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Home » Recipes » Recipes with Paprika

Brown Sugar Steak Rub

Modified: Oct 1, 2025 · Published: Jun 5, 2023 by Nicole B. · Leave a Comment
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
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This peppery brown sugar steak rub has the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors and delivers juicy oven-seared steaks. It's made with brown sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, cumin, salt, onion powder and garlic powder.

Brown sugar steak rub in a bowl.

My ingredient notes:

  • You can use sweet smoked paprika or hot smoked paprika for this recipe. The rub has a little bit of heat from black pepper and will be even spicier with hot smoked paprika.
  • You can use either light or dark brown sugar to make this spice rub. Dark brown sugar contains more molasses and therefore has a deeper, more complex flavor.
Brown sugar, salt, pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder.

How to make it:

See full ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below!

Steak rub ingredients in a bowl.
  1. Add all ingredients to a bowl.
Steak rub being mixed with a fork.
  1. Mix all ingredients together using a fork.

Full Recipe

Brown sugar steak rub in a bowl.
Author: Nicole B.

Brown Sugar Steak Rub

This brown sugar steak rub is delicious on any cut of steak, from sirloin to New York strip steaks.
Makes about ¼ cup. I recommend to use about 1 tablespoon per 6-ounce steak.
Print Version (does not include images) Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 5 minutes mins
Servings: 4
Course: Dry Rubs and Seasonings
Cuisine: World
Calories: 20
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Equipment:

  • measuring spoons
  • bowl
  • fork
  • cast iron skillet
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Ingredients:
  

  • 4 teaspoons brown sugar (light or dark), packed
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

Method:
 

  1. Add all ingredients to a bowl and mash together with a fork until well combined.

Recipe notes:

How to use the steak rub:
  1. Add oil to a cast iron skillet, then set the cold skillet in the cold oven. Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. with the skillet in it. (This ensures that both the skillet and the oil get sufficiently hot so that the steaks get nicely browned.)
  2. Pat the steaks dry using paper towels. Press the steaks into the dry rub until all sides are well coated.
  3. Transfer the steaks into the hot skillet. Cook on both sides to desired doneness.
  4. Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving.
NOTE: I don't recommend grilling the steaks with this dry rub because the brown sugar can easily burn on the grill.
Did you make this recipe?Please consider leaving a review- THANK YOU!

Nutrition (estimate only):

Calories: 20kcalCarbohydrates: 4.7gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.2gSodium: 584mgPotassium: 41mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 3.4gCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

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Hi there!

I'm Nicole, the cook and photographer behind this website. You'll find lots of delicious recipes here, all centered around spices.

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