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.
I’m amazed just how delicious my ribs came out.I was missing the celery salt, ground mustard, the onion powder, and didn’t have kosher salt so I used Himalayan pink salt, but for the onion powder I used an all purpose seasoning of garlic, onion, black pepper and sea salt, also putting in the recommended garlic powder, and I have to say they came out soo juicy and tender, soo delicious!! You’re not kidding about not having to put bbq sauce on, because that was a great sauce altogether!!Just imagine if I had all the seasonings, holy moly!! Just unbelievably tasty, so delicious!Will definitely be making this again! Forget the bbq sauce you have all you need right on the meat! Just awesome, thanks so much for your recipe, which now is my favorite rub for pork and a lot of other meats to try…. Thanks again for this mouth watering rub and let me just say… this is the first time I ever used a rub on, usually just marinate and put it in the fridge! Hahaha Thanks again for all that delicious juicy taste!
Delicious, but I found using my small food processor mixed the ingredients perfectly. I made enough for 24 people, just to make sure I’d have enough for 4 large racks of baby backs.
I used it on about 1.5kg of lamb shoulder. It was the perfect amount to cover it. It tasted great, I left out the hot stuff. 😛
Hello , I’ve been making this recipe since a year ago and it’s Fantastic,Family and friends , are delighted with it .I used it on St.Louis style ribs .I’m visiting my Family in Mexico for The Holidays and going to make ribs . I found most of the ingredients here .Thanks
I did a rub very similar to this some years ago but I didn’t have the dry mustard, and gave away my celery salt but I think I used a pinch of oregano and yes, it was good! I be actually used it on my chicken and turkey wings. I think I’m gonna go get more celery salt or celery seeds since I have some health issues and definitely get the dry mustard and do ribs for Christmas!
I dislike cinnamon, swapped it out with some ginger, and WOW. This rub is absolutely amazing!
I have been using cinnamon for decades in my dry rub. My other secret ingredient is cardamom. You don’t need much, but it is guaranteed to give your pork or chicken a taste that will have you coming back for more and more.
I will be using this recipe for the new year, when I BBQ
After trying a few different rub recipes, this one became my go-to. I use it on pulled pork too. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of chili powder and swap out the cinnamon for ginger, but it’s definitely good as written too.
The rub mixture sounds very good. My son-in-law is diabetic so the brown sugar is a factor.Would could I use as a substitute? Would honey or maple syrup work for less sugar?Nancy in Wisconsin
Whatever his favorite artificial sweetener is will probably work fine!
I know this is an older post but, I use Splenda brown sugar for my diabetic butter tarts and it works great. Would probably work really well in this recipe!
You can get brown sugar in stevia or other sugar substitutes to use in baking and cooking.
Splenda has a brown sugar. My wife and I are both diabetic and that’s what we use. Good luck!
There is a brown sugar Splenda and possibly other brands, if you would want to stick with the brown sugar ingredient. Just check the sugar aisle at Walmart.