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Best BBQ Rub Texas Style

An easy make-your-own dry rub for all of your BBQ needs.  This homemade BBQ rub will flavor your meat and aid in the smoking process.  Heavy on black pepper, this Texas-style BBQ rub will help you to make the perfect brisket and pork butts.  Make yours today, keep in a mason jar and have some for the entire Summer. You can’t go wrong with a lot of dry rub on your next BBQ.

Dry rub ingredients in a mason jar.
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What is a good BBQ rub?

In Texas, it’s really about the black pepper and salt.  I like a 2:1 black pepper/salt ratio.  Kosher salt works well as the larger flakes are better for distribution.  You can use table salt or light salt.

Common  dry rub ingredients include spices for flavor, heat and herbs.  Depending on the food you will be smoking will depend on what flavor profile you will want.  They are all interchangeable and you can get really creative.

For pork, beef and game, I like to add cumin, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder.  The bigger the granules the better, there is less clumping and a more even distribution.

For chicken, turkey and fish, I like to add dried herbs such as thyme or sage.  Citrus peel that has been finely grated go very well with fish or chicken.

Scroll below for the recipe on how to make your own BBQ rub from scratch.

When to apply a BBQ rub?

After trimming your meat, slather on a mixture of apple cider vinegar and yellow mustard.  Then apply rub evenly.  You don’t have to thickly coat the meat but you do want a nice generous layer.

You can either place your meat on the smoker right away or let it rest 30 minutes.  This is a good time to get your firebox ready in your smoker or grill.  By letting it rest, the salt in the rub acts like a dry brine.

It will pull some moisture from the meat and create a mini brine solution on the surface of the meat.  The proteins in the meat will change and the briny solution will reabsorb into the meat, taking the salt with it.  This can result in a more moist and tender meat with better flavor.

What is the purpose of a BBQ rub?

Besides the dry brine, a BBQ rub flavors the meat and has a nice textural surface in which the smoke can cling on to.  It is one element of flavor out of many.  By developing the flavors in layers, you produce meat with depth and character.

BBQ recipes Texas Style

  1. Check out my detailed article on how to smoke ribs.  Full of great info including the best temperature to smoke meat, how to check for doneness, how to remove the membrane on the back of ribs and other frequently asked questions about BBQ.
  2. This article on Texas Style Brisket will teach you how to brine first to ensure a moist and perfect outcome.
  3. The Tipsy Texan BBQ sandwich is a famous way to use up leftover BBQ.  This classic from Franklin’s BBQ will have your family begging for more.  True story.
Dry rub ingredients in a mason jar.
Dry rub ingredients in a mason jar with a funnel.
Dry rub in a measuring cup.
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Make a big batch and keep in a mason jar ready to go.  Make sure to have a nice tight lid.

All of my BBQ ideas come from Franklin’s BBQ in Austin, TX. Have you been there? What time did you stand in line? If you haven’t been there, be sure to bring a chair and some morning refreshments, the line starts before dawn and they close when the sell the last piece of brisket, usually around 2pm.

Did you make this recipe?  Don’t forget to rate the recipe and comment below!  Take a picture and tag us @FusionCraftiness #FusionCraftiness on Instagram for a chance to be featured in our Insta Stories:)

Bon appetit y’all!

Dry rub in a measuring cup.

Best BBQ Rub Texas Style

Yield: 2 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

An easy make-your-own dry rub for all of your BBQ needs.  This homemade BBQ rub will flavor your meat and aid in the smoking process.  Heavy on black pepper, this Texas-style BBQ rub will help you to make the perfect brisket and pork butts.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup black pepper
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 2 Tbs cumin
  • 2 Tbs hungarian or sweet paprika
  • 2 Tbs ground or granulated garlic
  • 2 Tbs ground or granulated onion

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a mason jar, put lid on and shake.
  2. Use on any meat for BBQ.
  3. Enjoy all Summer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1 Tbs
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 15Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1889mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

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Wilbert Sykes

Friday 1st of April 2022

I would love to have your chicken and turkey rub

Tina

Sunday 3rd of April 2022

Hi Wilbert, for poultry I do 1 part salt; 2 parts dried or fresh herbs; 1 part paprika (either smoked, sweet, Hungarian- If I use hot paprika I use 1/4th); zest of one lemon. It really depends on what I'm in the mood for. I hope this helps! Have fun!

Morgan Oldenburg

Monday 31st of August 2020

This is the best rub ever! My absolute favorite just as is paired with apple cider vinegar sprayed on pork shoulder while smoking-- to die for! Question-- i'm supposed to be making this tomorrow for someone who has a garlic intolerance..... would leaving out the granulated garlic make this rub not worth making?

Tina

Monday 7th of September 2020

Hi Morgan! I apologize for being too late for your amazing BBQ. I would substitute granulated onion or onion powder for the garlic in that case. I haven't done that but they are both in the same plant family and I think it would be a great alternative. Good luck and have fun:)

Holly

Monday 19th of November 2018

This sounds like a fantastic BBQ rub! I always prefer making my own spice blends - that way I can control exactly what goes into them.

Tina

Thursday 22nd of November 2018

Me too Holly, my husband especially appreciates being able to control the heat.

Jyothi (Jo)

Monday 19th of November 2018

Homemade spice mixes/rubs are the best. Not just this spice rub sounds perfect, it looks amazing too, I'd say better than ones from the store.

Natalie

Monday 19th of November 2018

Oh this blend sounds fantastic. I love the flavors you combined here. I bet this will be huge hit in my house. Can't wait to put this on some BBQ ribs.

Tina

Monday 19th of November 2018

You can make a big batch, put in a mason jar with a ribbon and give easy Christmas gifts:)

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