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. |
Tomahawk Jim’s Seasoning is proud to partner with Sysco Eastern Maryland to bring our locally crafted blends to restaurants across the Eastern Shore and beyond. We offer bold, versatile seasonings created by chefs, for chefs—perfect for seafood, meats, and everyday kitchen use.