This desert heat dry rub recipe is my secret weapon to take dishes from boring to bah-da-bing. It's a bold, sweet-meets-spicy flavor blend that works magic on just about anything you're cooking, from pork chops, dry rub chicken wings, and salmon to even roasted veggies and your favorite dipping sauce.
The best news? I bet you have all the ingredients already hanging out in your spice cabinet. Trust me: Once you make a batch, you'll want to keep it within arm's reach in your kitchen.
This rub is so much better than store-bought rubs and is also one my husband thinks I should bottle and sell. (But I haven't done that quite yet.) Instead, for Christmas this year, I think I'm going to pack it into small jars, add handwritten labels, and give it as homemade holiday or hostess gifts.
Because it comes together in just five minutes with pantry staples, it's an easy win whether you're prepping a quick weeknight dinner or making a batch for friends and family. Use it to season pulled pork and serve with my Carolina gold bbq sauce recipe, Cava cabbage slaw, and blue cheese bacon potato salad (flavored with blue cheese dressing). Or, rub it on chicken to grill or smoke and serve with my white bbq sauce.
Ready to get started? Let's do it!
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Ingredients
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:
- brown sugar
- chili powder
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika
- ground cumin
- cayenne pepper
- black pepper
- kosher salt
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients, let's make that spice rub!
- First, combine all the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Then, transfer the rub mixture to an airtight glass jar or container.
Hint: Use a funnel to transfer the mixture without the mess.
Substitutions
Need to make some ingredient swaps? Here are some ideas:
- Light brown sugar - If you have dark brown sugar, that'll work too!
- Smoked paprika - Instead of smoked paprika, use regular sweet paprika. Or for a spicy kick, use hot paprika (and omit the cayenne pepper so it's not too fiery.)
- Cayenne pepper - Out of cayenne? That's okay! Use a little crushed red pepper flakes instead.
Variations
Check out these simple ways to change up this recipe:
- Spicier - This rub already has a little bit of a kick, but to add more heat, go up to 1 ½ to 2 tsp cayenne pepper or to your taste.
- Coffee Spice Rub - Coffee is a perfect choice to add to boost the umami flavor in foods. Add 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder.
- Citrus Spice Rub - Add 1 teaspoon orange, lemon, or lime zest for some fresh citrus flavor to the mix of spices.
Equipment
Here's the equipment you'll need to make this recipe:
- dry measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- small mixing bowl
Storage
Store the rub in an airtight jar or container at room temperature (in a dry place) for up to 6 months. A cool, dark place like a pantry.
You can freeze this rub if you'd like (although clumping is possible).
Tasty Tip
For the best results, apply this rub at least 30 minutes before cooking--that will allow the seasoning to flavor the meat.
Frequently asked questions
It has a subtle heat--so not too much. You can always adjust the amount of cayenne pepper depending on how hot (or not) you like it.
Absolutely! This seasoning blend is an easy way to add some zing to your favorite veggies. I really like it on sweet potatoes!
For sure! Add a tablespoon or two of oil (I recommend vegetable oil or olive oil) or mix with a little apple cider vinegar and use it as a marinade.
Depending on how humid your kitchen is, clumps can occur. (They certainly do in my Charleston kitchen!). Just be sure to store it in an airtight container and give it a good mix before use. You can also sift the brown sugar or any of the spices before mixing them in if there are lumps.
The brown sugar in this rub can sometimes burn if you're not careful. Don't leave the meat over high heat for a long period of time. Sear it and then finish over indirect heat if you're grilling. In a skillet, just reduce the temperature a bit.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this sweet heat rub:
🍽Get the recipe
Desert Heat Sweet and Spicy Dry Rub Recipe
Equipment
- dry measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- small bowl
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Transfer to a jar or airtight container and store at room temperature until ready to use.
RECIPE GUIDELINES AND TEST KITCHEN TIPS
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
FOOD SAFETY
Don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe:
- Store in an airtight container like a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Swathi says
This sweet and spicy dry rub is delicious perfect treat, I am going make it for sure.
AshleyFreeman says
Great! Hope you love it!
leah says
this sweet and spicy dry rub is perfect! i love putting it on meat before grilling
AshleyFreeman says
Yay! So glad it was a hit!
Nicole says
This rub is truly so good! I love how universal it is.
AshleyFreeman says
Yes! It really can be used on everything!
Krystle Smith says
My family couldn't stop raving about it, and I've already made a second batch to keep on hand.
AshleyFreeman says
Fantastic! I do that too!
Jet says
This rub is pure magic...like a desert sunset in flavor form! The balance of smoky heat and sweet warmth is spot-on. Definitely keeping a jar of this in my spice drawer year-round!
AshleyFreeman says
Wow! Thanks so much Jet for your kind words 🙂
Leslie says
This sweet and smoky rub was perfection with my chicken thighs..so good and flavorful!
AshleyFreeman says
That's the perfect combo. Thanks so much for your note!
Elizabeth says
This dry rub was delicious! I used it on pork chops for dinner and my family loved it.
AshleyFreeman says
That makes me so happy! Thanks so much!
Amy says
The smoky flavors in this spice rub are amazing. Perfect with chicken, ribs, steak... love it!
AshleyFreeman says
Yes! It's such a versatile seasoning blend!
Jaleah says
This rub is amazing! It really is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy.
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks Jaleah! I love it too!
Liz Berg says
I used this tasty rub on pork chops that we grilled over the weekend. They were delicious!
AshleyFreeman says
Awesome! It's perfect for pork chops!