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 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.
Hi Suzy! I searched for dry rubs and yours just jumped right out at me a couple weeks ago. We used it this past Sunday on ribs and it was really amazing! When I noticed your picture I was super excited that I actually chose the rub from you. I watched you on season 1 of bbq brawl and have seen you numerous times since doing shows on Food Network. Thanks for all of your delicious recipes 🙂
Absolutely Delicious. Using for the second time this evening! My family couldn’t stop raving about how good these were last time we had them!
I very rarely review a recipe, but this rub is phenomenal!!!My husband is not fond of BBQ and he can’t get enough of these. I did reduce the cayenne. He doesn’t like too much heat. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Outstanding rub…..layer it thick!
This is a really good rib rub and I highly recommend it! The cinnamon and celery salt really set it apart from other rubs. I like mine a little spicier so I go heavier on the cayenne.
I love this recipe! I use it as is and it’s great! But it works as a great base too, I can go in many directions with this recipe. It’s not just for ribs in my opinion. I love to add a little ginger to it for a little bite. Your imagination is the limit. Used it on chicken today and got great reviews!
Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you for your comment. I needed to know a good process of cooking with this rub, and for how long.
How long do you cook dry rub ribs in a smoker?
5 hours at 225 will work pretty good.
I bought ribs directly from the butcher, a little pricier than the vacuum-packed ones in the cooler, but much meatier. This rub was fabulous, cooked the ribs on the grill, indirect heat for about 1-1/2 hours. They were so good, so flavorful, that we didn’t even need to finish with any sauce! My husband said these are the best ribs I’ve ever made-even better than restaurant ribs! I’m going to use the rub on. Hi ken and pork chops too.
Excellent Recipe. Thank you for sharing this with me and the rest of the world.