The best rib dry rub recipes achieve a delicate balance between sweet and savory notes and you can adjust the basic rub recipe shared above to your preferred tastes. If you’d like it a little sweeter, you can add more dark brown sugar, for example. Or, for more heat in your rib rub, you can increase the quantities of cayenne pepper or introduce chili flakes to the mix. Cinnamon and nutmeg are also flavorful spices to include in a rib rub mix and add a seasonal touch if you’re using this rub for a festive supper.
Brown sugar is preferable for this recipe as it has a higher moisture content than granulated sugar, helping to keep the meat moist when it cooks. It also brings a subtle molasses sweetness that’s a desirable flavor note with the ribs, and you’ll lose this if you choose to use granulated sugar in the rub. Coconut sugar can also be used as a substitute for brown sugar, adding a subtle nutty flavor. Alongside onion powder you can add garlic powder to the mix too, if you’d like to introduce more savory notes to your rub.
How to Apply and When
The best part of this rib dry rub recipe is that it can be made a long time in advance and stored for up to a year. When you’re ready to apply it to your ribs, sprinkle a generous helping over your cut and massage it gently into the meat. Make sure you take the time to get the rib rub into all the cracks and crevices of the meat, as you’ll want to ensure the flavor distributes evenly throughout when cooking.
You can then cook the ribs straight away, but if you can leave them for an hour, or overnight, to marinate, you’ll get the most out of the rub. For the tastiest results from your rib rub, we’d recommend grilling your ribs on a low heat — around 250°F — for four hours, turning them over on the hour.
When you’re ready to serve your ribs, you can’t go wrong with side dishes inspired by classic barbecue feasts. These ribs will be perfect alongside a creamy pot of coleslaw, an irresistible potato salad, and sweet grilled corn for a flavorful meal in the backyard.
Best Cuts of Meat for this Rub
This rib rub works well with a variety of different cuts of beef. The mix above is primarily designed to be used as a prime rib rub recipe, but it’s also tasty on ribeye steaks or ribeye fillets, if you prefer these cuts of meat. With rich marbling and natural tenderness, prime ribs are ideal for rubs as the fat helps to retain moisture during low-and-slow cooking in seasoning or rubs.
