Best Dry Rub For Ribs
On April 04, 2023 (Updated May 10, 2024)
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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
- ½ teaspoon 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.
I have my own concoction which is similar to yours for ribs, pork butts and whole hog, all of which we cook often. We do a lot of butts, plenty of ribs but only once or twice a year for whole hog. Even a 100 Lb. hog makes a lot of finished meat so you need a crowd of 30 or more to avoid wasting what always turns out to be a fabulous party favorite. It only takes about 8 hours in a pellet smoker to finish the whole pig. The aroma that comes with slow smoking and rendering of the fat is fantastic.
Back to the rubs, sorry! I like to add some thyme to my pork or chicken rubs as it really compliments the flavor profile.
The turkey rub do you put it on the night before you smoke it?
You can if you’d like to! I usually apply just before it goes in the smoker.
Delicious! The only thing I would change would be to use Aleppo pepper in place of smoked paprika because I like my ribs hot! You did a great job pulling these seasonings together.
Had to search for a recipe on another site because the affiliated ads kept blocking the ingredient list. There wasn’t a choice to exit out of the ads that disrupted the recipe.
Sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately ads are how we’re able to provide the recipes for free. You can click on “Jump to Recipe” at the top of any post, then “Print” in the recipe card for a PDF version with no ads.
Bought the ingredients to make the rub, but I can’t get the pop-ups to stop blocking the recipe. Frustrated to the point that I’ve moved on to another recipe. Understand marketing is a part of making money, but this is too far.
The ads here are the way we’re able to provide you with over 700 free BBQ recipes absolutely free. You can click on “Jump to Recipe” at the top of any recipe, then click “Print” in the recipe card for a PDF with no ads. You can purchase a membership to The Grill Squad if you want a totally ad-free experience.
I never use any other recipe for our ribs! Thank you, so much!
This rub is amazing! I use it for ribs, pork, and chicken. It is as good as any dry rub at the best BBQ joint. Highly recommend!
Indeed, and very good rub! Well-balanced and flavorful. I’ve use it all the time.