Easy Pork Rub
Published 8/23/2020 • Updated 4/2/2024
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This 7-ingredient pork rub recipe is sweet and savory all at the same time and will quickly become your go-to pork dry rub. Heck, I’ve even used this spice blend to flavor breakfast potatoes and chicken it’s that good.
Whether you’re making pork chops, ribs, pork shoulder, or a pork tenderloin you’ll love this all-purpose dry rub for pork.
Looking for a pork dry rub to flavor your pork shoulder, ribs, or pork tenderloin? This is the ultimate all-purpose pork rub that we literally use on everything. We love keeping stocked in our cabinet for those days when you pull out a hunk of frozen pork and need something to flavor it with.
This pork seasoning tastes better than any store-bought rub you’ll find at the store, plus there are no fillers or weird ingredients that you can’t pronounce in it.
Why you’ll love this homemade pork rub
- This pork rub is the perfect amount of savory and sweet.
- It doesn’t require you to run to the store and buy a bunch of spices you’ll never use again
- This pork rub recipe is 100% our favorite pork rub for ALL cuts of pork.
- It’s only 7 ingredients — and bonus, you probably have these all on-hand at home already.
What You Need:
Yay for pork dry rub ingredients you can pronounce! And yay for ingredients you likely have on hand already! Nobody likes having to spend $30+ on spices that you’ll use infrequently to create a dry rub recipe at home, especially if it doesn’t end up tasting as flavorful as you’d like.
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Coarse salt
- Cinnamon
- Dried thyme
- Ground Pepper
Now, you’ll see in the recipe card the exact amounts of each of these spices and seasonings, but feel free to tweak the amounts if you like it a little more peppery (amp up the pepper) or a little sweeter (amp up the brown sugar and cinnamon by a 1/4 teaspoon each).
What does this pork rub taste like?
This is the perfect combination of sweet and savory. If you like it a little spicy, you can try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper.
how much pork rub should I use?
Per 1 lb. of pork —> use around 2 tablespoons of dry rub.
What cuts of pork can I use this pork rub on?
Good news, you can use this dry rub on any and every cut of pork AND even use it on chicken or beef, too! Check out all of our pork recipes here. Here are some recommendations:
Pork Roast
Pork roast is definitely the most classic pork recipe to use a rub with. In fact, we used this very rub in every single pork roast recipe on Fit Foodie Finds! Check them out below.
Pork Chops
Next up we have pork chops! Whether you make Instant Pot pork chops, baked pork chops, or grilled pork chops, this rub is so perfect for any cooking method.
Pork Tenderloin
Our pork tenderloin recipes are some of our most popular recipes and all of them use a variation of this pork dry rub! Pork tenderloin is lower in fat, so this dry rub really helps add a ton of flavor!
Pulled Pork
That’s right, before you slow cook your pulled pork, rub that piece of meat with an incredible pork rub to really infuse all the flavors. Check out our:
How long can you leave dry rub on pork?
We recommend letting your pork seasoning sit on the meat for at least 30 minutes and no longer than 24 hours.
Most of the time, the longer the pork sits in the spices, the more flavorful it will be!
Glass
Spice Jars
Organize your homemade spices with this empty glass spice jar set!
Storage
Store your pork rub in a glass, airtight container in a cool place such as a cabinet. This recipe will last up to 3 months.
Best Pork Rub Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 4 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 4 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the pork dry rub into a large glass container or mason jar.
- Then, stir the spices together to create your rub.
- Seal jar and store in a dry, cool place.
Tips & Notes
- Per 1 lb. pork: use 2 tablespoons of dry rub.
- Yields: 1 cup
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I thank you for sharing this useful information. I find this resource to be of maximum benefit to me. Thank you so much for your hard work.
dordle
What a fantastic pork rub!! To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten better pork chops. I plan on using it once again.
We’re so happy to hear this!
I’m using this rub on a roast that my brother has had in a brine overnight and then I will be putting it on the smoker with hickory chips to smoke. How long would you leave the rub on to marinated prior to throwing it on the smoker?
I love cinnamon in seasonings, just cut it to 1 teaspoon it will taste delish. One restaurant i use to work at had a french fry seasoning that was divine, I still use it. It is Salt, Cinnamon and sugar mixed together. The reason it tastes divine on french fries is because the cinnamon actually is bomb with the ketchup. Any way I do about 50 percent salt 30 percent sugar and 20 percent Cinnamon. tweak it to your tastebuds scream yumm-o
OMFG…the best rub ever!!!!!!
I’ve put it on pretty well every kind of meat out there. Even put it on veggies (to hide the taste), kids can’t tell what they’re eating!!!
Thanks
Agreed 100%%%%!
Well I made the rub and everyone complained about the cinnamon. It is pretty much all you taste. Yes, only used the amount in the in the recipe. Had to throw the remainder out. Made it again only left out the cinnamon. Will have to wait and see if it is better.
Good to know I’ll use no cinnamon if I’d like a good taste of rub thank you
I’m not a fan of cinnamon in my dry rub either, but instead of throwing it out, what I’ve tried in the past is to take some of whatever my “concotion” is and add more of my other ingredients until I get it the way I want it to be. I’m a real penny pincher, so I hate to throw anything out if I can avoid it. I haven’t tried this particular recipe yet, but other than the cinnamon, it’s VERY similar to what I usually make for smoked meats like pork chops, brisket. Next time think about what else you could add to completely change it up. Maybe add some Asian flavors for wings or turn it into a chili starter… cumin, or you could add some freeze-dried instant coffee crystals to it. Wow! That’s my favorite secret ingredient so don’t tell anybody! But seriously, I wet a finger after everything is blended together & taste it before I use it. I make lots of dry mixes to make quick meals as easy as possible. So think outside the box & you might just be amazed at what you come up with. Good luck & happy experimenting!!
I tried this rub on chicken for slow cooker bbq’d chicken, it was amazing on that as well
Oh love that you used it on chicken!
Awesome sauce on chicken! good to know Thank you!
Used on Pork Loin, fantastic rub!
It is a flavour profile that is unusual in my kitchen, but no longer, eh.
Great in the cast iron skillet with some red onions, the onions will caramelize from the sugar left behind from the porkchop.
Thank you for sharing!
Glad you loved this rub!
This is an amazing, AMAZING pork rub!! It was, legit, the best pork chops I believe I’ve ever had. Definitely using it again.
YESSS! I keep an entire jar of this in my kitchen at all times.
This rub is the best I’ve ever used for pork! It made it moist and tender, not dry at all! My husband says it’s the only way to prep the pork before cooking.
Ugh it’s SO GOOD!!