The best rubs and seasonings for your BBQ this summer
How to apply rubs to BBQ meat
Summer is all about BBQs, with one of the challenges being able to bring new and exciting flavour combinations. Whether you’re a fan of smoky, sweet, spicy, or savoury, the right rubs are a great way to elevate your BBQ dishes. This post is designed to give your summer BBQs an extra flavour dimension.
It might seem pretty straightforward to apply a rub to a piece of meat. However, a BBQ rub isn’t just any seasoning, it’s designed to cover every facet of the exterior of the BBQ meat and bring the flavours to a whole new level. By following these tips for applying rubs, you’ll be able to get the best results possible.
- Pat meat dry: this ensures the seasoning doesn’t slide off or stick to the bars of the grill when cooking.
- Coat generously: don’t be afraid to use a generous amount of rub as a thick coating is essential to form a great crust. This also means that you should aim to
- Leave to rest: it’s important to let the meat rest for at least 30 minutes before grilling. This allows the rub to adhere to the surface of the meat and leech flavours deeper into it. Feel free to marinate the meat in the fridge for a few hours or overnight to develop the flavours further.
- Oil the meat: after the rub has been applied and it’s been left to rest, it’s still important to apply a light coating of oil. This can help the rub stick when grilling on the BBQ.
If you’re looking for recipes that uses BBQ rubs, we’ve covered a variety of BBQ meats including beef brisket, beef tri tip, and many more.
Best BBQ rubs for summer 2024
There are tons of different BBQ rubs which can produce fantastic results with a wide range of proteins. Most of the best rubs for BBQ meats share lots of similar herbs and spices, although there are slight variations to bring different flavour profiles. Measurements are in tablespoons unless specified.
- Classic – onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar(1/4 cup), paprika(1/4 cup), chili powder, salt.
- Sweet and smoky BBQ rub – cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika(2 tablespoons), mustard powder, salt, black pepper.
- Coffee rub – finely ground coffee (1/4 cup), brown sugar (2 tablespoons) paprika black pepper salt garlic powder onion powder cayenne pepper.
- Spicy BBQ rub – paprika(2 tablespoons), garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme salt, black pepper.
- Mediterranean style rub – oregano(2 tablespoons), thyme(2 tablespoons), rosemary(2 tablespoons), garlic powder(2 tablespoons), salt, pepper, lemon zest(1 teaspoon).
As we’ve mentioned, you are free to choose the rub that appeals most to you and your guest’s flavour preferences. You can even take elements from multiple rubs and create your own unique rub. Equally, our Butchers Deli has many different seasonings on offer that you won’t be able to find in your local supermarket. These are all made with BBQs in mind.
Your online butchers for UK delivery
The Village Butchers are here to help you throw the best BBQs possible this summer. All of our meat products and rubs are curated from trusted partners that have been tested for quality. Even with a great rub, it still needs to be partnered with high quality BBQ meats. Get in touch if you have any questions about our produce, delivery options, or anything else.