low Carb & Keto Coleslaw Recipe [+VIDEO]

Shrimp Scampi on a white oblong plate

Keto Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe [+VIDEO]

two air fryer salmon filets on a plate topped with garlic butter

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Herbed Salmon Recipe

crispy air fryer whole chicken wings and sauce on a plate

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

a close-up photo of a garlic parmesan wing on a plate

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings [+VIDEO]

a close-up of Keto Bang Bang shrimp in a bowl

Low-Carb Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe (Grain-free, No-Added Sugar)

crispy air fryer chicken drumsticks on a black board

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) [+VIDEO]

crispy baked chicken wings on a parchment lined baking sheet

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings Recipe [+VIDEO]

pan seared scallops in a bowl with cauliflower risotto

Seared Scallops and Cauliflower Rice Risotto

close-up of Pressure Cooker Pot Roast in a bowl

Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

Menu Planning Ideas

  • Ninja Foodi Recipes
  • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Side Dishes
closeup of crispy Old Bay Chicken Wings

Crispy Air Fryer Old Bay Chicken Wings

close up shot of Lobster Tails

Air Fryer Lobster Tails

cooked Tilapia on a plate

Air Fryer Tilapia

Chicken Tenders on a large plate

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (No Breading)

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans on a plate

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans

cooked air fryer frozen broccoli in a serving dish

Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli (4 Ingredients!)

Chicken Sausages with fried eggs on the side

Easy Homemade Chicken Breakfast Sausages

sugar-free teriyaki sauce in a pot

Sugar-free Keto Teriyaki Sauce Recipe

a plate of cooked air fryer breakfast sausage links

Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage [+VIDEO]

a close up of low carb cream cheese frosting being piped into a glass jar

Fluffy Keto Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe [+VIDEO]

Loaded Cauliflower on an oblong bowl on a large bowl

Creamy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans on a plate

Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans

air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts in a white bowl

Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts

ninja foodi air fryer spaghetti squash on a plate

Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash

keto potato salad with radishes in a bowl

Keto Potato Salad (No Cauliflower)

Featured on:

list of magazines and online blogs that feature Dr. Davinah\'s Eats recipes

@DrDavinahs Follow On Instagram

Free Keto & Low Carb Recipes Delivered Weekly!

Subscribe for amazing recipes, giveaways, discounts and more.

By using this website, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures

Browse by Category

Recipes by Course

  • Recipe Index
  • Breakfast
  • Main Course
  • Side Dishes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Dip, Salad Dressing & Sauces

Recipes by Diet

  • Keto & Low-Carb Recipes
  • Paleo Recipes
  • Whole30 Recipes

About Davinah Policies Work With Us

Search this Website

Copyright ©2022, Dr. Davinah's Eats. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Pin
  • 10Share