How Much BBQ Rub Per Kilo of Meat? Complete Guide

One of the questions BBQ lovers ask most: how much rub should you actually use? Too little and you taste nothing. Too much and the spices drown the meat. In this article we give you the exact amounts, per rub and per type of meat.

The golden rule: 40–45g per kilo of meat

As a rule of thumb for most dry rubs: 40 to 45 grams per kilo of meat. That is enough for an even coating without the spices overpowering the meat.

But every rub is different. Warm, aromatic spices such as cinnamon and cumin (think Shawarma) need a higher dosage than milder rubs. Below you will find the exact amounts for every The Rub Kitchen rub.

Dosage per rub and meat type

Rub Chicken thighs (skinless) Chicken wings Spare ribs
Carolina Gold 65g per 1.5 kg 60g per 1.5 kg 70g per 1.5 kg
Jamaican Jerk 65g per 1.5 kg 60g per 1.5 kg 70g per 1.5 kg
Tex Mex 65g per 1.5 kg 60g per 1.5 kg 70g per 1.5 kg
Memphis BBQ 65g per 1.5 kg 60g per 1.5 kg 70g per 1.5 kg
Korean Rub 65g per 1.5 kg 60g per 1.5 kg 70g per 1.5 kg
Shawarma 85g per 1.5 kg 75g per 1.5 kg 90g per 1.5 kg

Why does Shawarma need a higher dosage? The warm, aromatic spices in the Shawarma rub — cinnamon, cumin, coriander — only release their full flavour at a higher concentration.

How much rub do you need for a BBQ evening?

For 4 people:

  • Chicken thighs: ±1.5 kg meat → 65g rub
  • Chicken wings: ±1.2 kg meat → 50g rub
  • Spare ribs: ±2 kg meat → 90g rub

Recipes with the correct dosage

Take a look at our step-by-step recipes, including the exact rub amounts per dish:

Ready to fire up the grill? Check out the Starter Pack · 3 flavours or all rubs. Need larger quantities? See our BBQ rubs for hospitality & catering.