Homemade Spicy Sweet Rub
On January 29, 2025
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This homemade version of my Spicy Sweet Rub, with fiery chipotle and ancho chilis, gives a spicy sweet kiss to your BBQ meats and veggies. Bring all the Sweet Rub flavor you love on pork and chicken, and add some serious heat.
Homemade Spicy Sweet Rub
If you’re familiar with Hey Grill Hey, you know that our most popular BBQ rub is our Best Sweet Rub. The recipe post is one of the most popular here on the site, and our bottle of Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub is a best-seller in the store. It’s so popular, in fact, I just had to create a hot version.
This spicy version is just like Sweet Rub, but with some fiery kick. The use of cayenne as the main source of heat provides a really sharp spiciness when you taste it right after mixing, but it mellows beautifully during the cooking process. Use it the same way you would Sweet Rub on chicken, pork, veggies, and even your grilled salmon.
Additionally, the chipotle in this recipe creates a longer-lasting warmth in the back of your throat while also adding a hint of smokiness. And that dark brown sugar creates all of the balance to make a perfect BBQ rub with a kick. If you like your BBQ with a little heat, you’ll LOVE this hot sweet rub!
Ingredients for Spicy Sweet Rub
Here’s what you’ll need to make this hot sweet rub:
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
You can also pick up a bottle of Spicy Sweet Rub in my store if you don’t want to make your own, but where’s the fun in that?
How to Make Spicy Sweet Rub
It’s very easy to make your own BBQ seasonings and rubs. In fact, I have a whole class on how to make your own rubs and sauces in The Grill Squad. I cover all the basic ingredients, flavor profiles, techniques, and more. I highly recommend giving it a read!
Making this rub really only takes 2 steps:
- Combine ingredients. Snag a small mixing bowl and dump all the ingredients in. Use a fork to combine them and break up any clumps of brown sugar.
- Use or store. Once you’re done mixing the ingredients, you can use this seasoning immediately, or you can place it in an airtight container and use it at your leisure. I like to have a handful of empty glass spice jars in my pantry for all my homemade rubs and seasonings. They come in extremely handy.
Tips for Making this Recipe
A few final notes on this seasoning before you dive into making and using it yourself.
- Store for later use! The mix can last for months, so no need to use it up right away. The only thing you might notice is the brown sugar clumping or drying out. You can always use a fork to break up the clumps as you see them (or whip up a fresh batch if it’s looking too old).
- Don’t forget to seal! Be sure to seal the rub tightly in an airtight jar to prevent clumping from the brown sugar.
- Try it on all your favorite BBQ. Use on anything that would benefit from a classic BBQ-style rub where you’d like more heat. My favorites include ribs, pork shoulders, and smoked chicken.
Recipes to Use with Spicy Sweet Rub
Once you sprinkle a little fiery flavor onto your grilled goods with this Spicy Sweet Rub, you’ll be looking for all kinds of ways to use it. I’ve got a whole collection of recipes featuring this hot and savory rub, but for now, here are some ideas to help get you started:
More Rub and Seasoning Recipes
If you’re looking for even more homemade rubs to add to your pantry, I’ve got you covered there too. You can them all in your Recipe Library, but these are some major favorites from Hey Grill Hey worth trying today:
Hot Sweet Rub Recipe
With Hey Grill Hey, I’m here to ensure you master a BBQ recipe like a total pro. In fact, I hope each recipe and tutorial makes you feel like a backyard BBQ hero so you can feed the people you love.
If you loved this recipe, be sure to rate it 5 stars and leave us a comment below! You can also access over y50 other recipes on the Hey Grill Hey App.
Spicy Sweet Rub
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoos smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
Instructions
- Mix ingredients. Combine all of the ingredients for the rub in a small bowl. Stir well to combine, using a fork to break up any clumps.¼ cup dark brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon coarse sea salt, 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper, 2 teaspoos smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons ground mustard powder, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- Use or store. Store the hot sweet rub in an airtight container. This rub will last in your cupboard for up to a month.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
**I originally published this post in April 2023, but recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. However, the recipe remains the same.
I make a similar rub. I use white pepper and ground cardamom and it goes great on everything. Meats, seafood and veggies.