If you are looking for the Best Brisket Rub Recipes then you have come to the right place. I have been developing and collecting barbecue and grilling recipes for more than two decades. The recipes on this list are the best I have. We associate barbecue brisket with Texas and rightly so. However, as barbecue has spread it was grown. While many of the recipes below continue the Texas traditions, there is always room for variation. Look over the list, you might find something not only surprising but great.
Now, the rule of rubs. What sticks is the amount you need. Pat dry your brisket with paper towels to remove any extra moisture. Then sprinkle the rub onto the meat. Don’t rub. Why we call them rubs, well, that’s a long story, but you don’t actually rub the rub into the meat. Sprinkle it on. Let any excess fall away. Generally, with brisket, I suggest applying the rub an hour or more before it hits the smoker. This lets the sugars, salts, and seasonings start to seem in. You will develop better bark and better flavor if the rub has a little time to work.
Confused about Brisket? See my Brisket Buying Guide for more information.
Brown Sugar Brisket Rub
This is a quick and easy Brown Sugar Brisket rub that has a sweet and mildly spicy flavor. This recipe is a surefire rub for smoked barbecue brisket. Make sure that the brown sugar is broken up well. No clumps. Then shake it over your brisket. Make sure to get an even coating. I recommend getting this on the meat at least an hour before the brisket hits the smoker. This will allow a slight sugar cure to occur.
Brisket Mustard Rub
Haven’t used a Brisket Mustard Rub? Well, you’re missing out. The mustard helps the other seasoning adhere to the surface of the meat while imparting a delicious flavor. As the brisket smokes, the mustard flavor virtually disappears. What will be left behind is all the flavor of the rub and the slightest hint of mustard.
Texas-Style Salt and Pepper Brisket Rub
This is a simple texas style salt and pepper brisket rub that requires few ingredients. And yet, it adds so much flavor. This is an enhancer and is perfect for those who want the natural beefy flavor of brisket to shine through without a lot of extra seasonings. I recommend quadrupling the recipe amount and saving for future cooks.
The Best Brisket Rub
A traditional Texas-style rub is used on a brisket. Texans are known for their melt-in-your-mouth low and slow briskets, and this rub will help you to achieve that too. This simple recipe makes enough for two good-sized briskets.
Smoked Brisket Rub
So, it’s time to smoke up a brisket and I have just the rub for you to use. This smoked brisket rub will impart the right flavors for a long, low and slow cook. All the classic flavors are balanced to perfection. There is sweet, heat and savory, without any one of them jumping up to distract from the smoke and the beef.
Texas Rub for Brisket
The perfect Texas-style rub for a Texas-style brisket. While this rub is meant for low and slow beef brisket, you can certainly use it on beef ribs and smoked chuck roasts.
Coffee Brisket Rub
Why do you want to use a coffee brisket rub? Coffee gives meats a deep, rich flavor. It pulls together everything else in this rub and then builds on the smoke flavor as the brisket cooks. It might sound strange, but this is an excellent rub for beef, particularly brisket. And don’t worry, it won’t taste like coffee.
Savory Burnt Ends Rub
As the name suggests, this is a savory rub for brisket or pork burnt ends. It means that nowhere in this recipe will you find sugar. This collection of earthy spices really brings out the deep rich flavors of meat and works really well with a sweet tomato-based barbecue sauce. So, if you’re in the market for a new burnt-end rub to try, give this one a whirl.
Aromatic Brisket Rub
Not all brisket rubs are created equally. This Aromatic Brisket Rub contains flavor combinations inspired by Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. You have the option to add a little sugar to this rub, but that decision is entirely up to you. This recipe yields enough rub for one good-sized brisket.
Apply our best brisket rubs like a professional with a spice shaker. This one from Back of House has a heavy build, is machine washable, and holds plenty of spice rub. Plus it costs about $7. Just make sure you don’t use this to store your rubs. It isn’t airtight.
