Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste Incredible

For this article, we've chosen the best smoked chicken rub recipes: for various woods and chicken parts
By
Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
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Reviewed By
Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 14, 2023
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Ordinarily, it’s easier and faster to only boil or fry your chicken without spices. But won’t you want to do more to have a more enjoyable meal of chicken? One perfect way to achieve that is by getting yourself a chicken rub. With this rub, you can smoke or grill your meat to perfection. Apart from the sweet flavor the rub provides, it also adds a nice, thin crust to your chicken.

Of course, chicken rubs are available for purchase at stores but they can be a little too limited or expensive. For example, making a smoked chicken rub yourself gives you the luxury of tailoring it to your taste and preferences. Also, you’ll get a rub with trusted ingredients. In this article, we will tell you all about making smoked chicken rub recipes and how to apply them. Grab your seatbelt and join us on this exciting ride!

Smoked chicken rub recipes

Making smoked chicken rubs Trusted Source Chicken Rub Nutrition Facts - Eat This Much Calories, carbs, fat, protein, fiber, cholesterol, and more for Chicken Rub (Bbqspot). Want to use it in a meal plan? Head to the diet generator and enter the number of calories you want. www.eatthismuch.com  is just like preparing BBQ sauces; it requires different, important ingredients. Below, we’ll discuss the ingredients involved in making different smoked chicken rub recipes and how to mix them.

Sweet chicken rub

As the name suggests, sweet chicken rub adds exceptional sweetness to your chicken. Apart from the sweetness, this dry rub for smoked chicken provides you a bit of spice to transform your chicken into something really special.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons of onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of ground mustard

Instructions

  • Get all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Mix and stir them well until you’re satisfied with the mixture.
  • Store the rub for smoked chicken in an airtight container.

Your rub is now ready for smoking your chicken on the best portable charcoal grill you can find. Maybe a charcoal grill is not your thing, you can find a nice pellet grill to get the job done but you’ll need the best wood to smoke chicken for the best result.

You can even go for a high-quality smoker like the Cuisinart COS-350 electric smoker if you don’t want to deal with either wood or gas. The smoker boasts nice features such as a spacious interior, three stainless steel racks, built-in thermometer, among others.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleApplewood chicken rub

Applewood chicken rub is another type of smoked chicken rub. This rub combines both smoky and sweet flavors, giving you the best of two worlds.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon of dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon of onion powder
  • I teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon of kosher
  • 1 cup of applewood chips

Instructions

  • Pick up a clean bowl and pour all of the ingredients inside it.
  • Stir them together until they’re well mixed. Then, store the mixture in an airtight bottle and you have applewood smoked chicken rub for yourself.

Spicy chicken rub

The spicy chicken rub is another excellent option for seasoning your smoked chicken. As its name suggests, it offers a very spicy flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon of paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon of dried dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Then, store in an airtight bottle.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleSpatchcock

Spatchcock chicken rub also brings the best out of smoked chicken. Using this smoked spatchcock chicken rub provides flavor and crisps up the chicken’s skin.

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon of chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon of sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon of ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon of dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon of ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika

Instructions

  • As you would do with their recipes, combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and mix them to your satisfaction.
  • Then, store the mixture in a dry, airtight container.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleRub recipes for chicken parts

Not all rubs are perfect for all parts of the chicken. Below, we’ll discuss the ideal rubs recipes for different chicken parts.

Legs

Are you looking for the perfect rub for smoking chicken legs? We got you. With the smoked chicken drumsticks rub, you’ll get an excellent taste and great texture.

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon of paprika
  • ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon of thyme
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Mix the ingredients in a small bowl until they’ve combined well.
  • Pour the smoked chicken leg rub in an airtight bottle.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleThighs

Here, we tell how to make the perfect rub for smoked chicken thighs.

Ingredients

½ teaspoon of onion powder

  • ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon of chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar

Instructions

  • Pour them in a small bowl and stir until they’re well mixed.
  • Turn the mixture into an airtight container.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleBreast

We have another recipe for you; the smoker chicken breast rub to enjoy your chicken breast.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of coriander
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions

  • Mix the ingredients in a bowl and store them inside an airtight can after you’re satisfied with the mixture.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleWings

Smoked chicken wings rub is how you enjoy your chicken wings.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon of black pepper
  • 1½ teaspoon of sea salt
  • 1½ teaspoon of granulated onion
  • 1½ teaspoon of granulated garlic
  • 1½ teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • 1½ teaspoon of ground cumin

Instructions

  • Gather the ingredients in a small bowl and mix them.
  • Pour the mixture into an airtight bottle.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleWhole

What about the ideal smoked whole chicken rub? Find the recipe below:

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika

Instructions

  • Add the ingredients to a mixing bowl.
  • Stir until you’re satisfied and pour the smoked BBQ chicken rub in a dry, airtight jar.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleHow to apply the chicken rub

Applying chicken rub is a pretty simple process. Below are simple steps to follow:

  • Use a paper towel to dry the chicken of moisture. Wash your hands afterward to prevent foodborne illness as advised Trusted Source Cleanliness Helps Prevent Foodborne Illness | Food Safety and Inspection Service Spring has long been the time of year for annual cleaning projects around our homes. However, when it comes to safe food handling, everything that comes in contact with food must be kept clean all year long. www.fsis.usda.gov by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  • Add little olive oil to the chicken so that the rub can stick.
  • Pour the amount of rub you deem satisfying on both sides of the chicken evenly.
  • Use your dominant hand to get the rub into the chicken.
  • Then, keep the chicken in a container and cover it until you’re ready to smoke it. We advise that you add the rub hours before cooking the chicken so that the rub can get deep inside the meat.

Smoked Chicken Rub: Recipes to Make Poultry Taste IncredibleFinal Thoughts

According to Wikipedia, seasoning your chicken with smoked chicken rub enhances the flavor of your meat. As you’ve found out in this article, making chicken rub is not as difficult as you might have thought. All you have to do is get the necessary ingredients available to make the smoked chicken rub.

However, if you’re not willing to go through the hassle of finding the ingredients for the rub, you can find an alternative in the Bolner’s Fiesta Extra Fancy Chicken Rub thanks to its premium quality and rich robust flavor. Regardless of any option you go for, try not to smoke your chicken without a rub to avoid missing out on some nice flavor.

References

1.
Chicken Rub Nutrition Facts - Eat This Much
Calories, carbs, fat, protein, fiber, cholesterol, and more for Chicken Rub (Bbqspot). Want to use it in a meal plan? Head to the diet generator and enter the number of calories you want.
2.
Cleanliness Helps Prevent Foodborne Illness | Food Safety and Inspection Service
Spring has long been the time of year for annual cleaning projects around our homes. However, when it comes to safe food handling, everything that comes in contact with food must be kept clean all year long.

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