Brisket Rub Recipe (Simple, Easy, and Delicious)

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A dry brisket rub is the most common way to season a brisket. Our brisket rub has a salt and pepper base with five common spices you’ll have in the cupboard. This rub brings out the deep, smoky richness of the brisket and boosts the overall smoked brisket flavor.

Not only does a good dry rub recipe help bring out the natural flavors in the beef, but it also tenderizes the brisket with a juicy, fall-apart texture with a perfect crusty bark.

Hungry Now? Jump straight to the basic brisket rub recipe

Giving my brisket a rub

Smoked Brisket Rub

This dry rub is a blend of spices. It’s perfect when you’re ready to amp up the flavors in your brisket. This rub will highlight all the flavor of the brisket without overpowering it.

With only seven commonly found ingredients in pantries, it’s as simple as mixing them in a small bowl and storing them in a container. I recommend using the rub within a month, as it begins to lose flavor afterward.

There are so many different kinds of rub recipes out there. However, the core ingredients people like to use for their meat smoking recipes usually include a base of salt, pepper, and paprika.

Ingredients for My Favorite Brisket Rub

  • Smoked Paprika
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Ground Coriander
  • Ground Cumin
  • Black Pepper
  • Salt

How to Make Your Brisket Rub?

Once you have all the ingredients, you’re ready to make this brisket rub. It is so easy to make rubs at home; this one is no exception.

  • Mix Ingredients
    Mix the ingredients in a bowl.
  • Store or use
    Place in an airtight container. It will last 5-6 months; however, I recommend using it within a month, as the spices lose their strength.
My brisket rub

Our Secrets to the Perfect Brisket Rub

Sure, putting together a dry rub couldn’t be easier. However, we’ve compiled a list of our best tips and secrets for ensuring your dry rubs are flawless.

  • Don’t Forget About the Binder

The binder “glues” the dry rub to the meat. It’s important because you don’t want all the dry spices to fall off the meat during cooking.

The most common binders for smoking meat are mustard, olive oil, water, mayonnaise, and ketchup. The taste of the binder doesn’t affect the overall taste of the final product. Since you won’t be slathering on much of the binder, its taste is usually overshadowed by the dry rub and smoke.

  • Cover and Refrigerate After Applying

You should allow the brisket to sit in the fridge with the dry rub for at least two hours, but overnight is best for optimal results.

How to Apply Rub to Brisket:

Always start by patting down the surface of the meat with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Then, apply your binder, liberally apply your rub, and ensure you work it into the meat.

You want to apply enough to cover the meat. However if it starts to fall off it many be too much rub.

Beef Brisket Recipes

There are four main ways to cook a brisket: in a slow cooker, in the oven, on a gas grill, or in a smoker. This rub will perfectly complement a brisket that is smoked low and slow. Check out some of these tried-and-tested recipes for smoking brisket below.

Pit Boss Smoked Brisket

Traeger Smoked Brisket

Big Green Egg Brisket

Brisket Smoked in an Electric Smoker

Different Ways of Using Your Leftover Brisket We Love!

Have some leftover brisket?! Here are some of my favorite ways to use brisket;
Brisket Dumplings
Brisket Pot Pie
Loaded Brisket Nachos
Brisket Lasange

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Brisket Rub Recipe

Basic Brisket Rub

This smoked brisket rub will give your brisket a smokey sweet, spicy, flavor that will have everyone at your cookout asking for the recipe. Smoked brisket rub isn't just for brisket, you can use this on fish, chicken, pork and even turkey
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: condiment
Cuisine: Barbecue
Servings: 16 serves
Calories: 20kcal
Author: Charlie
Cost: 3

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Black pepper
  • 2 tbsp Salt
  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp Onion powder
  • 2 tbsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp Ground Coriander
  • 1 tsp Cumin

Instructions

  • Mix and ingredients together in a bowl.
  • Place in an air tight container, it will last for 5-6 months

How to Store  Brisket Dry Rub

It depends on how long you intend to keep the brisket dry rub. If you’re looking at a 5-6 month window, leave it in an airtight container or jar. We recommend storing it in a cool spot, like the pantry or the refrigerator.

But if you want to keep your dry rub for as long as possible, it’s best to put it in a zip-lock bag and freeze it.

Are you looking for a Salt Rub for Brisket?

If you are trying to reduce sodium in your diet, you may want to look for a low-sodium rub for your brisket. Here is one of our favorite low salt rubs for brisket recipes.

You still get all the delicious flavor but less salt!!

Tips to Getting a Good Bark

For the best bark, you’ll want a rub with sugar. The caramelization of the brown sugar helps form the crust. If you want to go one step further, you can also score the surface of your meat with a knife before you apply the rub. Another tip for bark development, is leaving the brisket unwrapped for the first part of the cook, this allows the bark to develop.

We hope you’ve found my brisket dry rub tips and tricks helpful. Enjoy experimenting with all the different mixtures, and feel free to share some of your favorite dry rub combinations with us!

Smoke On!

Charlie

Author: Charlie Reeves
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).

I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.

You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!

You can read more about me on our About Us page.

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