This homemade BBQ Chicken Rub is a great way to add tons of flavor to chicken whether you plan to grill, smoke, or bake it. It has the best of the barbecue flavors and only takes a few minutes to make.
I am very into spice mixes, dry rubs, and seasonings because it can really transform meats, vegetables, and more in minutes. The best part is that you can whip up a big batch to have it on hand whenever you need it, and it will store for up to a year.
This easy homemade BBQ Chicken rub takes minutes to put together and has so much flavor! You can use it alone on chicken, or in combination with BBQ sauce.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Quick – You can make this in just 5-10 minutes.
- Stores easily – Pop it in a jar or container and it will stay good in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
- Lots of flavor – It is simply packed with it! You want to add lots of flavor? This is a home run.
What is BBQ Dry Rub?
While a seasoning generally contains salt, herbs, and spices, a dry rub will contain all of these with the addition of sugar.
Dry rubs are meant to form a crust on the meat and work best with slower cooking methods at lower temperatures since the sugar can burn at higher temperatures.
Recipe Notes
This homemade BBQ Chicken Rub recipe is as simple as promised! Just a few minutes of prep—- for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make homemade BBQ rub to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Chili powder
- Brown sugar– the brown sugar is what makes this a rub instead of just a spice mix. You can up the amount by double if you enjoy a sweeter rub.
- Smoked paprika– you can use any paprika, but smoked gives it the best BBQ style flavor.
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Cumin
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Sweet BBQ Chicken Rub– To make this BBQ rub more sweet increase the sugar to 4-6 tablespoons.
- Spicy BBQ Chicken Rub– If you like a little heat, add up to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the BBQ chicken rub.
How to use BBQ Chicken Rub
- Dry the chicken – rubs work best when starting on a nice dry surface so that they can be evenly spread.
- Apply rub – evenly rub chicken on all sides with the dry rub. You will use about 1/2- 1 tablespoon per pound of meat. You can also lightly coat the chicken with olive oil before adding the rub if preferred.
- Cook or store – you can cook your meat right away or store it in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before cooking.
You can cook in almost any way you like but a slow cooking method at lower temperatures tend to yield the best results. When I want something quick I use this 30 minute BBQ Chicken Breast recipe. - Any chicken works! You can use any cut of chicken with this BBQ rub and skin on or skinless, bone in or boneless. Chicken breast, thighs, wings, drumsticks, and tenderloins all work well!
If you use chicken with skin, I like to use more seasoning, and less for skinless chicken since the flavor becomes more intense. - Don’t contaminate – Make sure not to put a hand or scoop that has touched the raw chicken back into the rub mix. This can introduce bacteria from the meat into the rub. Instead separate the amount you will use and only touch that. If you need more, wash your hands and pour more to use.
What to Serve with BBQ Chicken
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of Texas style BBQ, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic BBQ side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
BBQ Chicken Rub Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making your BBQ Chicken, then you can store the extra rub and keep it on hand to save time the next time!
To save leftovers, place rub in an airtight container and store in a cool dry place for up to a year.
BBQ Chicken Recipes
Here are a few ways to use BBQ Chicken the whole family can love!
More EASY Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
BBQ Chicken Rub
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients.
- This will season 3-5 pounds of chicken depending on the intensity desired.
Leave a Reply