This homemade Chicken Rub for Smoking makes boring chicken amazing! If you really want to up the flavor of your chicken, this is the way to do it!
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This chicken rub for smoking can be used anytime you want to make chicken more flavorful. It is the perfect blend of herbs and spices to make the seasoning for chicken. With a lot of trial and tribulation I have come up with what, I think, is the perfect homemade chicken rub. So break out your smoker or pellet grill and wood chips and get cooking.
If you hate boring food and want to up your flavor game, check out these seasonings.
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What We Love About This Smoke Rub for Chicken Recipe
Dry rubs don’t add any additional moisture to the exterior of a piece of meat the way a marinade does. When you apply heat to protein, the moisture on the surface needs to evaporate before a sear can start to develop, so marinades make that harder. A dry rub is going to give you a caramelized crust much easier. Find out the dry rub facts here.
- 5 Minutes: Make it and have it on hand whenever you want flavorful chicken.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry. Only 10 ingredients just mix and you are ready.
- Family Friendly: If they are a fan of flavor than the whole family will love this dry rub.
- Adaptable: Can make it your own by omitting things your family does not enjoy and adding things they do like. So add oregano if they like or omit the salt.
Ingredient Notes
- Salt: Sea salt, kosher salt, whatever you like to use.
- Paprika: It provides that smokey flavor to the bird.
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: Staples to add flavor to almost any dish.
- Dried Herbs: dried thyme, dried grounds sage, dried parsley, fresh ground black pepper, and dried rosemary.
- Cayenne Pepper: You need a touch of heat and this is perfect for the rub.
Equipment Needed
How to Make Chicken Rub for Smoking
These are the basic steps for making chicken wing rub. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and total time.
STEP 1: MEASURE
First, mix all the spices and herbs together in a small bowl.
STEP 2: STORE
Next, place in a jar with an airtight lid.
Prep and Storage Tips for the Smoked Chicken Rub Recipe
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
That is the point, make it and have it on hand any time you want to make a delicious chicken dish for the grill, oven or smoker. It is great with everything.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Place the rub in an airtight container.
HOW TO USE THIS SMOKED CHICKEN RECIPE
When ready to use, pat chicken dry and apply a tablespoon or two to chicken rub liberally. You can use this chicken rub recipe on any type of chicken. If you are going to use a piece of chicken with the skin still on, put the rub underneath the skin so the flavors can be locked in and the flavor will permeate the meat.
Frequently Asked Questions about Smoked Chicken Rub
If you are watching your sodium you can omit the salt or use a sodium substitute.
This Grilled Chicken Seasoning blend works great on all types of chicken breasts, smoked chicken thighs, chicken legs, chicken wings or even a whole chicken. Use it in all of your favorite chicken recipes to give it a kick of flavor.
Of course, double or even triple the chicken dry rub recipe so you can have it on hand for whenever you want to make tasty chicken.
A chicken dry rub for the smoker needs time to work its flavor magic. Allow the BBQ chicken rub to cover the chicken for at least 15 minutes to 2 hours before cooking. Truly the longer the better.
Expert Tips for Making This Best Chicken Rub for Smoking Recipe
- Add Sauce: When the chicken is nearly done, you can add any type of sauce or marinade to up the flavor.
- Heat: If you like a little more heat add red pepper flakes or chili powder to the bbq rub.
- Variation tip: Feel like adding a little sweetness to the rub, then add a little brown sugar, It helps ensure a great crust and is a great counter to the heat.
- Alternate Meat: This dry rub is excellent for pork and ribs too.
- Alternate cooking method tip: No need to use a smoker for this rub, you can use it on chicken that you want to cook in the stove, air fryer or crock pot. They flavor is always excellent.
What to Serve with Chicken Rub for Smoking
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Homemade Chicken Rub for Smoking
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried ground sage
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Transfer to a jar with an air tight lid.
Expert Tips
- Add Sauce: When the chicken is nearly done, you can add any type of sauce or marinade to up the flavor.
- Heat: If you like a little more heat add red pepper flakes or chili powder to the bbq rub.
- Variation tip: Feel like adding a little sweetness to the rub, then add a little brown sugar, It helps ensure a great crust and is a great counter to the heat.
- Alternate Meat: This dry rub is excellent for pork and ribs too.
- Alternate cooking method tip: No need to use a smoker for this rub, you can use it on chicken that you want to cook in the stove, air fryer or crock pot. They flavor is always excellent.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
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great seasoning recipe must say. I can smell the aroma of all spice mix. I love your collection of spice mix. great going with collection. will surely try it.
We eat chicken weekly and this has become my quick go-to rub. Delicious on pork too. Love that I have one mix of spices that can be used on different cuts of meat.
I love homemade spice and this one sounds great. With rosemary and parsley, I believe it should be aromatic.
Holy cow…this is the best chicken rub I’ve tried. I made a huge batch after the first time I made it so it would always be in the pantry!
This chicken rub is delicious! The rub really brings my regular everyday chicken to the next level. I made chicken tenders with the rub for the kids for school. Way better than a boring sandwich and they love the chicken.