The BEST Sweet Rub for Pork and Chicken
On April 25, 2022 (Updated May 10, 2024)
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
would this work with a smoker and how long would you leave in the smoker
Absolutely! This Smoked Chicken recipe is a great one to follow. https://heygrillhey.com/smoked-chicken/
Good morning , having a big birthday party this weekend for my father 79 years young . been following you for a little while ,So i am smoking 4 ten pound butts and gonna try this sweet rub on a big crowd will let you know how it turns out .Thanks for sharing
Thanks Scott!! I can’t wait to hear how it all turns out!
I do not have a smoker or grill. Can I put the pork butt in a crock pot or an electric roaster? Any suggestions? Thanks. Girl without a plan but wanting to feed my family good food.
Hey Gail! I have had some of my readers cook the pork in a crock pot. Put in on low for 8 hours. Let me know how it turns out!!
Hey I am smoking a Turkey Breast and was wondering do I marinade the breast and after then allotted time take it out and put dry rub on it or is it just one or the other?
Thanks Byron
Any help would be appreciated
You can do both if you want. I will sometimes brine and then add a rub before smoking.
Can this rub be used for meats that’ll be cooked on a skillet? My apartment complex doesn’t allow us to have our own bbq pit/smoker and the ones they do have is dirty and old. Any help is appreciated!
Absolutely!! You can sprinkle it on chicken or pork and cook in a skillet.
Love the rub!! … I like to use turbinado sugar instead of the dark brown sugar. I like the flavor of the dark brown sugar more BUT it’s so much easier to store using the turbinado sugar. In Louisiana, the humidity quickly turns the rub into a solid. It also can be used in a shaker so it goes on the meat more evenly without as much waste. How come you stopped making the U-Tube videos? This rub would be a great one.
Thanks Kent! YouTube is kind of the back burner for a little bit, hopefully we can get that worked out soon!
This is exactly what I was looking for!!! Me and the he boyfriend are doing ribs in the smoker this weekend but his are always way to spicy. Like me and his mom backed out and gave them the rest. We just couldn’t do it. So I like sweet and savory and I’m hoping this one does the trick and mine blow his out of the water!
Thanks so much Becky!! I think you are totally going to impress him!! If you want just a little spice, you should check out my Apple Jalapeno recipe, it is not super spicy (my kids will even eat this one). https://heygrillhey.com/apple-jalapeno-smoked-ribs/
Is this similar to the Traeger Sweet Rub? We loved that but they stopped making it!
I’m not sure. You can just make a small batch to try it out!
Doing 120lb of pork shoulder Friday. How much of this rub will I need to make
I use about 1/4 cup for 10 pounds, so you will need about 3 cups for 120 pounds of pork. Sounds like a party!! Let me know how it turns out!
I’m a novice. I’ve had my Traeger 1 month. Looking for expert advice. I read somewhere to rub apple cider vinegar on the pork butt before puuting the rub on.
Thoughts?
That would work. I usually just rub it right on the chicken or go with a little olive oil before I rub as well.