Are you planning to smoke a ham sometime soon? Maybe it’s for a holiday meal, or perhaps it’s just an excuse to use your smoker. Either way, it’s important to find the right rub. Now, you can buy a store-bought rub or make a homemade ham seasoning. But if you want to make your own, below are my six favorite dry rub recipes for smoked ham.
Table of contents
Brown Sugar and Spice Rub for Ham
Sugar is an excellent component of a dry rub for smoked ham, as it creates a declious caramelisation. However, it is important to find the right balance.
- 1 cup of brown sugar.
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice.
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder.
- Add black pepper and salt to taste
- Mix the dry rub ingredients and rub them all over the ham.
Garlic and Rosemary Rub for Ham
Let’s move on to some of the more savory recipes. Not everyone has a sweet tooth, after all! This recipe is great if you want to skip out on sugar. Coarse kosher salt is better suited for this recipe because it is less salty than table salt.
- 3 tablespoons rosemary
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt.
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary
- 2 cloves of diced garlic
My Favorite Ham Recipes
How to Cook a Spiral Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
A sweet, sticky glaze coats this juicy spiral ham, making it ideal for any celebration.
👉 How to Cook a Spiral Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
Glazed and Grilled Spiral Ham
Caramelized glaze and smoky char from the grill give this spiral ham unbeatable flavor.
👉 Glazed and Grilled Spiral Ham
Pit Boss Ham on Smoker
This Pit Boss smoked ham is moist, smoky, and perfect for feeding a crowd.
👉 Pit Boss Ham on Smoker
Traeger Spiral Ham
Classic holiday ham with smoky Traeger flair—easy to prep and packed with flavor.
👉 Traeger Spiral Ham
The Perfect Smoked Ham
Juicy, tender, and full of smoky richness—this ham is a centerpiece-worthy favorite.
👉 The Perfect Smoked Ham
Pit Boss Spiral Ham
Simple to prep and full of sweet, smoky goodness right from your Pit Boss smoker.
👉 Pit Boss Spiral Ham
Grilled Ham
A straightforward and flavorful grilled ham with crispy edges and a tender interior.
👉 Grilled Ham
Honey Glazed Ham
A glossy honey glaze caramelizes beautifully, making this a sweet and savory showstopper.
👉 Honey Glazed Ham
Pineapple Bourbon Glazed Smoked Ham
Sweet pineapple and bourbon glaze meets smoke—perfect for holidays or BBQs.
👉 Pineapple Bourbon Glazed Smoked Ham
Smoked Christmas Ham
This holiday classic is infused with warm spice and smoke—ideal for your smoker lineup.
👉 Smoked Christmas Ham
Smoked Easter Ham
Celebrate with this smoky glazed ham that’s made to impress on your holiday table.
👉 Smoked Easter Ham
Onion and Garlic Rub for Ham
Garlic and onion belong on all things smoked meat! We will use some sugar to counteract the bold flavors of these foods.
- 3 tablespoons of minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons of minced onion.
- Add two tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- kosher salt to taste.
Cajun Dry Rub for Ham
For all the spice lovers out there, this one is for you. Spicy dry rubs are amazing, so try your hand at this Cajun dry rub.
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Add salt to taste.
If you want to use fresh thyme leaves that have been dried, you can use one teaspoon.
BBQ Coffee Rub for Ham
This dry rub is a bit unique. Not everybody will love it, but it’s worth trying!
- Start with 1/4 cup of ground coffee and 1/4 cup of brown sugar.
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon black pepper.
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- Add kosher salt to taste.
When preparing this dry rub, it is essential to consider the type of coffee you use. There are numerous types of coffee, and each one yields slightly different results.
How to Use a Dry Rub on a Ham
First, apply a binder, such as mustard or oil, then use the dry rub all over the ham; be generous.
Do You Recommend Using An Injection?
I don’t often use an injection to flavor my ham, but I have had good results when I have. My recipe for ham injected with bourbon is here.
Do I Need to Use a Glaze on My Ham?
There are many glaze recipes available, but one of my favorites is my bourbon glaze for ham, which you can view here.
Smoke On!
Charlie
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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