The Best Dry Rub for Ribs

The Best Dry Rub for Ribs doesn’t need to take a lot of time or effort. This rub pulls together in a flash to make your ribs lip smacking whether you plan to grill, smoke or place them in the Instant Pot.

🍽️ Why This Works

Simple | This is one of those great recipes where simple really is the name of the game.

Takes 5 Minutes | This tasty rub mixes up in just about five minutes from start to finish for a seasoning mix that is simply out of this world.

You Know the Ingredients | When you create your own rubs from scratch, you know exactly what goes into it. There are no extra additives or preservatives.

🧂 Ingredients

📝 Ingredient Notes

Brown Sugar | You can use either light or dark brown sugar. The dark version will always taste more like molasses which leads to a richer flavor. Use what you have and don’t overthink it.

Onion and Garlic Powder | Make sure not to use onion or garlic salt. You really want the powder here.

Paprika | Smoked or Sweet Paprika are excellent choices if you want to deviate from the traditional version. Again, use what you have on hand. The smoked version will add a bit more smoky flavor and the sweet will be toned down.

Red Pepper Flakes | This adds just a touch of heat to the rub.

Chipotle Red Pepper | This is a mild spicy chili powder with a little bit of smokiness in the background notes.

Dry Mustard | For those that don’t love mustard, you don’t taste this and it is used in most dry rubs and a lot of salads.

⏲️ Equipment and Tools

Bowl | Use a bowl big enough to hold all of the ingredients and give yourself room to stir.

Whisk or Spoon | Pull out something that you can use to stir the spices with.

Jar | You only need this if you are going to make it and store it for later.

🔥 Instructions

Step One: Measure out all of the ingredients and pour into a bowl. Stir well to combine. Make sure there are no clumps of brown sugar left in the bowl.

Step Two: Use on your ribs before putting them on the grill or smoker or put into a jar with sealed lid and store for up to one year.

Note: In order to get your dry rub to stick to the ribs, use a binding agent like plain yellow mustard. You won’t taste the mustard when the grilling is done, but it will help all of the dry rub to stay on the meat.

❗ Recipe Tips and Tricks

This makes almost two cups of rub. If you can make a couple of batches all at once, you will have enough left over to be ready to grill at a moment’s notice. Simply pull from the cabinet and apply the rub.

This makes an incredible gift for friends and family who are grillers and smokers. They will absolutely love it.

Make sure that the brown sugar is not hard. If it is not fresh, those clumps won’t come out no matter how much you keep stirring it.

🧑‍🍳 Storage

Store the rub in a jar for up to one year. Make sure it has a tight lid to keep the humidity out.

Meal Prep

The rub is a meal prep item. Make batches of this ahead of time so you can be ready for the summer grilling season.

Additions and Substitutions

There are a few ways to make this rub a little different each time.

Spicier | Add cayenne pepper and more red pepper flakes and use a mortar to press the red pepper flakes to maximize the flavor that is coming out.

Sweeter | Opt for the sweet paprika, omit the red pepper flakes, use the dark brown sugar.

Earthy | Add in celery seeds.

I love recipes that are easy to customize and would love to hear from you on what ingredients you add to make it unique! Drop a comment below.

Serving Suggestions

We love to serve ribs with a big ol’ bowl of potato salad, grilled peach salad, grilled baby potatoes or smoked deviled eggs.

❓ Recipe FAQ

Related Recipes

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!