The 12 Best BBQ Rubs for Flavorful Meals

Have you ever taken that first bite of a meal at a friend's backyard barbecue, and found yourself woefully unimpressed? There's no flavor, and there's no pizazz, it's just plain…bland? If you’ve been there, then you know that the seasoning used on any aspect of a meal can make or break it, and not using seasoning is a cardinal sin that will lead you straight to bland town. You can’t change the food your neighbor or friend prepares, but you can ensure that you don’t make the same mistake when cooking!

Quick Comparison: Top 12 Best BBQ Rubs

Things to Consider Before Buying Spice BBQ Rubs

Few things in life are as rewarding as enjoying a mouth-watering meal with friends and family. Whether your food is prepared on a grill, smoked, baked, or pan-fried, you want it to have as much flavor as possible. You can't do that with salt and pepper alone. You need a delicious mix of spices that brings out the vibrant essence of the food and adds just enough kick to get the whole group drooling—and asking for more.

That’s where BBQ spice rubs come in. They certainly aren’t just for food prepared on an outdoor grill. They can be used on any type of meat, pasta dish, or vegetable to level the flavor up from ho-hum to knock your socks off. Some of the most popular food items to dress up with pre-mixed spices include:

• Chicken
• Pork ribs
• Brisket
• Turkey
• Steak
• Pork chops
• Vegetables like peppers, onions, potatoes, and green beans
• And pretty much any other food item

There are a lot of reasons why you might want to select a rub that has already been mixed. While some people like to mix up their own, it can be hard to get the mix just right when you're not a professional and when you don't have access to a huge pantry full of spices. Spice mixes on the market today are crafted by those who love spicing things up, so you're most likely to find more unique blends out there than what you might create on your own.

Flavors to Savor

How can you make the right choice for your palette and the meal you’re cooking? You’ll first want to consider what type of tastes you enjoy the most. If you prefer things on the sweeter side, or if the meal you are cooking is for younger eaters who might be less inclined to venture out of their comfort zone, look for rubs that have a touch of sugar. You'll either see sugar in the ingredients list or other sweet ingredients like honey or agave nectar. These can add a softer finish for those who like the sweet stuff.

If you like a hotter finish to your food, look for rubs that bring the heat. Ingredients to watch out for include jalapeno, chipotle, habanero, or any other pepper. These will add either a dash—or a large amount—of fire to whatever you’re grilling.

Whatever flavor profiles you’re into, you can find a rub that fits the bill. Read the ingredients and ensure you’re getting what you like. As always, do a quick taste test before covering your entire meal with the mix.

Nutrition Considerations

No matter what diet you follow, or even if you consider it a four-letter word that you never say, there's a rub to meet your particular dining needs. Many can be found suitable for some of the most common dietary requirements out there. Some diet factors to consider include:

• Is it Kosher? If you follow a Kosher diet or are preparing a meal for someone who is, ensure you look on the label for a Kosher option.
• Does it have gluten? Whether you have Celiac Disease, a mild gluten intolerance, or are on a strict no-gluten diet, you can find spice rubs that fit the bill. Many will list "gluten-free" on the label to make it easy. If not, search to see if any ingredients contain gluten, such as barley or wheat powder. Also, it’s important to remember that cross-contamination can occur even if there are no ingredients with gluten—so take that with a grain of salt (pun intended).
• Is there sugar? If you are a diabetic or for some other reason are on a strict no-sugar diet, look at the label for any sugary additives. Any ingredient that might add sweetness, whether its actual sugar or something else with a sweet taste, could cause a spike in blood sugar. Choose a rub without the sweet stuff—there’s plenty out there!

Ingredients aren't just essential because of the diets you might follow. They also make a difference when it comes to overall health and wellness. What we mean is that you might not follow any specific diet, but you are looking for the highest quality product that doesn't contain a bunch of additives.

There's a wide variety of rubs on the market that are all-natural, so pay careful attention when you're shopping for one to try. Non-GMO options are also available.

Another sneaky ingredient to watch out for that can be a bit controversial is MSG. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used to enhance the flavor of many different foods. According to The Mayo Clinic, MSG has been anecdotally shown to cause some adverse reactions in various people.

While the FDA recognizes the ingredient as "generally safe," you might be one of those who suffers from ill-effects. These can include nausea, sweating, headaches, flushing, and more. For this reason, packaging must consist of this ingredient so that consumers can be aware it has been used in the mix. If you know that you have issues with MSG, steer clear of rubs that use it.

Overall, most seasoning rubs can fit into whatever dietary restrictions you might have. They can help you stick to a healthier diet. When you are cooking low-calorie meals, or sticking with Paleo or Keto diets, adding extra flavor can help you to stay interested in cleaner eating, and help you stay away from the junk.

Storage and Longevity of Seasoning Mixes

Most seasoning rubs come with a pretty impressive shelf life. As long as they don’t contain any type of additives that go bad—don’t worry, most don’t—a dry rub can last for up to six months when stored correctly. And that’s not to say that a rub will go “bad” if you try to use it past six months. You’ll just find that the seasoning will have lost its potency over time.

To store correctly, place your spice rub in an airtight storage container in a cool, dry place. Most rubs will come in packaging that is suitable for storage, so you can generally keep it in the plastic or glass container that it came in. However, if the lid isn't as tight as it could be, you might find that your jar has a sturdy cover and creates a more airtight seal.

Judge a Book by Its Cover

Some people could not care less about how their spice rub appears. But for some, the label can add a dash of decoration that elevates the spice rack to show-off worthy status. Just like hot sauce, some people love to collect their weird, pleasant, artistic, and just plain funny labels that many rubs have on their packages today. If this is important to you, you can find rub mixes that bring a laugh to your day.

Buying Rubs for Grilling, Smoking, and Cooking

You know what you're looking for in terms of taste and presentation, and now it's time to grab the good stuff and get cooking! Rubs aren't hard to find. You can purchase high-quality mixes from various brands pretty much anywhere, including:

• Supermarkets
• Farmers’ Markets
• Specialty cooking stores
• Online stores

Once you’ve found the rub that fits all your needs, you’re ready to prep the tastiest meals you’ve ever made. Using dry rubs isn’t rocket science, but there are a few different methods to try, depending on what you are preparing.

The most popular method of using a dry rub is to apply the rub to the outside of the meat liberally. With rub, you can handle quite a bit, but obviously, you don't want to go overboard. Once you've covered the entire piece of meat, let it sit for 15 minutes to an hour. Then, cook as desired.

An overnight method can also be used, and this option can tenderize even the toughest cuts of meat. After rubbing as much of the seasoning mix as you want into the meat, cover it and place it in the refrigerator overnight. The rub will work its magic while you sleep, bringing all the good moisture inside of the meat out and making it even more tender.

Another option is to mix the rub with oil or butter, and then baste any type of food before cooking. Although this takes the rub from dry to wet, it can also add a lot of rich flavor to whatever it is that you’re cooking. You can also try this method with a vinaigrette or light oil and vinegar mix, to ensure you’re giving your meats an intense hit of flavor that lasts.

Traditionally, rubs are used in the ways listed above, but many people love the delectable spice blends so much that they prefer to add them to other foods besides meats. Soups, stews, and chillis can get a drool-worthy boost when unique rubs are added during the cooking process, while rubs can be sprinkled on top of finished recipes, too. Almost any food can get bumped up to a level ten on the flavor-meter with an extra sprinkle of spice.

Conclusion

Choosing the best BBQ rubs can be a difficult decision, especially when shopping online when you can’t see or taste the product in person. However, you gain access to far more choices when on a website than you might in your local grocery store. Look for flavors that appeal to you, whether you like to breathe fire or veer more towards the sweet side. Pay careful attention to your diet considerations, and always read ingredient labels if you have any sensitivities to specific ingredients. Regardless of your dietary and taste needs, there’s a rub out there for you!