Julie Clark
Updated:
BBQ Chicken Seasoning: Juicy, Never-Dry Dry Rub Recipe
May contain affiliate links. Terms of Use Policy.
BBQ chicken seasoning is a simple dry rub of chili powder, paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, thyme, cumin, salt, pepper and cayenne. Rub the mix over chicken and let it sit for 30 minutes before grilling to infuse the chicken with flavor.
I mix a big jar of this every spring when we pull the grill out of storage. It’s the seasoning my family loves and it works on drumsticks, thighs, chicken breasts and wings.
You’ll also love our bacon wrapped chicken, bbq sauce and dry pork rub.
What is BBQ chicken seasoning made of?
My bbq chicken seasoning is made of chili powder, paprika, brown sugar, thyme, garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper and then salt and pepper.
The chili powder and paprika build a smoky base while the brown sugar helps it to caramelize on the grill.
These are all pantry spices that you likely already have in your pantry. Mix up a big batch so that you’re ready anytime a craving hits.
Is BBQ chicken seasoning the same as a dry rub?
Yes. BBQ chicken seasoning, BBQ chicken dry rub and BBQ chicken spice are all a blend of dry spices you rub into chicken before cooking. No oil or liquid are in the mix at all.
I call it a rub since you rub it into the meat and under the skin.
What can I use instead of bbq seasoning?
If you don’t have any bbq seasoning mix, you can easily mix up your own. The spices in this homemade mix are very common and you most likely have them on your spice rack.
You can even mix up a batch in advance and have it ready for whenever the bbq craving hits.
What kind of chicken is best for grilling?
You can really choose whatever type of chicken you like best for grilling. We like chicken thighs, chicken breasts and even wings for grilling. Chicken breasts are great for marinades and for chopping for grilled chicken salads.
Skin on chicken helps to hold in the moisture of the chicken when grilling.
Drumsticks and smaller chicken pieces don’t take long to grill, but a whole chicken leg or small chicken will take potentially over 30 minutes to grill.
Just about any cut of chicken is a great choice! Try this chicken rub on our baked chicken leg recipe.
Should I boil drumsticks before grilling?
Do you have to parboil chicken before grilling? No, you don’t. But it does simply and speed up the grilling process. It also prevents the chicken from drying out since it doesn’t have to sit on the grill so long.
If you do decide to parboil the chicken, boil for about 5-7 minutes for drumsticks, and a little longer for larger cuts of chicken. If you do this, you’ll be able to cut the grilling time in half.
How long can I leave a dry rub on chicken?
We recommend letting your chicken sit with the dry rub on it for about 30 minutes. You’ll want to let it sit at the very least for 15 minutes, but you can easily let the chicken sit for several hours or even overnight. Be sure to refrigerate the chicken as it sits.
**Pro Tip: If the chicken you are using has skin, rub some of the spice rub under the skin as well as on top of the skin.**
What temperature do you grill chicken legs at?
I like to set the temperature of the grill to medium high. You don’t want the heat too high or the chicken will burn too quickly. The grill temperature should be around 350-400º Fahrenheit during grilling.
How long do you barbecue chicken for?
Plan about 30 minutes to grill the chicken drumsticks. Most likely the chicken won’t take that long, but it really depends on the heat of the grill, the chicken temperature when you put it on the grill, and how big the chicken pieces are. Planning for 25-30 minutes (turning several times during cooking) should be just about right.
How do you know when chicken is done?
To be certain that chicken is done, you’ll want to test it with an internal thermometer. Chicken should test at 165º Fahrenheit. We actually prefer our chicken on the bone to be done just a little more than this. I’ll take it off the grill when it is about 170-175º Fahrenheit.
What to Serve with BBQ Chicken
Because this bbq chicken rub is a classic picnic recipe, you’ll need some classic, picnic side dishes! Try our homemade potato salad, Italian bread, coleslaw, loaded baked beans or Instant Pot baked beans. You can also try a watermelon salad and some strawberry punch. Delicious!
If the weather is bad outside, make our baked chicken legs!
BBQ Chicken Rub Mix
Skip the store-bought seasoning and try this homemade bbq chicken rub. Use this easy spice mix on your favorite cut of chicken for the BEST bbq chicken.
Servings 6
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Ingredients
Chicken Rub:
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Chicken:
- 6 drumsticks (or chicken of your choice)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together BBQ seasonings. ¼ cup chili powder, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Season drumsticks (or chicken pieces of your choice) with BBQ seasonings and let sit for 30 minutes. 6 drumsticks
- Grease the grill grates and preheat the grill to medium high heat, about 350-400ºF. 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add drumsticks and cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping every 4-5 minutes or until it reaches 175-180 degrees internally. Brush with olive oil half way through grilling if you'd like. This is optional! Serve warm.
Notes
Store leftover seasoning in an airtight jar in a cool, dry spot. It keeps for several months, so I usually mix a double batch to have it ready all season long.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making 6 drumsticks, with 1 serving being 1 drumstick. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**
Nutrition
Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 856mg | Potassium: 227mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 805IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1.2mg
how do you do them in the oven
Does this work in baking in oven as well?
I need to say that this was a hit the first two times. However, now my doc tells me to cut out salt, so I found a new recipe similar to yours sans salt. I need to tell you that your instructions for grilling are spot on, and I will continue to use these FOREVER. Thank you!
Awesome spice blend! I used this to do bbq chicken legs in my air fryer. Cut the amount of everything in half and it was plenty, almost filled a 2oz spice jar. I did swap the black pepper for smoked black pepper and I increased the brown sugar by a 1 tsp, again after cutting everything down to half.. Next time I think I’m gonna add a pinch of dill also, a keeper for sure though!
One of the best rubs yet. Great flavour
I skipped the sugar, loaded the rub on super thick, let it sit in the frig overnight and grilled it low and slow. Winner, winner chicken dinner!
Made this rub after marinating my chicken in dales seasoning. It was very yummy . Next time I’ll make sure to save the left over amount.
The best!!! Lots of flavor!!
This looks so good~ Thank you so much for the nice recipe.
I made this recipe in a double batch and somehow made it tooooo spicy…. although it was tasty how could I have cut the spice once made?
This rub is my favorite so far. I used it on skin-on, bone-in thighs and grilled them. Fantastic! Yes, there was more rub than needed, but I saved the rest for the next grilling.(which is tonight).
if panbroil the legs with or without seasoning on them???
Damn that was good. I put it on the grill. This one is a keeper fo sho
This rub is excellent, I highly suggest using dark chili powder.
This recipe produces A LOT of rub though, twice as much as I needed for a whole 5lb chicken.
Could probably cut everything in half.
5 star