DIY BBQ Rubs – 5 Easy Homemade BBQ Rubs

DIY BBQ Rubs are something many pitmasters enjoy making. The process of measuring spices reminds many of us of watching our dads work their magic at weekend BBQs.

Experimenting with different seasonings, and creating your own rubs is very rewarding. The feeling you get when everyone is enjoying the food and complementing how delicious the food tastes is like no other.

Let's dive into five easy homemade BBQ rubs guaranteed to add amazing flavor to your smoking sessions. These recipes focus primarily on pork ribs but work beautifully on shoulders, butts, and loins too.

The Classic Pork Rib Rub

This foundational DIY pork rub delivers that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and smoky. It's reminiscent of those neighborhood cookouts where dads competed for bragging rights.

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

This DIY BBQ rub is one that smoke clings to. The sugars will caramelize beautifully during the low-and-slow process and create a gorgeous brownish-red mahogany color.

Apply the rub liberally to your rack of ribs at least 45 minutes before you start cooking.

Sweet Heat BBQ Seasoning

This DIY BBQ rub delivers nostalgic flavors with a modern kick. This rub captures the essence of those 80s and 90s backyard gatherings but adds to a contemporary feeling of enjoyment.

• 1/3 cup Turbinado sugar
• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon ground mustard
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground chipotle

The merger of sweetness and heat creates a delicious flavor profile for this DIY rub. Turbinado's molasses will complement the chipotle's smokiness on your ribs.

We recommend this rub on baby back ribs. Apply generously and let it sit for 45 minutes before you put it on the pit.

Smoky Memphis Style Dry Rub

This DIY BBQ rub is for the purist who appreciates a traditional Memphis approach. This DIY dry rub for ribs is amazing and will offer an authentic BBQ flavor.

It honors the dry rub tradition that made Memphis BBQ legendary

• 1/4 cup paprika
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Memphis style means no sauce needed and the spice blend creates depth of flavor without overpowering the pork.

Apply the rub generously on your protein about 45 minutes before you plan to start cooking.

Herb Infused BBQ Blend

Herb infused DIY BBQ seasoning is a bit unconventional. It incorporates fresh herbs for a unique aromatic flavor profile.

We view this herb infused rub as a refreshing departure from strictly spice based BBQ seasonings we find now days.

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (finely minced)
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

The green profile of this BBQ rub will definitely have eye appeal. Fresh herbs add distinctive qualities that dried ingredients simply cannot match.

This BBQ rub works wonders on pork loin roast, pork belly, and pork chops. Apply this rub generously just before smoking for the best result.

Carolina Gold Mustard Rub

For our final DIY BBQ rub, we are drawing inspiration from the Carolinas. A distinctive Carolina Gold Mustard Rub straight from the mustard belt!

This is a BBQ rub that is for those seeking something different. It is beyond the conventional BBQ styles we find at most restaurants today.

• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

If you have not experienced a mustard-based rub, you are in for a treat! This rub penetrates deeply into the meat during low and slow smoking process to achieve a unique BBQ mustard flavor.

Apply this BBQ rub generously and put it on your protein 2 or 3 hours before cooking.

In conclusion

Creating DIY BBQ rubs connects us to BBQ traditions while allowing our own personal expression. These five recipes are used as starting points.

Use these rub recipes and experiment with your particular flavor profiles. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your preference.

Also, you may need to double or triple the rub recipes to have enough for what you are cooking.

If you don't have time to mix your own DIY BBQ rubs, we’ve got your back. Our premium line of craft BBQ seasonings captures some of these same flavor profiles.

At the end of the day, just experiment and start cooking! Enjoy the warmer weather and make some DIY BBQ Rubs!