BBQ Rub Guides — Overview
Which BBQ rub suits your dish? Choose a flavour direction below and read about use, dosing, background and recipe ideas. Our rubs are blended to order. How hot or salty the finished dish tastes also depends on the amount used, the ingredient and what you serve alongside.
Quick links: choosing and using rubs
Choose first: flavour, amount and allergens
All seven rubs contain salt. Carolina Gold, Jamaican Jerk, Korean Rub, Memphis and Toscana Fire contain brown sugar. The descriptions below name characteristic ingredients, not the full composition.
Carolina Gold, Memphis and Toscana Fire contain mustard; Korean Rub contains sesame. Always check the current label for complete ingredients, dosing, allergens and possible cross-contact information. Count rub, marinade and sauce together when deciding how much seasoning to use.
Want to see popular flavours first? Visit The Rub Kitchen bestsellers.
Memphis BBQ Rub
Paprika, smoked paprika, brown sugar and black pepper give a sweet-smoky direction. Cayenne adds pepper heat; adapt the amount to your guests. A suitable choice for spareribs, pulled pork or chicken, for example. Contains mustard.
Read about the history and traditions of Memphis BBQ. Making pulled pork or spareribs? Explore dry rubs for pulled pork and spareribs.
Tex-Mex BBQ Rub
Cumin, Kashmiri chilli, cayenne and smoked paprika give a spiced, smoky direction with chilli heat. Try it on brisket, chicken or grilled vegetables. Dose according to the label and your taste, especially when also using a hot sauce.
Read the background of Tex-Mex BBQ Rub or explore Tex-Mex BBQ and the flavours of the Texan border for the wider grilling style.
Carolina Gold BBQ Rub
Mustard powder, turmeric, garlic, smoked paprika and brown sugar create a mustard-focused flavour inspired by South Carolina BBQ tradition. Use the dry rub as seasoning; choose a mustard sauce separately if desired. Colour and crust also depend on cooking. Contains mustard.
Discover the history and traditions behind Carolina Gold.
Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub
Allspice, thyme, cloves, Scotch Bonnet powder and chilli flakes combine warm spices with chilli heat. The blend also contains brown sugar and salt. Use it for chicken, prawns or pork, for example, and choose the amount to suit the desired intensity.
Explore the Jamaican Jerk BBQ style guide for preparation and background of the style.
Shawarma BBQ Rub
Cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric and allspice give a warm, aromatic direction. Cayenne, black pepper and sumac round out the profile. Try this Middle Eastern-inspired blend on chicken, lamb or roasted cauliflower.
Toscana Fire Rub
Fennel, smoked paprika, garlic, allspice and cayenne give a warm, aromatic direction. The blend also contains brown sugar, salt and mustard. This Italian-inspired rub suits chicken, lamb and courgette, for example.
Discover the background of Toscana Fire or read more in Toscana Fire: Italian flavours from the grill.
Korean BBQ Rub
Gochugaru, ginger, garlic and sesame give an aromatic profile with chilli heat. Cayenne, black pepper, brown sugar and salt are also in the blend. Use it for your own Korean BBQ-inspired variation with chicken wings, short ribs, pork belly or tofu. Contains sesame.
Rub technique and composition
Want several flavour layers? Read how to combine BBQ rubs and build flavour, accounting for the total salt and seasoning.
- Making a BBQ rub without added sugar: explore a spice base without added sugar.
- Coconut sugar or brown sugar in a rub?: compare flavour and behaviour on the grill.
- Salt in a BBQ rub: types of salt and the importance of dosing.
- Sea salt, table salt or kosher salt for BBQ?: compare grain size and use.
- Where do BBQ spices come from?: from spice to rub.
- How much BBQ rub do you need?: examples for larger cooks and a 500-gram pack.
- Combining rub with indirect smoking and wood: match seasoning and smoke profile.
- Rub on lamb chops: choose a flavour and distribute the rub appropriately.
- Memphis rub versus Texas rub: differences in flavour, ingredients and use.
- Make or buy BBQ rub?: compare convenience, composition and flavour.
- Why does my BBQ rub fall off?: check surface, amount and handling.
- BBQ rub on vegetables: practical tips for vegetable dishes.
Try several flavours
Explore the 3-Evening Pack for current contents and choices. In the overview of BBQ packs you can compare available combinations.