The best dry rub for ribs is bold in flavor and creates a delicious crust for your smoked meats. In this recipe, I’ll reveal my personal blend of spices and herbs that’ll guarantee your ribs (and meats) achieve the perfect balance of savory, smoky, and spicy flavors, enhancing the meat without overpowering it.
When you think of perfectly smoked 12 Hour Hold Texas-Style Brisket or juicy Smoked Turkey, you know that the dry rub plays a big part in making that smoked meat delicious!
Not only does the dry rub season the meat and highlight its natural umami flavor, but it also forms that nice, crusty and flavorful bark on the meat, that gives it that signature crunch and smokey depth.
Luckily, this perfect dry rub for ribs recipe combines the sweetness of brown sugar, spiciness of smoked paprika, garlic and onion powder for depth of flavor, chili powder for heat, and other dried spices to create an incredible flavor profile and irresistible crust.
And not only is this the best dry rub for ribs (for pork ribs, baby back ribs, or beef ribs), but it’s also versatile enough to go on steaks, smoked brisket, perfectly moist chicken breast and even fish, like sweet soy smoked salmon.
Key Elements Of This Recipe
- Coarse Black Pepper: This forms that nice crust on the outside of the meat
- Ground Coffee: Balances out that meaty smell
- Smoked Paprika: Provides that rich earthy and smokey flavor
The Ingredients for Best Dry Rub For Ribs
- 3 tablespoons Smoked Paprika
- 2 tablespoons Ground Coffee
- 1.5 tablespoon Coarse Salt
- 4 tablespoons Coarse Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Ground Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
The Equipment Needed
- Shaker Bottle
How To Make The Best Dry Rub For Ribs
Making this dry rub is incredibly simple.
Add all of the ingredients into a shaker bottle (or any large bottle with enough room to shake the spices).
Give it a good shake – until all ingredients are fully mixed.
How To Use The Best Dry Rub For Ribs
When ready to use, simply shake (or sprinkle) the dry rub on top of your meat from a height of at least 6 inches, so that the rub disperses evenly as it drops onto the meat.
How To Store Your Dry Rub
Storing your dry rub is easy. Simply put it in a dry and air tight container (like these spice jars), and keep it in your pantry for up to 6 months.
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Best Dry Rub For Ribs
Equipment
- Shaker Bottle
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Smoked Paprika
- 2 tablespoons Ground Coffee
- 1.5 tablespoon Coarse Salt
- 4 tablespoons Coarse Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Ground Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
Instructions
How To Make The Best Dry Rub For Ribs
- Making this dry rub is incredibly simple.
- Add all of the ingredients into a shaker bottle (or any large bottle with enough room to shake the spices).
- Give it a good shake – until all ingredients are fully mixed.
How To Use The Best Dry Rub For Ribs
- When ready to use, simply shake (or sprinkle) the dry rub on top of your meat from a height of at least 6 inches, so that the rub disperses evenly as it drops onto the meat.
How To Store Your Dry Rub
- Storing your dry rub is easy. Simply put it in a dry and air tight container (like these spice jars), and keep it in your pantry for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is just an estimate derived by an online calculation tool.
FAQ
What do I use this dry rub on?
This rub is not only good on ribs, but it’s also versatile enough to go on steaks, smoked brisket, perfectly moist chicken breast and even fish, like sweet soy smoked salmon.
How do I get that nice bark on my smoked meats?
Pick a dry rub that is heavy in coarse black pepper, like this perfect dry rub for ribs and apply it liberally all over your meat.
krystel spann
I have been on the hunt for a really good dry rub recipe for my baby back ribs and I think I found the winner with this one!
Umamiology
Yes, it goes well with baby back ribs! Let me know how it turns out!
Sonja Goeden
Saved for the first BBQ of the year. I particularly love the picture with the layers in your jar. Has me want just the unmixed spices as decoration.
Umamiology
Yes! They do look good like that in the jar!
Claudia Cristina Ciorteanu
Finding the best dry rub for ribs can make all the difference! Your recipe looks fantastic—can’t wait to try it out on my next BBQ night. Thanks for sharing your secret to finger-licking ribs!
Umamiology
Let me know how it turns out!
Elizabeth
So good for upcoming BBQs! Thanks for sharing!
Umamiology
Sure thing!
Jeri
I love using homemade meat rubs, and this one is my new favorite! The extra flavor from the addition of ground coffee is amazing!
Umamiology
Yes, the ground coffee makes a difference!
Deborah
I was looking for a dry rub for my vegan ribs and found this, so wanted to let you know it also works for meatless ribs, if you can believe it. Thanks for sharing.
Umamiology
Yes, great point! This rub works amazingly for meatless ribs too!
Ieva
This was probably my favourite rib rub I’ve ever tried. Highly recommended!
Umamiology
Thank you!
Jackie
This dry rub was so good that we didn’t even use BBQ sauce; I didn’t want to ruin the flavor! Hubs and I agreed this is our new go-to! Thank you for sharing!
Umamiology
Nice – thanks for the praise!
Harriet Young
This rub is incredible – so much flavour! The coffee in there gives it something really special. Thank you!
Umamiology
Yes, I love the coffee flavor in there as well!
Heather
The best dry rib rub I’ve made, the coffee adds such depth of flavor! Without tasting like coffee, it is a winning recipe! Thank you!
Umamiology
Glad you like it!
Paula
This rub was perfect for bbq ribs weekend! So flavorful, everyone enjoyed them.
Umamiology
Glad they all enjoyed it!
Megane
An awesome combo for ribs, chicken and even veg. I sprinkle it on just about everything.
Bernice
Well, it’s finally BBQ weather here in Canada and I can’t wait to get some ribs going. This rub recipe showed up at the perfect time. Smells great already.
Amy
Yum! Husband is always looking for rub recipes but never made it with coffee before. So good!
Amy Liu Dong
Looks really delicious, perfect for our steak dishes.
Amy Liu Dong
Oh my, this looks great and really a perfect rub treat for our ribs / steak to boost it’s taste and flavor! Totally love this already!
Ned
What a delicious rub!! Added this to my pork ribs for my 4th of July party and ohhh my, everyone loved them! Thank you!
kushi
This dry rub for ribs sounds so delicious. Can’t wait to try this. Pinned.
Holley
Used this seasoning for our smoked chicken the other night and it was absolutely delicious! Great flavor! I’ll be using this rub again in the near future 🙂
Sara Welch
This rub is the perfect balance of bold and savory; ribs turned out delicious! Easily, a new favorite recipe!
Beth
We smoke ribs all summer long, and I’ve been looking for a new rub to try. This one sounds great!
Diane Exley
Do you used coffee grounds that have already been brewed?
Umamiology
I use freshly ground coffee, that’s not been brewed. Hope that helps!
Jim
This is actually pretty good
Elroy
banging rub man