Dry Rub and Seasoning Recipes

Whether you're looking for a breakfast sausage recipe or are wondering how to season ground beef, you'll find great recipes here.

What are dry rubs and seasonings?

Both dry spice rubs and seasonings are blends of different dried spices, herbs and sometimes salt and/or sugar. Dry rubs are meant to be rubbed or sprinkled onto raw meats and seafoods and add both flavor and texture after cooking. Seasonings can be sprinkled on meats and seafoods as well but are also used to flavor sauces, dressings and more.

(You can also turn a dry rub into a wet rub by using it in combination with a liquid ingredient. For example, you can spread mustard on ribs and then sprinkle the mustard with a dry rub.)

Should you oil meat before applying dry rub?

You can either oil meat before applying dry rub or sprinkle the rub directly onto the dry meat. If you cook the meat in hot oil on all sides, then there is no need to oil the meat beforehand. But if you plan on grilling or roasting the meat, you can oil it before applying the dry rub.

How do you get dry rub to stick to meat?

Make sure to pat the meat or seafood dry with paper towels first. Then rub or sprinkle the dry rub either directly onto the dry meat or brush a bit of oil on and then apply the dry rub. As long as you pat the meat dry, the rub will stick (regardless of whether or not you use oil).

How much dry rub should you use per pound of meat?

This will vary from recipe to recipe. I list recommended amounts of dry rub in the recipe cards for each of the dry rub recipes below.

How to use dry rubs and seasonings:

Below you'll find easy recipes for delicious rubs and seasonings. Some were created for a specific purpose, like this rub for country style ribs or this dry rub for turkey breast. Others are great in a number of applications, like this chipotle bbq dry rub.