If you’re a pitmaster like the majority of them, you probably already have a go-to pulled pork rub that produces delicious results every time.
But if you feel like it is time to try with some new tastes and recipes, or you are new to pulled pork and rib smoking, we have picked our top favorite pulled pork rubs which perhaps will inspire you next time you are lighting up your smoker.
Barbecue Pork Rub
This is one of the most versatile BBQ dry rubs, which works well with pulled pork, ribs, and butt, and even with chicken.
It is easy to make and is a mixture of dry ingredients, most of which you probably already have lying around in the pantry so that you will save money as well.
Ingredients:
- Brown sugar – ½ cup
- Smoked or sweet paprika – ¼ cup
- Coarse salt – 2 tablespoons
- Ground cumin – 2 tablespoons
- Chili powder – 1 tablespoon
- Onion powder – 1 tablespoon
- Garlic powder – 1 tablespoon
- Cracked black pepper – 1 tablespoon
- Mustard powder – 1 tablespoon
- Cayenne pepper – ½ tablespoon
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients well and store them in an airtight container. Sprinkle and rub them in on the meat after covering it with a binding agent like olive oil, mustard, or other.
Susie’s Dry Rub for Ribs
This is a dry rub that has been designed after years of experimenting with pork seasoning and is the perfect sweet and savory dry rub to make the most delicious ribs.
It is a dry rub which when you start using when low and slow cooking pork ribs will find that there is no need for any additional sauce.
It has some classic ingredients and some unexpected ones, which bring a special punch and an earthy balance to this addictive dry rub for ribs.
Ingredient:
- Brown sugar – ¼ cup
- Kosher salt – 2 teaspoons
- Black pepper – 2 teaspoons
- Smoked paprika – 2 teaspoons
- Garlic powder – 1 teaspoon
- Onion powder – 1 teaspoon
- Ground mustard – 1 teaspoon
- Cinnamon – ½ teaspoon
- Celery salt – ½ teaspoon
- Cayenne pepper – ¼ teaspoon
Instructions:
Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl and crush any clumps with a fork. Store it in an airtight container.
Meathead’s World Famous Memphis Dust Rub
If you love the taste of Memphis barbecue and would like to recreate it at home, this recipe is definitely one you should try next time you cook smoking ribs. This rib rub eliminates the need for sauce, which is a technique used by the best Memphis pitmasters. The result is that unbelievably beautiful and flavorful bark.
The right way to use this dry rib rub is to apply it before smoking the meat and then apply a second coat right before serving it.
Ingredients:
- Dark brown sugar firmly packed – ¾ cup
- White sugar – ¾ cup
- American paprika – ½ cup
- Garlic powder – ¼ cup
- Ground black pepper – 2 tablespoons
- Ground ginger powder – 2 tablespoons
- Onion powder – 2 tablespoons
- Rosemary powder – 2 teaspoons
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients well in a bowl. Use a fork to crumble any lumps of sugar. Keep the dry rub in a jar or airtight container. If it clumps up over time, you can chop it up or spread the rub on a baking sheet and leave it in the oven for 15 minutes at 225 degrees Fahrenheit to let the moisture evaporate.
Kansas City Style Dry Rub
After Memphis, we will head to another leading low and smoked meat capital – Kansas City.
Like the Memphis style, the Kansas City-style barbecue is rubbed with dry spices and then slow-smoked, and then served with thick tomato-based BBQ sauce.
With this particularly pulled pork rub, you may find that you don’t need the BBQ sauce at all.
Related: Does BBQ Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated?
Ingredients:
- Brown sugar – ½ cup
- Paprika – ¼ cup
- Black pepper – 1 tablespoon
- Salt – 1 tablespoon
- Garlic powder – 1 tablespoon
- Onion powder – 1 tablespoon
- Chile powder – 1 tablespoon
- Cayenne pepper – 1 tablespoon
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients together in a bowl, and store the rub in an airtight container. With this recipe, you can expect to make about 1 cup of Kansas City-style dry rub for pulled pork.
The Ultimate Dry Rub
If you want to make a dry rub that is universal and which you can use for all types of meat, poultry, and even for potatoes and other sides, then you should try out this Ultimate dry rub.
Ingredients:
- Dark brown sugar – 4 tablespoons
- Smoked paprika (or regular paprika) – 4 tablespoons
- Coarse salt – 2 tablespoons
- Freshly ground black pepper – 1 tablespoon
- Garlic powder – 2 teaspoons
- Onion powder – 2 teaspoons
- Freshly ground coriander – 1 teaspoon
- Cumin – 1 teaspoon
- Cayenne pepper – 1 teaspoon
Instructions:
Use fresh spices and ingredients for this dry rub, if possible. Grind the fresh herbs and the black pepper with a herb or coffee grinder right before mixing them. Either use the dry rub right away, or if you want to store it, place it in a zip lock freezer bag with as much air removed as possible, and keep it in the freezer. The rub can also be stored in an airtight jar in a cool and dark space or in the refrigerator.
Check this excellent summer garnish for pulled pork!
Texas Style Dry Barbecue Rub
If you want to make authentic tasting Texas-style ribs and pulled pork, then the following recipe is the one to choose for your next grilling session.
The rub has been created with pitmasters who like to improvise in mind and will give the pork that smoky flavor even without using a smoker.
It can also be used on chicken and on some side dishes.
Ingredients:
- Golden brown packed sugar – 1/3 cup
- Chili powder – 1/3 cup
- Salt – ¼ cup
- Freshly ground black pepper – ¼ cup
- Ground mustard – 2 tablespoons
- Ground cumin – 2 tablespoons
- Garlic powder – 1 tablespoon
- Onion powder – 1 tablespoon
- Paprika – 1 tablespoon
- Ground cayenne pepper – 1 teaspoon
Instructions:
Use a fork or a blender on pulse mode to mix the herbs and spices together well. Break any clumps. Store the rub in an airtight container. The author suggests using an old spice jar to store it.
Also, check this amazing recipe for Smoked Pork Country Style Ribs
Final words
No matter whether you prefer Kansas City style, Memphis style, or Carolina style barbecue, we have included a dry rub for pulled pork for any taste.
By making your own dry rub, you will save money from buying ready-made dry rubs, and by using some of the spices that are already sitting in the pantry, you will know exactly which ingredients you are adding to each of them. Plus, you can make different dry rubs, label them and store them for up to 6 months in the refrigerator or in a cool and dark place.
If you don’t have time to make a BBq rub on your own, make sure to check our list for the best BBQ rubs you can buy online in 2022
We hope that you enjoy these recipes!