There’s the Rub: Take Your Grilled Steaks, Chicken, and Everything Else to the Next Level

best grilling dry rubs you can buy

The secret to expertly seasoned meat, fish, or veggies is actually stupidly easy: Don’t even think about letting anything touch the grill this summer without giving it a good rub down first. A dry rub usually has these three ingredients: salt, pepper, and brown sugar, which gives meat and fish a healthy dose of flavor and some sweet caramelization (thanks to the sugar) once it hits the heat. But once you’ve got those as your base, you can go crazy from there, adding whatever spices make sense with the natural flavor of what you’re cooking. (For example, cayenne is kinda awesome on fish.) But don’t stress if you’re not a flavor chemist: each of these ready-to-buy rubs is a delicious flavor bomb that’ll add texture, too, without you having to lift a finger. Some of them even skip the sugar (it’s your life, live it how you want), but bring all of that crazy-good taste. Take one to your friend-with-the-grill’s next BBQ—unlike a marinade or sauce, you can add a rub right before you cook the meat—to ensure your invite back for the next grilling sesh.

The Salt Lick Authentic Texas BBQ Dry Rub

The Salt Lick Texas BBQ Dry Rub

Amazon

This legendary pit outside of Austin serves up some of the most flavorful BBQ in the area. Thankfully you can skip the drive (and the massive lines) and make your own version at home with this rub that’s a smoky mix of salt, black pepper, cayenne, and other spices. It’s seriously addictive.Buy Now

Salmon Rub by Tom Douglas

Tom Douglas salmon rub

Sur la Table

James Beard Award-winning Seattle Kitchen chef Tom Douglas came up with this dry rub, and trust us, it’s the best way to visit the Pacific Northwest without ever having to leave home. Sure, you could use this one on chicken or pork chops, but the blend of paprika, thyme, and brown sugar is perfect for salmon fillets.Buy Now

Stonewall Kitchen Maine Seafood Rub

Stonewall Kitchen Maine seafood rub

Sur la Table

If you’re hosting a boat-shoe-clad crowd (or just a bunch of land-locked pals who have dreams of living oceanside), give the meal an East Coast vibe with this hand-blended rub, which is an ideal pairing with flaky white fish like haddock or cod. (It’s also extra tasty when added to chowder or steamed shellfish.) Just don’t forget to ask someone to bring a six-pack of Narragansett.Buy Now

Sur La Table Tuscan Herb Rub

Sur la Table Tuscan dry rub

Sur la Table

You’ve heard of de-boning a chicken, but how about de-boring it? Take your basic chicken to new heights with this Tuscan mix of garlic, pepper, rosemary, and dried oregano. Two teaspoons per pound of chicken should do it, and presto! It’s what we imagine living in central Italy for the summer would taste like. Someone please confirm.Buy Now

World Market Coffee Chili Spice Rub

World Market coffee chili spice rub

World Market

Give your burgers, brisket, and pot roast a jolt with a rub that’s got coffee in it. Yep, the bitter grounds, when mixed with ground chilies, mustard, paprika, brown sugar, and salt makes a sweet treat with smoky flavor on the grill.Buy Now

Chile Margarita Spice Mix

Spiceologist chile margarita spice rub

Mouth.com

This dry rub is just like a margarita cocktail: we’ll have it with anything and any day of the week. Its ingredients are family simple—chile pepper, brown sugar, salt, orange zest, spice, and lime oil—but it adds major personality to almost everything it touches. (Just like a round of margs, amirite?) It’s as mouth-watering on beef as it is on shrimp or veggies, and it even looks pretty on your spice rack.Buy Now

Spiceology Black & Bleu

Spiceology black and blue spice rub with dehydrated blue cheese

Thrive Market

Give your at-home grilling party a major steakhouse feel with a rub that’s got dehydrated blue cheese in it (along with paprika, garlic, onion, and salt). Once your steaks hit the grill, you’ll get a tangy, rich crust that’s even better than what you’d find at a white tablecloth joint. Hot tip: it’s even great sprinkled over popcorn.Buy Now

Sadaf Moroccan BBBQ Seasoning

Sadaf Moroccan BBQ Seasoning

World Market

It’s totally cool if you haven’t made it to Morocco yet (#bucketlist) because this rub can transport you there in mere minutes. It has all the good herbs and then some: coriander, cumin, garlic, turmeric, ginger, onion, salt, chili powder, black pepper, cloves, paprika, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Together, they make the most divine, not-from-here beef rub you can get without a plane ticket.Buy Now

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