The secret to delicious pulled pork is a Homemade Carolina BBQ Rub. The sauce is just a flavor mask, dry rubs are the game changer.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please check our disclosure policy.
HOMEMADE CAROLINA BBQ RUB RECIPE
WHAT IS CAROLINA BARBECUE?
Carolina BBQ is a bit of a misleading term, since the styles differ depending on where in North Carolina you are, and even between North and South Carolina. Since I live in Western North Carolina, I tend to favor the Lexington style of BBQ, which uses ketchup and vinegar sauces. But one thing is for certain, if you are in the Carolinas, BBQ refers to pork. What cut part of the hog all depends on where you are eating. Shoulder, whole hog, it just depends.
WHAT DOES THIS CAROLINA BBQ RUB TASTE LIKE?
Barbecue rubs are not meant for eating on their own. You use them to cover and cake on pork before cooking. If you were to sample this rub on its own, you would mainly just taste salt, spice, and some sugar. Now, once it is cooked, oh man! The meat has a nice char on the outside from the caramelized sugars combined with the meat juices. There is heat from the peppers and depth of flavors from the mustard and chili powders. None of these flavors are too overpowering where you don’t taste the meat, just the way Carolinians intended.
Looking for more expert tips on how to add some bold flavors to your meats? Or, explore the differences between wet and dry rubs. Check out this resource from the pros at Traeger Grills.
CAROLINA BABY BACK RIB RUB INGREDIENTS
- Black pepper, fine ground – ⅔ cup
- Cayenne pepper – 3 teaspoons
- Chili powder, mild – ⅔ cup
- Mustard powder – 2 tablespoons
- Sea salt – 2 tablespoons
- Granulated sugar – ⅔ cup
HOW TO MAKE THIS CAROLINA DRY RUB RECIPE
Dry rubs are some of the easiest recipes out there, and this one is no exception. It will only take you a few minutes to prepare this recipe.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients.
- Using a small whisk, or fork, stir all the ingredients until well combined.
- Use promptly, or store in an airtight container for future use.
CAN YOU MAKE THIS CAROLINA BBQ RUB AHEAD OF TIME?
Absolutely! I like to have a jar of this BBQ rub and all sorts of homemade spices and seasonings on hand for whenever the craving strikes.
As a rule of thumb, when making spice blends: the earliest expiration date on your ingredients is now the new expiration date for your homemade BBQ rubs.
CAN YOU FREEZE THIS NORTH CAROLINA BBQ RUB?
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAROLINA BARBECUE?
So now that you know how to make this epic meat rub for your next barbecue party, it’s time to start rounding out the menu with some delicious side dish recipes. Try these out for starters, you will be glad you did!
WHAT KITCHEN TOOLS DO I NEED TO MAKE A HOMEMADE DRY RUB FOR BBQ?
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup ground black pepper
- 3 tsp cayenne pepper
- ⅔ cup chili powder
- 2 tbsp ground mustard
- 2 tbsp salt
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients.
- Using a small whisk, or fork, stir all the ingredients until well combined.
- Use promptly, or store in an airtight container for future use.
