Dry Steak Rub for the Grill or Grill Pan

This Dry Steak Rub is a delicious blend of brown sugar and spices that lends a great umami flavor to steak. It is a delicious rub that is great for cooking on the grill or grill pan. 

Making a homemade steak rub is one of the easiest ways to season your favorite cut of beef. It is as simple as pulling out your favorite blend of spices, mixing it together, and rubbing it over the steak before grilling.

This post is sponsored by the New York Beef Council, all opinions are my own.

The Best Cut Of Beef To Grill With A Steak Rub

Basically, any cut of beef that you would grill would be great to use this dry steak rub on. My favorite cut is a strip steak, but you can also use it on flank steak, skirt steak, porterhouse, or any other cut that is great for the grill. Check out Beef it’s for Dinner for a list of other cuts with grilling guidelines.

Dry Steak Rub Inspiration

Recently I participated in a Virtual Steak Night with the New York Beef Council where I connected with two chefs who taught us two ways to cook steak on the grill or skillet. We were provided with a rub recipe and cooked along. I decided to go with the grilled version because that is our favorite way to eat steak.

I discovered that it was really easy to come up with your own seasoning and control the flavors and salt content and make a seasoning of your very own with spices you currently have in your pantry. That is the method I took with creating the dry steak rub that I am sharing with you today!

What You Need To Make This Recipe

I went with flavors that I love and had in the house to make a dry rub for steak. Below is a list some of the spices I used that might not be something you normally have in the spice cabinet.

Brown Sugar – I went with light brown sugar because I feel that a little bit of sweet in any type of rub is complimentary. It also caramelized a little on the steak while it is grilling, making it extra delicious!

Cumin powder – when it comes to seasoning, cumin is one of my very favorites. Usually it is used in combination with chili powder, but I did not want to add chili to this particular rub.

Turmeric powder has a slightly bitter earthy taste and adds some great color to the rub.

Smoked paprika offers a rich smoky flavor.

Tips and Substitutions

• Allow the steaks to sit for at least 30 minutes after applying the steak rub. 
• When grilling steaks, be sure to purchase one that is at least 3/4 inches thick. Thin steaks can dry out quickly on the grill.
• Look for a steak with great marbling for the best flavor.
• Apply a generous amount of rub to each side of the steak and rub it in with your fingers, covering the entire steak.
• Stir in some chili powder in place of the smoked paprika.
• Substitute dark brown sugar for light brown sugar. This will give it a deeper flavor.
• Always store homemade steak rubs in an airtight jar in the spice cabinet.

More Great Meat Seasoning Recipes To Try

Homemade Coffee Steak Rub

Grilled Skirt Steak with Cocoa Spice Rub

Homemade Beef Seasoning

Check out the beef rubs on Beef it’s for Dinner

Learn how to Sous Vide Steak!

*If you made this recipe, please give it a star rating*

Dry Steak Rub

A sweet and smoky rub to use on steaks for cooking on the grill or grill pan.

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Course: Condiments

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Dry Steak Rub

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 22kcal

Author: Shelby Law Ruttan

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ tablespoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• [mv_schema_meta name="Mix spices"]Add the brown sugar, salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper to a small mixing bowl. Stir until well incorporated. Store in an airtight container. [mv_img id="26643"]
  

Video

Notes

Tips and Substitutions

• Allow the steaks to sit for at least 30 minutes after applying the steak rub. 
• When grilling steaks, be sure to purchase one that is at least 3/4 inches thick. Thin steaks can dry out quickly on the grill.
• Look for a steak with great marbling for the best flavor.
• Apply a generous amount of rub to each side of the steak and rub it in with your fingers, covering the entire steak.
• Stir in some chili powder in place of the smoked paprika.
• Substitute dark brown sugar for light brown sugar. This will give it a deeper flavor.
• Always store homemade steak rubs in an airtight jar in the spice cabinet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Sodium: 797mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g