Best BBQ Rub Texas Style

An easy make-your-own dry rub for all of your BBQ needs. This homemade BBQ rub will flavor your meat and aid in the smoking process. Heavy on black pepper, this Texas-style BBQ rub will help you to make the perfect brisket and pork butts. Make yours today, keep in a mason jar and have some for the entire Summer.

Dry rub ingredients in a mason jar.

What is a good BBQ rub?

In Texas, it’s really about the black pepper and salt. I like a 2:1 black pepper/salt ratio. Kosher salt works well as the larger flakes are better for distribution. You can use table salt or light salt.

Common dry rub ingredients include spices for flavor, heat and herbs. Depending on the food you will be smoking will depend on what flavor profile you will want. They are all interchangeable and you can get really creative.

For pork, beef and game, I like to add cumin, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder. The bigger the granules the better, there is less clumping and a more even distribution.

For chicken, turkey and fish, I like to add dried herbs such as thyme or sage. Citrus peel that has been finely grated go very well with fish or chicken.

Scroll below for the recipe on how to make your own BBQ rub from scratch.

When to apply a BBQ rub?

After trimming your meat, slather on a mixture of apple cider vinegar and yellow mustard. Then apply rub evenly. You don’t have to thickly coat the meat but you do want a nice generous layer.

You can either place your meat on the smoker right away or let it rest 30 minutes. This is a good time to get your firebox ready in your smoker or grill. By letting it rest, the salt in the rub acts like a dry brine.

It will pull some moisture from the meat and create a mini brine solution on the surface of the meat. The proteins in the meat will change and the briny solution will reabsorb into the meat, taking the salt with it. This can result in a more moist and tender meat with better flavor.

What is the purpose of a BBQ rub?

Besides the dry brine, a BBQ rub flavors the meat and has a nice textural surface in which the smoke can cling on to. It is one element of flavor out of many. By developing the flavors in layers, you produce meat with depth and character.

BBQ recipes Texas Style

Check out my detailed article on how to smoke ribs. Full of great info including the best temperature to smoke meat, how to check for doneness, how to remove the membrane on the back of ribs and other frequently asked questions about BBQ.
This article on Texas Style Brisket will teach you how to brine first to ensure a moist and perfect outcome.
The Tipsy Texan BBQ sandwich is a famous way to use up leftover BBQ. This classic from Franklin’s BBQ will have your family begging for more. True story.

Dry rub ingredients in a mason jar.