How to Season Pork: Simple Pork Rub Recipe

If you want to know how to season pork, a simple pork rub is one of the easiest places to start.

This is my simple pork rub because it was one of the first seasoning recipes I ever put together, and my first proper pork rub recipe.

It started one night when we were having pork chops for tea and I wanted to jazz them up a bit with some flavour. We didn’t have any pre-mixed rubs in the house, so I did a bit of Googling, threw some of my favourite spices in a bowl, rubbed them over the chops, then threw the chops in the oven.

They turned out alright, but there was something missing. They were also too salty. That being said, I loved the way the sugar caramelised the fat on the chops, and I thought it was worth persevering with.

So I wrote down a few adjustments, changed a few spices, and three or four trials later, here we are.

This simple pork rub is sticky, smoky, slightly sweet and has a nice warming layer of spice. Unless you go hard with the cayenne, in which case you will definitely feel the kick.

What Is the Best Way to Season Pork?

The best way to season pork depends on the cut and how you are cooking it.

For quick-cooking cuts like pork chops, pork steaks or pork loin, you can keep things simple with salt, pepper, garlic, paprika and a little sweetness.

For slow-cooked pork, pork shoulder, ribs, pork belly or burnt ends, a proper dry rub works brilliantly because the longer cooking time allows the spices to blend with the meat and the sugar to caramelise on the outside.

This pork rub works well because it gives you salt, sweetness, smoke, warmth and a little optional heat.

What Is a Pork Rub?

A pork rub is a dry seasoning mix rubbed onto the outside of pork before cooking.

It usually contains salt, sugar, herbs, spices and sometimes a bit of chilli or heat. The rub seasons the meat, adds flavour to the outside, and helps create a sticky, caramelised finish when cooked.

Pork rubs are especially good for BBQ-style pork, oven-baked ribs, pork belly, pork shoulder, pork chops and pork burnt ends.

Simple Pork Rub Ingredients

• 60g brown sugar
• 60g smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp coarse black pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper, optional

How to Make a Simple Pork Rub

1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mix well until everything is evenly combined.
3. Add the cayenne pepper if you want extra heat.
4. Store the pork rub in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
5. When ready to use, coat all sides of your chosen pork cut with the rub.

How Much Pork Rub Should You Use?

As a guide, use the rub at around 10% of the weight of the pork.

That means around:

• 50g rub for 500g pork
• 100g rub for 1kg pork
• 200g rub for 2kg pork

This recipe should give you enough rub for around 2kg of pork.

If you are using the rub on pork belly cubes for burnt ends, you may use a bit more because there is more surface area to coat. In that case, this recipe is usually enough for just over 1kg of pork belly cubes.

What Pork Cuts Can You Use This Rub On?

This simple pork rub works on almost any cut of pork.

It is especially good with:

• pork chops
• pork shoulder
• pork belly
• pork belly cubes
• baby back ribs
• pork loin
• pork steaks
• pulled pork

It works particularly well when smoking, roasting, BBQing or slow cooking pork, because the longer cooking time gives the sugar and spices chance to caramelise.

How to Season Pork Chops

To season pork chops, pat them dry, rub with a little oil, then coat lightly with the pork rub.

You do not need a huge amount for pork chops. A light, even coating is enough, especially because chops cook quickly and sugar-based rubs can catch if the heat is too high.

Cook the chops in the oven, pan or on the BBQ until cooked through, then rest before serving.

How to Season Pork Ribs

This simple pork rub is brilliant on ribs.

Coat the ribs all over with the rub before cooking, then cook low and slow until tender. Add sauce or glaze near the end so it caramelises without burning.

For a full method, have a look at our oven baked baby back ribs recipe. If you are short on time, we also have a guide on how to cook ribs in the oven fast.

How to Season Pork Belly

Pork belly loves bold seasoning because it has enough fat to carry the flavour.

Use this rub on pork belly slices, pork belly cubes or a pork belly joint. The sugar helps create colour, while the smoked paprika, garlic, onion and chilli give the pork a BBQ-style flavour.

This rub works especially well for oven cooked pork burnt ends.

Should You Oil Pork Before Adding Rub?

A little oil can help the rub stick, especially on leaner cuts like pork chops or pork loin.

For fattier cuts like pork belly or pork shoulder, you may not need much oil at all. The surface moisture and fat are usually enough to help the rub cling to the meat.

How Long Should You Leave Rub on Pork?

You can cook pork straight after adding the rub, or leave it to sit for extra flavour.

For quick cuts like pork chops, 15 to 30 minutes is enough.

For ribs, shoulder or belly, you can season the pork a few hours ahead, or even the night before, then keep it covered in the fridge until cooking.

If you do season pork ahead of time, keep it refrigerated and covered.

Can You Make This Pork Rub Spicier?

Yes. The cayenne pepper is optional, so you can control the heat.

For a mild pork rub, leave the cayenne out.

For a warmer rub, use 1 tsp of cayenne.

For a proper kick, add a little more, but do not go mad unless you know everyone eating likes spicy food.

Can You Store Homemade Pork Rub?

Yes, homemade pork rub can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard.

Because this is a dry spice mix, it is useful to make ahead and keep ready for pork chops, ribs, belly or BBQ days.

For best flavour, use it within a few months. Spices do not usually go bad quickly, but they do lose strength over time.

What to Serve with Seasoned Pork

Seasoned pork works well with chips, wedges, mash, roast potatoes, coleslaw, corn on the cob, salad, roasted vegetables, beans, rice or mac and cheese.

If you are going BBQ-style, serve with ribs, wings, sausages, burgers and plenty of napkins.

Browse our pork range or BBQ essentials collection for more ideas.

Tips for Seasoning Pork

• Pat the pork dry before seasoning.
• Use a little oil if the rub is not sticking.
• Do not overdo the salt if your rub already contains salt.
• Add sugar for caramelisation, especially on BBQ-style pork.
• Add sauce or glaze near the end of cooking so it does not burn.
• Use less rub on quick-cooking cuts and more on slow-cooked cuts.
• Rest cooked pork before slicing where possible.

Final Thoughts

If you are wondering how to season pork, this simple pork rub is a great starting point.

It is smoky, sweet, slightly spicy and works on everything from pork chops to ribs, shoulder, belly and burnt ends.

You can keep it mild, turn up the cayenne for more heat, or use it as a base for your own pork seasoning recipe. Once you have a jar of it in the cupboard, plain pork chops suddenly become a lot more interesting.

FAQs

How do you season pork?

You can season pork with salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, herbs, spices or a dry rub. For BBQ-style pork, use a rub with sugar, smoked paprika, garlic, onion and a little chilli.

What seasoning goes well with pork?

Pork works well with salt, black pepper, garlic, onion, smoked paprika, chilli, ginger, sage, rosemary, thyme, fennel, mustard and brown sugar.

What is a simple pork rub?

A simple pork rub is a dry seasoning mix rubbed onto pork before cooking. It usually includes salt, sugar, herbs and spices to add flavour and help the outside caramelise.

How much rub should I use on pork?

As a guide, use rub at around 10% of the pork’s weight. That means about 100g of rub for 1kg of pork.

Should you put oil on pork before seasoning?

A little oil can help seasoning stick to pork, especially on leaner cuts like chops or loin. Fattier cuts may not need much oil.

How long should dry rub sit on pork?

For pork chops, 15 to 30 minutes is enough. For ribs, shoulder or belly, you can season a few hours ahead or overnight for more flavour.

Can you use this pork rub on ribs?

Yes, this pork rub works brilliantly on ribs, especially oven baked baby back ribs and BBQ-style pork ribs.