When it comes to the best BBQ rubs, many names dominate the spotlight, but pitmasters know there are several other blends that bring a ton of flavor to the fire.
These ten rubs, crafted by pros, tested in competitions and loved by serious backyard cooks, deserve a spot on any spice rack.
This list was compiled by pitmaster and Girls Can Grill founder Christie Vanover, who has created award-winning barbecue rubs of her own and tested dozens of others throughout her career.
The first three on the list are part of her signature line, which will soon be available in nearly 90 stores across 22 states, including Scheels and Fleet Farm.
The remaining seven come from other voices she respects in the BBQ world, including fellow competitors, craft makers and culinary innovators whose products stand out in flavor, performance and potential.
This bold blend of salt, coarse black pepper, garlic, guajillo chiles and honey habanero is designed to build bark and win trophies. With a Texas-style foundation and a hint of heat, it creates stunning color and rich flavor on brisket, burgers and beef ribs. Vanover used it when she won 5th place in brisket at the Jack Daniel’s BBQ World Championships.
This rub brings out the nostalgic, herb-forward flavors of classic poultry, using a balanced blend of chiles and paprika to create beautifully golden skin. It’s mild enough for your kid’s grilled chicken nuggets, yet bold enough to earn multiple first-place chicken calls on the BBQ circuit.
With complex sweeteners like honey and molasses and five types of mild chiles, this rub is ideal for pork ribs, pork butt and bacon. It was built to stand up to smoke and delivers a rich mahogany bark. Vanover has used it to earn multiple first-place pork calls, and it was named the Top BBQ Rub of 2025 by the Pitmasters Podcast.
Crafted by Army veteran and champion pitmaster Chris Webb, Bushmaster BBQ Brawler delivers a punch of mouthwatering flavor with bold pepper and earthy undertones. It’s used by several competitive pitmasters for brisket and chicken. Vanover loves it as a base layer to brisket and tri-tip.
Susie Bulloch of Hey Grill Hey has taken her award-winning Sweet Rub and spiced it up with cayenne pepper, chipotle and ancho chiles. The complex flavors are versatile enough for pork, chicken or ribs and perfect for grillers who want sweet with heat. Vanover likes pairing it with Hey Grill Hey’s Hot Honey BBQ Sauce.
New for 2025, this beef rub introduces a bold upgrade for steaks, burgers, tri-tip and roasts. Created by Dan Phelps of Phelps Barbecue and Learning to Smoke, it amplifies classic salt, pepper and garlic notes with a pop of citrus and a hint of sugar, adding a flavorful twist to backyard cookouts.
Used by champions around the world, including Vanover, this Kansas City-style rub leans into sweetness with a balanced mix of sweet brown sugar and spices. What makes it unique and loved on the BBQ circuit is the touch of pecan and applewood smoke that pairs so well with barbecue.
Finally, a rub made for vegetables that can also elevate meats. With umami, salt and chunks of flavorful savory herbs, this blend created by Johan Magnusson transforms grilled veggies into main event dishes. It’s also great on chicken and fish.
Champion steak cooks around the country turn to Machete when they’re looking to take home the top prize. Vanover uses it as a base layer on steaks and burgers. The ingredients are packed with smoky, earthy New Mexico chiles and delivers a deep rich red color.
You’ll usually find The Matt Dad cooking in the middle of the woods on an open fire. The classically trained chef creates flavorful dishes in the most rustic of environments. His key to BBQ flavor is his MaD Red BBQ Seasoning. It’s smoky, sweet and has a bit of heat.
Keep an eye out for these dry rubs in specialty BBQ shops or direct from the makers online. Don’t let popularity be your only guide. Some of the best flavors come from passionate creators pushing boundaries in bold and unexpected ways.
