This Sweet Brown Sugar Rub is the perfect blend of sweet and savory, and it’s sure to become your new go-to recipe for grilling season. So fire up the grill and get ready to impress your friends and family with your culinary skills!
Any good chef knows that the secret to a great grill is a good rub. A dry rub is a mixture of spices that is rubbed into the meat before cooking. It adds flavor and helps to keep the juices in, resulting in a more tender and flavorful piece of meat.
One of the best things about this sweet brown sugar rub recipe is that it so versatile! This rub tastes amazing as a sweet pork rub, on pork shoulder for pulled pork, on chicken thighs, and even on chicken wings!
One of our favorite variations of this rub recipe is adding a hint of heat with chili powder for a sweet yet spicy rub perfect for beef or chicken.
Why Brown Sugar?
Brown sugar is a key ingredient in many BBQ rub recipes. It adds a sweet and slightly molasses-like flavor to the rub, which helps balance out the saltiness of the other ingredients. In addition, brown sugar also helps create a caramelized crust on the meat when it’s cooked. This caramelization adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the meat, making it more enjoyable to eat.
When brown sugar is used in a rub, it creates a texture that is both granular and sticky. This allows the rub to adhere well to the meat, which helps ensure that it’s evenly coated. As the meat cooks, the sugar in the rub melts and caramelizes, creating a slightly crunchy texture on the surface of the meat. This adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the meat, making it more enjoyable to eat.
In terms of taste, meat seasoned with brown sugar has a sweet and slightly caramelized flavor that is both complex and delicious. The sweetness of the brown sugar helps balance out the saltiness of the other ingredients, creating a well-balanced flavor profile that is both savory and sweet.
How To Make This Sweet Brown Sugar Rub Recipe
Step 1: Measure Out Your Ingredients
For this recipe, you’ll need 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 2 tsp fresh ground black pepper, 2 tsp sweet or smoked paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp dry mustard, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, and 1/2 tsp oregano.
Step 2: Combine All Ingredients in a Mixing Bowl
Step 3: Mix Well Using a Mixing Spoon
Step 4: Use as a Rub or Store for Later Use
More Homemade Rub Recipes
If you enjoyed making the sweet brown sugar rub, you might be interested in trying out other homemade rub recipes. Making your own rubs can be a fun and creative way to experiment with different flavors and spices to enhance the taste of your meat dishes like pork rub.
Here are a few other rub recipes you might want to try:
- Beef BBQ Rub: This recipe is a classic and versatile blend of spices that is perfect for all types of meat. It includes classic ingredients like coarse salt and black pepper and garlic powder, designed to complement the natural beef taste.
- Jamaican Jerk Rub: If you’re a fan of spicy food, this rub is for you. It has a Caribbean-inspired flavor and includes ingredients like allspice, cinnamon, thyme, and cayenne pepper.
- Coffee Rub: This rub is perfect for those who love the taste of coffee and want to infuse it into their meat dishes. It includes ingredients like ground coffee, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and cumin.

Sweet Brown Sugar Rub Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Measuring Spoons
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Funnel (optional – if storing)
- 1 Airtight Container (optional – if storing)
- 1 Anti-Moisture Silica Packet (optional – if storing)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tsp sweet paprika or smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp oregano
Instructions
- Measure out your ingredients so you have the perfect amount of everything.
- Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
- Mix well using a mixing spoon to ensure a thoroughly combined rub.
- Use as a rub on your chosen meats, or put in a sealed container for later use.