Cocoa Chipotle BBQ Rub

Name: Cocoa Chipotle BBQ Rub
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon dark cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon chipotle powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon cumin

By Hey Grill Hey

On May 03, 2022 (Updated May 10, 2024)

4 reviews

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Cocoa chipotle BBQ rub brings together amazing pantry ingredients for a cocoa powder-based rub that complements rich meat with a warm, savory, and perfectly bitter flavor profile.

Cocoa BBQ rub in a bowl with text overlay - Cocoa Chipotle BBQ Rub.

Cocoa BBQ Rub

As you are probably aware by now, my special skills lie in the world of meat and fire, not in the world of chocolate and sweet desserts. However, my love for unique flavors surpasses all of my reservations about grilling with chocolate and forces me out of my same old comfort zone.

So I tasked myself with finding an awesome way to incorporate chocolate into my grilling and BBQ scene. I’m stoked to say, I think I managed to bring those two worlds together. Everybody who tried this cocoa BBQ rub was so intrigued and excited about the flavors, they couldn’t wait for the post to come out on my site.

This cocoa BBQ rub doesn’t really taste like chocolate, but it adds a level of depth that you can’t really find with any other ingredient. You’ll keep coming for bites trying to work out everything you’re experiencing!

Ingredients for Cocoa Rub

Most of the ingredients for cocoa rub are ingredients you’ll already have in your pantry, making it a quick rub to whip up whenever.

2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dark cocoa powder. Make sure you get dark cocoa for this recipe for the best flavor.
1 teaspoon chipotle powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin

Make sure you use smoked paprika for this rub and not regular paprika. The smoked paprika actually adds flavor (as well as an amazing color) to the mix. Some smoke paprika will also have varying levels of heat that you can choose to your preference.

Cocoa Rub for Steak

I love making my own rubs, and this is one that I come back to for beef over and over again. In this post, I used the cocoa BBQ rub on a gorgeous flank steak, but it would be awesome on any type of steak that is getting a hot and fast sear (think rib-eye, sirloin, skirt steak).

It also fares well on low and slow meats if you feel like adding a flavor twist. I know people often keep it classic salt and pepper on things like beef ribs or brisket, but I truly think this cocoa rub could add so much depth and intensity to smoked meats.

How to Make Cocoa BBQ Rub

It’s ridiculously easy to make your own homemade rubs at home. I mean, really, really, ridiculously easy. Once you have all your ingredients pulled out it’ll take you a couple of minutes to measure and mix.

Combine. Combine all ingredients for the cocoa BBQ rub in a small bowl. Use a fork to break up any clumps.
Use or store. This rub is ready to be used immediately, or you can store it for later use. I like to use these glass spice bottles or even a glass mason jar to store my homemade rubs. Whatever you use, make sure you store it in an airtight container to keep everything fresh.

More Homemade BBQ Rub Recipes

Your homemade BBQ rub-making adventures don’t need to stop here. Check out a few of our most popular rub recipes from Hey Grill Hey below!

Cocoa BBQ Rub Recipe

How did this cocoa BBQ rub recipe turn out for you? If you were a big fan or you made any changes, let us know in the comment below. We love to hear from our wonderful BBQ community!

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