Grilling Rubs

Summer is here! Time to get out of the kitchen and get grilling. Now..I am all for barbecue sauce but rubs are definitely the way to go if you want to get awesome flavor and juicy meats.

Kansas City Rib Rub -
This also works well on chicken

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne

Memphis Style Rib Rub -
Finish off with a good barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
2 teaspoons cayenne

Carolina BBQ Rub -
For beef, chicken, lamb and pork

2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
tablespoons brown sugar
tablespoons ground cumin
tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup paprika

Three Pepper Rub
For flank or flat-iron steak

1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin

Cocoa Rub
For chicken, steaks and ribs

1/4 cup sea salt
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground black pepper

You don't have to run out and spend a massive amount of money on spices. You can find great rubs at the supermarket. A few that we love are -

Williams-Sonoma Buttermilk Ranch Rub. We use this on chicken but it is also great on pork, potatoes, popcorn and mixed in sour cream for dips. You can also find Chili-Lime Rub, Smokehouse Rub and Spicy Chipotle. The rubs go for about $10.00 each for a 3oz bag.

Char-Crust Spicy Smoky Southwest Rub. I love the flavor of this rub. It is smoky, sweet and spicy all in one. The great thing about these rubs is that they can be used on any meat and come in a great assortment of flavors - Original Hickory Grilled, Roasted Garlic Peppercorn, All-American Barbecue, Ginger Teriyaki, Amazin' Cajun, Sun-Dried Tomato & Garlic, Hickory & Molasses and Roto Roast. They all go for about $5.00 - $6.00 for a 4oz. bag.