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Chicken Rub

5 from 7 votes
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posted: 06/10/19

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Chicken Rub is very easy to throw together and is perfect for making delicious and flavorful chicken. Add this dry rub for chicken every time before you throw it on the grill.

small mason jar filled of chicken rub mix with measuring spoon in it on a white marble counter

Making the Perfect Grilled Chicken

You guys we are full on in grilling season, and if you are like me, the easiest thing to throw on the grill is chicken. But, please, for the love of all things good in this ever loving grilling world, let’s not put bare chicken on the grill. It’s just not worth it my friends. Why do that to your chicken when you can add this easy grilled chicken rub and get the most delicious and flavorful chicken every single time. 

Made with easy to find ingredients that you already have in your pantry, you are going to want to keep a nice big patch of this chicken spice rub on hand all summer. I made chicken on the grill using this dry rub again for my family last night and it was perfect. Nathan is always shocked by how delicious this makes the chicken.

dry rub for chicken separated by ingredient in a shallow blue dish with measuring spoons in the background

What to put in Chicken Rub

There are so many different things that you can put in chicken rub, but I love this combination of brown sugar and spices because it is sweet, smoky, and has just a little kick to it.

  • brown sugar
  • kosher salt
  • black pepper
  • paprika
  • cumin
  • cayenne pepper
white plate with smoked chicken rub being mixed on it and a small whisk

How to Use Chicken Rub

This chicken rub is just as easy to use as it is to mix together. But there is one key and crucial step and that is the first one: Pull some of the dry chicken rub out of the whole mixture before you apply it the chicken. You don’t want to rub the chicken with it, and then dip your raw chicken contaminated hand into the full mixture. No need to grow a lot of bacteria in your spice mix all summer.

  1. Pull some chicken spice rub from the whole mixture. You will need about 1/4 cup per pound of chicken.
  2. Pat your chicken dry.
  3. Rub the mixture into the raw chicken, liberally. 
  4. Throw your chicken on the grill!

For the chicken drumsticks you see pictured, you are going to want to put them on a 350 degree grill over indirect heat (put them over burners set to very very low with the other burners on high) and grill for about 40 minutes, flipping half way. Cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

After you cook your chicken, you can eat it as is, or you can smoother it with BBQ sauce. I would recommend using bone in chicken with this recipe, as it holds it’s moisture much better during grilling.

Please note:  Many recipes call for you to let the chicken sit, after being rubbed any where from 30 minutes to 12 hours. I am too impatient for that, so I threw them on the grill immediately and they were delicious.

pile of chicken legs that have been grilled with dry chicken rub on a white plate sitting on a red striped napkin

Other Great Chicken and Grilling Recipes

overhead view of chicken drumsticks on a white rectangular plate made with chicken spice rub
small mason jar filled of chicken rub mix with measuring spoon in it on a white marble counter
5 from 7 votes

Chicken Rub

(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
This Chicken Rub is very easy to throw together and is perfect for making delicious and flavorful chicken. Add this dry rub for chicken every time before you throw it on the grill.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup paprika
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Whisk all the ingredients together.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to three months.
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
small mason jar filled of chicken rub mix with measuring spoon in it on a white marble counter

did you make this

Chicken Rub

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. KAREN BECKER says

    Those drum sticks look delicious! Can you also bake them in the oven? And would it still be 350F for 40 minutes?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I haven’t done them in the oven yet, but I would try them at 425 for 30 minutes (or until they reach 165), flipping half way through.

  2. Gloria Fernandez VanZante says

    I would like to try this next weekend, however, I would like to do this on a grill pan on top of my stove. Would I follow the same temperatures to check for complete cooking?

    • Lisa Longley says

      You could try them on the grill pan, but I think they are going to take a really long time. I think if I were doing it, I would try it in the oven instead at 165 degrees for 30 minutes, flipping them half way through.

  3. Denise says

    How long to bake in oven and temp?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I haven’t done them in the oven yet, but I would try them at 425 for 30 minutes (or until they reach 165), flipping half way through.

  4. Joyce says

    I love your measuring spoon in the picture. I received a set in 1959 as a wedding gift! Thank you for these rubs….I can’t wait to try!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Oh how great! I love vintage silverware in photos so much!

  5. Dorothy says

    Hello Can I put my chicken in the oven instead?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I haven’t done them in the oven yet, but I would try them at 425 for 30 minutes (or until they reach 165), flipping half way through.

  6. M J says

    Can I use it for turkey ??? I make garbage/trash can turkey…..I think it would work well with that.

    • Lisa Longley says

      Yes! I think this would be great on turkey!

  7. Billu Manocha says

    Nice information

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