Name: 8:3:1:1 BBQ Rub
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 3 1/4 cup
Ingredients: 1/2 cup brown sugar; 3 tablespoons kosher salt; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder

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I have been looking for a “simple” rub for my country style boneless pork ribs. Well, I have found more than my wishes. This is exactly the type of recipe I love. It depends on ratios, and it’s flexible. Usable for not only pork but beef and chicken.

Editor’s Note: Originally published July 21, 2010. Last Updated June 1, 2018.

This rub has been around the food sites, but Alton Brown (Good Eats on the Food Network) has made it more popular. It is a relatively easy rub using what you have available.

So the basic idea is 8 parts sugar to 3 parts salt to 2 parts (the 1:1) of various other spices with no more than half being a single thing. That lost part can be a little tricky. Those “1”s can be divided. The first “1” may be all chili powder but the second “1” may be thyme, coriander, and cumin with each being one third of that part.

My Rating:

This is a very nice easy rub. And somewhat flexible.

Recipe Notes for 8:3:1:1 BBQ Rub

The sugar should be a dark sugar usually brown sugar.

The salt should be Kosher.

The rest can be many things. I will list a few: onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, chili powder, thyme, coriander, cumin, oregano, rosemary, sage.

Hints on choosing your final components.

First, if you have a BBQ sauce that you plan to use, the major component of that should be in the rub.

Second, cut the sugar for chicken.

Mix well and store in airtight container. Should last a few months.

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3.5 from 4 votes

8:3:1:1 BBQ Rub

A versatile rub that is great on pork but also chicken or beef. Make it the standard at your house.

Prep Time5 mins

Total Time5 mins

Author: Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Course : Rubs and Sauces

Cuisine : BBQ

Keyword : Easy, Summer

Servings/Adjust Amount: 3 1/4 cup

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Mix well and store in airtight container. Should last a few months.

Make it Perfect First Time and Every TimeDon't miss out, check the full post above. Almost every recipe includes easy step by step photo instructions so you can visualize yourself cooking this recipe along with helpful tips and options.

Recipe Notes

See discussion about the ratios and options in the post.

Nutrition Facts

8:3:1:1 BBQ Rub

Amount Per Serving

Calories 162 Calories from Fat 5

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.5g1%

Saturated Fat 0.1g1%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g

Sodium 5958mg248%

Potassium 206mg6%

Carbohydrates 41g14%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 38g42%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 750IU15%

Vitamin C 3.3mg4%

Calcium 50mg5%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Have a question or something not clear? Ask in the comments.

If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated.

Nutrition is for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.

All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

Originally published July 21, 2010.