Easy spice rubs add lots of flavor to grilled meats, but they don’t require a lot of time or effort. The best part about them is that you can mix and match your favorite ingredients to create new and yummy flavors all the time. Check out these easy spice rubs and try something new for dinner tonight.
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1. Rosemary and Garlic
The combination of rosemary and garlic pairs wonderfully with grilled pork chops. And it’s my favorite of the super easy spice rubs that I’ll share with you here. Simply mash together some fresh rosemary sprigs and garlic cloves. Add a bit of salt and pepper and use your fingers to spread the mixture on raw pork chops. Grill them as you normally would, then get ready to enjoy something really tasty!
2. Salt-Free Rub
If you’re watching your sodium intake, making your own spice rubs is an easy way to add flavor to grilled meat, including steak, chicken, fish and pork. With a salt-free rub, you’ll add flavor to the meat without increasing your sodium intake, so it’s a great way to incorporate intensely flavored spices into your cooking. Mix together black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and tarragon. Make sure it’s well combined before rubbing it into the meat. That way the flavors spread evenly over the surface before the meat hits the grill.
Frequently asked questions
3. Spicy Rub
If you like your meat spicy, this is the spice rub for you. Mix together cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, paprika and chili powder. This is a great spice rub for carnitas, shredded beef or chicken that you plan to use in a Mexican food recipe. Use the meat to make tacos, fajitas or burritos after you rub the spice mixture in and cook it.
4. Soy Ginger
This one is a spice rub, but you won’t be able to store it like you would a dry rub because it contains wet ingredients, so only mix up enough for the meat you plan to cook. This combination is perfect for flavoring chicken or beef before you stir-fry it, but it also works great on shrimp and fish. Combine soy sauce, grated fresh ginger, brown sugar, sesame oil, salt and cayenne pepper. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to spread it on the meat before grilling it.
5. Italian
Are you making pasta with shrimp, chicken or pork? This is the spice rub you must try. Rub the meat and grill it, then toss it with the pasta for a meal that’s full of flavor! Combine onion powder, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and crushed garlic. Press it into the meat with your fingers before grilling.
6. Tropical
Do you love the flavors of the islands? This spice rub is reminiscent of those yummy tastes and you can invoke them at home anytime you want. Mix together brown sugar, orange zest, paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic and red pepper. This rub is especially yummy on salmon, but it also works great on shrimp and chicken. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
7. Lemon Dill
There’s something about the flavors of lemon and dill that just naturally go together. This spice rub is perfect for fish and tastes like summertime year-round. Mix together lemon zest, a bit of lemon juice, fresh or dried dill, garlic salt and crushed black pepper. Gently rub it into the flesh of the meat and grill it for a yummy dinner you’ll love.
What’s your favorite way to flavor your meat? Do these give you any ideas for your next meal?