This homemade BBQ seasoning and rub is made without sugar, but you’d never know it! Add all the rich, smokey flavors you love to your favorite barbecue recipes without any added sugar. Mix up a batch today and get ready for grilling season.
Get your grilling recipes ready, because it only takes two minutes to make this fabulous BBQ seasoning blend! It’s such an easy way to add great flavor your home cooked meals.
It’s sugar-free, but you’d never know it. Many BBQ rubs contain sugar or brown sugar. That’s what gives your favorite meats the sweet in sweet heat, but you don’t need it. If you are following a low calorie diet or other healthy eating plan like keto or whole 30, this all purpose bbq rub is great to keep on hand.
Once you have it mixed up, you can use the spice blend to jazz up a variety of foods. Use this BBQ rub on everything from grilled chicken and pork chops to ribs and veggies. You’ll be a grill master in no time.
Why We Love It
I hope you love this BBQ rub as much as my family does!
- This homemade BBQ rub is super easy to make with simple ingredients.
- It’s sugar free and great for Whole30, Keto and other healthy eating plans.
- Making homemade seasoning blends is one of best ways to save money and have full control over what goes in your body.
- You can use it on chicken, pork and beef! Even veggies.
Tons of pre-made seasoning blends include additives like corn starch, sugar, and maltodextrin, which aren’t necessary and just don’t work when you’re following Whole30 or Keto. No thanks!
Ingredients
The best thing about this barbecue seasoning spice blend is that you probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry. And if you don’t, you can grab them at any grocery store. (I get most of my natural spices at Costco or Thrive Market).
Here’s what you need:
- Chili Powder
- Salt
- Smoked Paprika — hot paprika and regular paprika works too!
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper, optional.
- Swerve or Stevia, optional. Omit if following Whole30, but feel free to use if you’re following a Keto/Low Carb way of eating and enjoy a little sweetness to balance the heat.
How to Make It
Making homemade rubs and seasonings is easy! You can throw all the ingredients into a bowl and stir it up, or toss them into a mason jar and shake it up!
Then funnel it into a spice jar for use in all your favorite barbecue recipes.
👉 How to Use a Dry Rub
To use as a rub, start by simply patting the meat dry with some paper towels.
Season it liberally with the spice blend, rubbing it into the meat on all sides until it’s fully coated. For best results, let it sit for 5 minutes or so and you’ll see the meat start to glisten and “sweat”. Then, it’s ready to grill or cook however you want!
Recipes with BBQ Seasoning
This BBQ seasoning is very versatile and has the perfect blend of spices. You can add a bit to almost anything with BBQ flavor or BBQ sauce that could use a little extra oomph, like meat rubs for chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables. If you’d serve it at your next barbecue, you can use this spice rub!
Chicken: It’s delicious with chicken, especially. Use it in BBQ chicken drumsticks or BBQ chicken lettuce wraps or even sprinkle it over chicken thighs, chicken wings, chicken breasts and more!
Pork: You can rub it onto pork chops or pork shoulders.
Beef: BBQ rub is also a great seasoning for meatloaf or even beef brisket.
I like to season my meat with the blend before cooking it on the grill or in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
FAQ
Transfer the seasoning blend to an airtight container or ziplock bag. Store it at room temperature. I like to keep my spices in small mason jars, labeled with the date I made it and readily accessible in my pantry.
For best taste, use any of your homemade spice blends within a year, unless the expiration on any of the individual spices comes before that.
I typically use mine up faster than that, since this recipe only yields about 2 servings. *To easily multiply the recipe below, tap the serving size and use the slider bar below!
More Delicious Homemade Seasonings
Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about your experience!
Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.
BBQ Seasoning & Rub (Sugar Free & Whole30)
Ingredients
- 1.5 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, depending on how spicy you want it
- 1/4 teaspoon swerve or 1/8 teaspoon stevia, optional. *Omit if following Whole30 or Paleo
Instructions
- Measure each ingredient and add to a small dish. Use a spoon to mix together well, until fully combined.
- Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and store at room temperature until you're ready to use it.
