If you are looking for the Best Dry Rub for Ribs, this is the one to make. Add delicious flavor to your ribs with this simple ingredient rib rub recipe.

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We love making Homemade Seasoning Blends for all of our grilled recipes. They taste better their store bought seasoning and we can adjust the spice depending on what we prefer. Plus there are not added ingredients that we can’t pronounce.
This dry rub for ribs gives our ribs amazing flavor and it can be used for other cuts of meat. Check out also this Pork Rub, Montreal Steak Seasoning or this Beef Rub Recipe. This rub would be delicious on this 3-2-1 Smoked Ribs.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
This best dry rub for pork ribs or any cut of meat. If you grill out a lot you probably already have a lot of these spices. The mixture is easy to combine and stores easily in an airtight container.
The next time you are grilling out ribs, make this spice blend for a crowd pleasing recipe.
Spice Rub Ingredients

- Brown Sugar, packed
- Smoked Paprika, or sweet
- Cumin
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Mustard Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
This spice mixture can be used on baby-back ribs recipe, pork chops, chicken, beef ribs or anything your prefer. It gives your meat the flavor of barbecue sauce but in a dry rub recipe.
The deep smoke flavor gives the best flavor for amazing results.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1 – Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl. Use a fork to break up any clumps as needed.

- Step 2 – To use for ribs, remove the membrane from the underneath side of the rack of ribs.
- Step 3 – Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel. Then evenly apply the rub to the underneath side and the top side of the rack of ribs.

- Step 4 – Let it marinade in the rub for at least 20 minutes before cooking (you can also refrigerate them overnight in the rub if you prefer).
- Step 5 – Cook the ribs based on your preference and enjoy.
Recipe Tips
- Combining Ingredients – Combine the ingredients easily in a bowl then place in a mason jar or spice jar. This makes easy to sprinkle on your ribs.
- Marinade – For the best flavor, we recommend allowing the meat to marinade for about 20 minutes with the spice rub. You can even marinade overnight so it is ready to grill the next day.
- BBQ Sauce – After grilling your ribs, you can even baste with BBQ sauce for more flavor.

How to Store Leftovers
Store any rub in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

More Dry Rub Recipes
We love hearing from you. If you make this Dry Rub Recipe for Ribs, please leave us a comment or a star review.

Best Dry Rub for Ribs
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika or sweet
- 1 tablespoons Cumin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl. Use a fork to break up any clumps as needed.
- To use for ribs, remove the membrane from the underneath side of the rack of ribs.
- Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel. Then evenly apply the rub to the underneath side and the top side of the rack of ribs. Let it marinade in the rub for at least 20 minutes before cooking (you can also refrigerate them overnight in the rub if you prefer).
- Cook the ribs based on your preference and enjoy!