The BEST Sweet Rub for Pork and Chicken
On April 25, 2022 (Updated May 10, 2024)
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A good sweet pork rub is ESSENTIAL to have in your grilling arsenal, and this rub hits all the right notes. Bring a burst of flavor to your pulled pork and smoked pork recipes with this signature sweet rub.
Sweet Pork Rub
Some pitmasters go to the grave protecting their signature spice rub recipes. I’m not that kind of person. I’m all about the love and want to share this complete deliciousness with all of you! I seriously love making my own rubs and spice mixtures for the grill, and this sweet rub is my all-time go-to favorite.
This sweet rub is good on everything, I swear. (And believe me, I’ve tried it on just about everything!) From Smoked Pulled Pork to Grilled Pork Chops, this rub is amazing on just about any smoked pork recipe. Oh, and using it as a pork chop rub? AMAZING!
And this rub isn’t just for pork! I’ve used it on chicken, vegetables, and even Smoked Mac and Cheese! If you’ve been following along with Hey Grill Hey for a while, you know were’ simply obsessed with this rub.
Dry Rub for Pork (And So Much More!)
Making this pork rub is a cinch. Once you have all the ingredients on hand, I suggest making a batch (or two!) and bottling some up for later use. You can also make these to give to your friends and neighbors as gifts.
If you have extra rub leftover, no worries. I can go through one batch just on a couple of pulled pork shoulders, so don’t be worried that you won’t use it all. In fact, if you’re cooking a lot, just double it to be safe and save the rest for later.
Ingredients for Pork Rub
Here’s what you’ll need to pull out of the pantry (or pick up from the store) prior to mixing this sweet rub. Only 8 ingredients stand between you and the best pork rub in the history of BBQ (full ingredient amounts are available in the recipe card below).
- Dark brown sugar
- Coarse sea salt
- Cracked black pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Ground mustard
- Cayenne pepper
Quick Note: This recipe calls for smoked paprika. This is a pretty big deal and adds quite a bit of flavor to the rub. There are a TON of varieties of paprika at all different price points, but for the best flavor, I always choose smoked paprika that is a rich red color. Sometimes paprika will also be labeled hot or sweet, you can pick the spice level you prefer! If it’s not labeled with anything but “paprika” it is likely mild and pretty bland and won’t add anything to your spice mixture other than color.
How to Make Sweet Pork Rub
It’s beyond easy to make your own sweet rub at home. Here’s how to do it.
- Combine. Simply mix all ingredients in a bowl and use a fork to break up any clumps. No fancy blenders or mixers are needed here!
- Use or store. Once you have your pork rub mixed up, it’s ready to be used immediately, or you can store it in an airtight container in your pantry. I like to store my spices and seasonings in these glass spice containers, but anything with a lid will do. This rub can be stored in your pantry for around a month, but it’s likely the rub won’t last that long (wink, wink).
If you’re looking to stock up on this delicious sweet rub without lifting a finger (well, I suppose you have to use a few to order it online), we sell Sweet Rub pre-made online at the Hey Grill Hey Store.
Tips for Making Pork Rub
Before you dive into making this rub, I have a few tips to help you get the most out of your efforts.
- Make it in advance. It can be frustrating to have a big pork butt ready to go on the smoker, and you find yourself out of sweet rub. I always recommend making a batch of this sweet rub at least a day in advance so you have it ready to go anytime.
- Double (or triple) the batch. This stuff goes FAST. Not only will you find yourself using it on just about any pork available, but you’ll quickly see how frequently I use in it a variety of recipes on this site. Double or triple the batch the first time you make it so there’s plenty to go around.
- Adjust the heat. This rub doesn’t have a lot of ingredients, but you can play around with them a bit to get this sweet pork rub exactly to your liking. If you like things a bit spicier, increase the cayenne pepper. If you’re feeding a family with a lot of children (or just folks who prefer a milder flavor), cut the cayenne in half.
Is there anything special you did with your rub that you’d like to share? Leave us a comment below!
More Pork Rub Recipes
I’m a big fan of having a variety of rubs on hand for any type of meat I’m tossing on the BBQ. Check out a few of our most popular BBQ rubs below.
Sweet Pork Rub Recipe
Here’s hoping you’re head over heels in love with this rub. Whether you use it as a pork chop rub, a pulled pork rub, or just an all-around multipurpose sweet rub, you’ll be sure to get a lot of use out of it!
Watch the video below and I’ll show you how I make my signature sweet rub recipe at home. I’m here to help you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. Check out more of my smoking and grilling recipe videos on YouTube, Instagram, or our Facebook Page.
The BEST Sweet Rub for Pork and Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (hot or mild, whichever you prefer)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Mix. Combine all of the ingredients for the rub in a small bowl. Stir well to combine, using a fork to break up any clumps.
- Use or store. Store BBQ sweet rub in an airtight container. This rub will last in your cupboard for up to a month.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
**This post was originally published April 2016. It has since been updated with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.
I’ve used this rub for everything but cereal…. and I’m considering that. Its shockingly tasty on deviled eggs.
I made this and smoked a chicken with it per your instructions. My 20 year old son said, “This is bus’in’!” It think that means it’s incredibly delicious. LOL! I loved it!
Hey Susie, absolutely five stars. fantastic recipe. I believe this is the same recipe I found on the internet a couple years ago and I’ve been using it ever since. I don’t use anything else now . We use this on everything.. I mean even salmon is fantastic with this. pork chops, ribs you name it…yah I mean, everything. I curious about your prepackaged rub and if it’s made with organic ingredients? I’ve been using organic spices, etc for my wife. She has allergies so we typically make it at home from scratch. Thx
We absolutely love this rub. We found it randomly on Pinterest
It was outstanding! Did two whole chickens dry rub and then the maple bourbon sauce. I did half the Cheyenne pepper for the children and it went over well. Great flavor!
Can I use Turbinado sugar instead of brown sugar?
This seasoning helped me to win 1st place at annual Pork Rib Cook-off in Wisconsin!! Thanks!!
Can I mix dark and light brown sugar?
Yes!
Thanks for responding! I tried it on some pork chops and chicken thighs and it was absolutely amazing. My go to rub from now on
This rub and your simple pork butt recipe are amazing. I brine my pork butt(which may not be necessary) and I add a lot of extra rub but other than that I follow the recipe and it always comes out amazing! Also have done your cider brined pork and that is super good as well, thanks for sharing the recipes! Got two on the smoker right now!
I assume using light brown sugar (i have a few pounds of if but no dark or mollasses) wouldn’t change this too much?
It’ll be just fine!