Grilled Chicken Dry Rub
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This Grilled Chicken Dry Rub is a flavorful blend of spices you can keep at the ready for when you need a quick chicken recipe for any grilling occasion.
If you like simple protein preparations, then you’ll also want to try this Garlic Lime Shrimp Marinade, the Best Quick Steak Marinade, or one of these excellent Chicken Marinades.
Why This Recipe Works
Convenient — This grilled chicken dry rub is a flavorful blend of spices you can keep at the ready for when you need a quick chicken recipe for any grilling occasion.
Quick — It’s true: I am quite frequently a marinade girl. I love the simplicity of letting protein sit in a delicious, flavorful liquid for 15 minutes to 8 hours and then cook the meat or seafood, tasting all the marinade ingredients with each yummy bite. Recently, though, I discovered the beauty of dry rubs. Every time you need a quick fix for a meat dish, ta da! Dry rubs to the rescue.
Easy to batch — This dry rub for chicken breast is so very easy to put together and make up in one big batch to keep in your pantry with your other spices. Or, double it and give some as a gift! Who doesn’t love ready-made spices?
Simple ingredients — This simple grilled chicken seasoning is simply made up of other seasonings all whisked together. Nothing fancy (until they all come together, of course, then that’s magic!)
Ingredients
- Salt — Salt is always necessary in a dry rub. I use regular table salt but you could also use pink salt.
- Smoked Paprika — Paprika is key for a bit of smokiness.
- Dry Ground Mustard — Maybe this one will throw you off a bit but I promise you don’t want to skip the ground mustard.
- Brown Sugar — Brown sugar is a great way to add a bit of sweetness to your grilled chicken.
- Onion Powder — Onion-y goodness in every bite. You can use dried, minced onion in a pinch.
- Cayenne Pepper — And, for a bit of heat add a pinch of cayenne pepper. You can skip this if you do not like the spiciness of cayenne in your chicken dry rub.
Here’s How You Make It
- Making this grilled chicken dry rub couldn’t be easier! Simply stir together all the ingredients and store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
- To use the easy dry rub for chicken, simply rub the spices all over the chicken after it has been drizzled with olive oil.
- Grill the chicken until it’s completely cooked through and served. Alternatively, you can slice the chicken for use in another recipe, or store for later use.
Frequently Asked Questions
First off, a dry rub is, well, dry. Made from a mixture of dried spices, a rub is literally rubbed on to meat before cooking. It can create a nice seared texture if you’re grilling, but an easy dry rub for chicken such as this one also adds tons of flavor and you’ll taste more of each spice with every bite.
A marinade is made of spices plus liquid, like vinegar, olive oil, or wine. Because when you use a marinade, you leave the meat soak in the liquid and spices, it also tenderizes the meat somewhat, depending on the meat. For example, shrimp only need to marinade for 15 minutes, whereas you can leave tougher cuts of beef or pork in a marinade for up to 12 hours.
If you are using boneless, skinless chicken, you rub the grilled chicken dry rub right on the breast. If you are using chicken with skin on it, put the rub under the skin (otherwise, the spices will just come right off with the skin and not penetrate into the meat as much).
You can leave the easy dry rub for chicken on the meat before cooking for about four hours. I recommend rubbing and grilling right away though, otherwise you lose some of the flavor and the dryness of the herbs. Some might slide off, make a mess, and kind of defeats the purpose of using a dry rub in the first place.
You cannot marinade with a dry rub. They are two different things. If you need your meat to tenderize, then you should use a marinade. If not, then a dry spice rub will do the trick.
Expert Tips + Tricks
- Store the grilled chicken dry rub in an airtight container (I like to use clean, empty spice jars).
- This simple grilled chicken seasoning makes enough for about 12 large chicken breasts.
- Assuming you’re using semi-fresh herbs and not ones that have already been in your pantry for five years, then you’ve got about two to three years to use your newly made spice rub.
- To check for spice potency, pour some out in your hand and give it a little crush between two fingers and give it a smell. If you smell very little or nothing, then it’s probably time to toss that spice out. I recommend doing this test BEFORE making the rub.
More Recipes Like This
- Best Quick and Easy Chicken Marinade
- Garlic Herb Tuna Steak Marinade
- Tandoori Chicken Marinade
- Greek Chicken Marinade
Did you make this recipe? FANTASTIC. Please rate the recipe below and be sure to tag me on social when you share a photo on social – I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
Grilled Chicken Rub
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3 teaspoons dried Italian herb blend , or Herbs de Provence
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
- To use, rub all over chicken that has been drizzled with olive oil. Grill chicken until cooked through and serve, or slice or dice and use for other recipes or store chilled in an airtight container to use later.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
IsIs it a tablespoon 3 teaspoons
I Used this tonight for breasts from corn fed chicken. I always have italian herb blend in my spice cabinet so I could follow your recipe by the book. Fresch and tasty! Greatings from Sweden.
So thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your feedback!
Not too hot, not too spicy, grandkids and all enjoyed, also quick and easy!
Thank you for your awesome feedback!
very tasty rub, a bit spicy which my husband and I like, but you might watch that if serving younger children
Thanks for your feedback!
great recipe just will use less salt next time. It was simple and quick. thank you!
Thank you for your feedback!
Really good flavour and very simple to make.
Thank you, Michel!
I was out of dry mustard so I substituted 1/2-3/4 tsp turmeric. And honestly added a bit more herbs de PROVENCE. This is delicious. I’m sure it would also be really good on salmon and pork.
Sounds delicious!!
When you say “Italian Herb Blend,” which Herbs are you Talking about?
Italian seasoning is a blend of dried Italian-inspired herbs such as basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. Exact ingredients and quantities vary by brand.
Great rub!
Thank you!
looking for a good run right now! So thank you, perfect timing!
Hope you love this recipe 🙂