Best Dry Rub For Ribs
On April 04, 2023
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This dry rub for ribs will amplify the flavor on any rack of ribs you cook. I’ve packed classic BBQ flavors into my rib rub recipe so you get finger-licking results!
Dry Rub for Ribs
Every rack of ribs needs a good seasoning blend, and this dry rub for ribs is the ULTIMATE seasoning. Trust me on this. This post is consistently our #1 post on the entire Hey Grill Hey site because it is complete and utter perfection.
I’ve been smoking and grilling ribs for years and wanted to create a dry rub for ribs that was versatile enough to use in any rib application. This spice mix is the perfect mix of sweet and savory with some secret ingredients that add punch and pizazz so you can amp up that BBQ flavor, no matter how you’re cooking your ribs. This rib rub is fantastic on its own, you don’t even need sauce!
Rib Rub
Let’s talk about the building blocks of a good rib rub. I think the best rib rubs start with sugar as a base. Pork and sweet were just made to go together. From there, you’ll see recipes with salt and pepper plus a mix of things that are custom to each pitmaster. I like to add in smoked paprika for a boost of wood-fired flavor as well as a gorgeous red color that pops. Onion and garlic are classic flavor enhancers. Ground mustard ends up in almost all of my rubs as a punchy, almost acidic note of brightness.
My secret ingredients in my rib rub are cinnamon and celery salt. The cinnamon adds this lip-smacking quality that people can’t identify when eating it, but it keeps them coming back for more and more. The celery salt is the perfect earthy balance to the sweet brown sugar. Balance is crucial in a good dry rub for ribs!
This rib rub has been so popular on the site, we decided to bottle it up and sell it in the Hey Grill Hey Store. If you want to save yourself some time, snag a bottle of this amazing Hey Grill Hey Rib Rub shipped directly to your door!
Ingredients for Rib Rub
Here’s exactly what you’ll need to snag from the pantry or the store to make this dry rub for ribs:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Once you have all your ingredients assembled, combine them all in a mixing bowl, using a fork to break up any clumps.
Store your rib rub in air-tight glass containers (I buy ones like these online) and they will last at least a month. You may need to shake or mix to break up and brown sugar clumps.
More Dry Rub Recipes
Making your own rubs at home is easy and delicious. Check out some other homemade rubs from Hey Grill Hey below.
Rib Rub Recipe
Follow the recipe, and let’s make some really good food! Hey Grill Hey is here to help you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a BBQ hero. Head on over to Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube! for more behind-the-scenes action!
This post was originally published in December 2018. We recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.
Best Dry Rub for Ribs
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Make the rub. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Use a fork to crush any clumps of sugar or seasonings.
- Use or store. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I tried the rib rub today, it was so so good. The best ribs I have ever made. This will be my only recipe I will ever make. My next is to try the chicken next Thank you so much
I’m going to try this tomorrow but I didn’t see what temperature to cook and how long. Thank you.
Hi, Cynthia! That’s a great question. There are a couple different types of ribs, and a lot of different methods for cooking them. This recipe is just for the rib rub itself. Check out the ribs recipes here on the site to find one you like. That will have all the cooking guidelines.
Best dry rub in the WORLD!! I use it on all meats except seafood.
Love this rub rub recipe. I’m doing 5 or 6 racks in the next couple of days, how much does this recipe cover?
I would probably make triple the recipe (or more). The amount in the recipe card will do anywhere from 1 to 3 racks of ribs, depending on how heavy you season. If you love a lot of bark, make plenty and season heavy.
I found it covers 2 racks of baby backs plus enough for a beer mop sauce. I subbed monkfruit with allulose for the brown sugar, so I can’t speak to the original recipe, but I really liked the result. I’ve never thought to use cinnamon. I made homemade BBQ sauce and added some cinnamon and cloves to it with a not to the rub.
Hands down the best dry rub for ribs! I’ve used this recipe many times and my ribs always come out amazing!
This looks great and I’m
excited to try! If my kids find black
pepper too spicy, should I cut the amount in half? Also, I’m not a fan of smoked paprika, can I use sweet instead (cooking on a pellet grill so should still be smokey?)
Absolutely!
Only critique is maybe give an indication of about how many racks this should cover. I have determined it should cover one and I shouldn’t be able to tell it’s a rib anymore, other people say 2-3, they should know it’s still meat.
I just tried it, and it was roughly one rack of ribs. Add more and more rub until it no longer sticks.
Use it all the time.