Brown Sugar Rub Recipes
Sweet, smoky, and downright addictive.
Our Brown Sugar Rub caramelizes beautifully on meat and veggies, creating a crave-worthy glaze with just the right balance of savory spice. Perfect for BBQ, roasting, and everyday cooking.
| # | Recipe | Why It Works | Ingredients (serves 4) | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caramelized Pork Chops | Brown sugar forms a lacquered crust; spices balance fat. | 4 bone-in pork chops; 2 tbsp Brown Sugar Rub; 1 tbsp oil; 2 tbsp butter; 1 tbsp cider vinegar | 1) Pat chops dry and season all over with rub. 2) Heat oil in skillet on med-high. 3) Sear 3–4 min/side until golden. 4) Add butter + vinegar; baste 1–2 min. 5) Rest 5 min before serving. |
| 2 | Sticky BBQ Chicken Thighs | Sugar chars for crispy skin. | 8 bone-in thighs; 2½ tbsp rub; 1 tbsp oil; ½ cup BBQ sauce | 1) Coat thighs in oil + rub. 2) Bake 425°F 35 min or grill med-high, turning halfway. 3) Brush BBQ sauce last 5 min. 4) Cook to 175°F internal. |
| 3 | Sweet-Heat Salmon | Creates a caramelized glaze on rich fish. | 4 salmon fillets; 1½ tbsp rub; 1 tsp Dijon; lemon wedges | 1) Brush salmon with Dijon. 2) Sprinkle rub evenly. 3) Bake 400°F 10–12 min or air fry 390°F 8–10 min. 4) Squeeze lemon before serving. |
| 4 | Candied Bacon Crumbles | Perfect crunchy topper. | 12 bacon slices; 2 tbsp rub | 1) Lay bacon on rack over baking sheet. 2) Sprinkle rub. 3) Bake 375°F 18–22 min until crisp. 4) Cool and chop. |
| 5 | BBQ Shrimp Skewers | Sweet crust forms quickly. | 1½ lb peeled shrimp; 1 tbsp oil; 1½ tbsp rub | 1) Toss shrimp in oil + rub. 2) Skewer. 3) Grill high heat 2–3 min/side until pink. |
| 6 | Smoked Ribs Shortcut | Sweet bark and tender meat. | 1 rack baby back ribs; 3 tbsp rub; ¼ cup apple juice; foil | 1) Season ribs with rub. 2) Smoke 225°F 3 h. 3) Wrap with apple juice; smoke 2 h. 4) Unwrap; sprinkle rub; smoke 1 h. |
| 7 | Glazed Ham Slices | Quick ham dinner. | 8 ham steaks; 2 tbsp rub; 2 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp orange juice | 1) Melt butter in skillet. 2) Sear ham 1 min/side. 3) Sprinkle rub + splash OJ; bubble 30 sec to glaze. |
| 8 | Roasted Carrots | Sweet-spice crusted veg. | 2 lb carrots; 2 tbsp rub; 2 tbsp oil | 1) Toss carrots with oil + rub. 2) Roast 425°F 25–30 min until caramelized. |
| 9 | Sweet Potato Wedges | Caramelized chili-sugar fries. | 3 sweet potatoes; 2 tbsp oil; 1½ tbsp rub | 1) Cut wedges. 2) Toss oil + rub. 3) Roast 425°F 28–32 min flipping halfway. |
| 10 | Sweet-Heat Burgers | Sugary crust + spice pop. | 2 lb ground beef; 1½ tbsp rub; 1 tsp Worcestershire | 1) Gently mix rub + Worcestershire into beef. 2) Form 6 patties. 3) Grill/sear 3–4 min/side to temp. |
