Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 1 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More Next
    • 2 The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More Next
    • 3 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More Next
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 45-Minute Recipes
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Kid Approved
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Cooking Questions
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
    • Videos
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done

    Well Done

    See All Well Done
    • Homemade vs. The Internet
    • How-to and Explainers
    • Mom vs.
    • Recipe Videos
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. I Heart My Grill Chevron Right
  3. Grill to Thrill: Guides & Gear Chevron Right
  4. Editors' Picks: Gourmet Barbecue Rubs

Editors' Picks: Gourmet Barbecue Rubs

Updated June 11, 2008
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin

We tasted a variety of spice rubs from smoky sweet to fiery hot–and here are our favorites.

Start Slideshow

1 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Editors' Picks: Gourmet Barbecue Rubs

Credit: Colin Peterson

The MyRecipes team tried almost 20 different varieties of gourmet rubs to kick off grilling season. Many feature traditional spices, like paprika and brown sugar, but we have a couple zingers, too, so keep your eyes peeled for great flavors.

We tried the rubs on grilled pork tenderloin, scored 'em out of 3, and then tallied the numbers to give you our top picks.

And don't forget to check out our video for a behind-the-scenes, no-holds-barred peek at our tasting.

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Smokin Willie's: Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Spice Rub

A mellow blend of paprika, brown sugar, and 12 other herbs and spices, Smokin Willie's spice rub was like a seasoning salt made good. Approved by the traditionalists on staff, our tasters deemed it a "nice basic to have on hand," and thought it would be especially tasty on fish.

2 of 9

3 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Victoria Taylor's: Kansas City Steak Rub

Victoria Taylor's steak rub earned high points for its bold, balanced flavor. Whole mustard seeds and peppercorns made delighted tasters remark, "the heat comes on!" Other staffers appreciated the onion and garlic kick in its sweet-and-spicy profile.

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Bear-Man: Tummy Rub

The culinary equivalent of a front-porch rocking chair, Bear-Man's Tummy Rub charmed our staff with its mild, laid-back spice. We could imagine its "nice, solid flavor" on chicken, pork chops, kebabs, fries–or on almost anything, really.

4 of 9

5 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Big Acres: Poultry Rub

Our staff had nothing but good things to say about Big Acres' rub for chicken and turkey. This product came out tops for texture and "pretty" presentation: the rub formed an appetizing crust of whole rosemary leaves. Coarse sea salt, sage, and a touch of pepper also contributed to its "awesome flavor."

5 of 9

6 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Sauce Goddess: BBQ Sweet Heat Rub

Wow. Bold and punchy, the Sauce Goddess' Sweet Heat Rub is definitely true to its name. Packed with crushed red pepper and brown sugar with hints of clove and allspice, it's the perfect rub for a juicy shrimp skewer, steak, or roasted chicken. "Love it," proclaimed one of our tasters, who deemed it had the "perfect heat."

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

The Spice Hunter: Grill Shakers Ribs

The Grill Shakers Ribs seasoning blend from Spice Hunter includes a few surprises, like soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and a hint of chipotle pepper. The result is savory and tangy, with just a hint of spice. One staffer commented on its "nice back of the palate presence"–which proves that ribs, too, can be enjoyed like fine wine.

7 of 9

8 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Fire and Flavor: Mustard and Herb Blend and Asian Rub

A hit with our staff, the Mustard & Herb Blend from Fire and Flavor knocked our socks off with its bright, "fresh" taste. With lots of mustard, thyme, and a hint of rosemary, it's no wonder one taster exclaimed, "I love these flavors!" And for fans of ginger and sesame, Fire and Flavor's Asian rub was deemed "tasty" and "multi-layered."

8 of 9

9 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

BBQ'N Fools: Burn Ya Twice Mon Jerk Rub

BBQ'N Fools' Burn Ya Twice Mon Jerk Rub was deemed a favorite amongst the fire heads of the group who believed it delivered more heat than the other contenders. With a blend of ingredients like habanero peppers, orange zest, thyme, and allspice and our tasters loved its "Caribbean flair" and raved about the "fiery flavor."

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 9 Editors' Picks: Gourmet Barbecue Rubs
2 of 9 Smokin Willie's: Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Spice Rub
3 of 9 Victoria Taylor's: Kansas City Steak Rub
4 of 9 Bear-Man: Tummy Rub
5 of 9 Big Acres: Poultry Rub
6 of 9 Sauce Goddess: BBQ Sweet Heat Rub
7 of 9 The Spice Hunter: Grill Shakers Ribs
8 of 9 Fire and Flavor: Mustard and Herb Blend and Asian Rub
9 of 9 BBQ'N Fools: Burn Ya Twice Mon Jerk Rub

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Login

MyRecipes

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Advertising this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
MyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.myrecipes.com

View image

Editors' Picks: Gourmet Barbecue Rubs
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.