Choosing the right brisket rub is one of the biggest flavor decisions you’ll make. Some pitmasters keep it as simple as salt and pepper, others swear by SPG and competition cooks (like me) often lean toward more layered blends when they’re chasing the best brisket rub for their style.
There’s no single “best brisket rub,” but there is a best rub for the flavor profile you want. This guide, which is part of my Ultimate Brisket Guide, breaks down the most popular styles from Texas to SPG to sweet and competition-style, so you can choose the rub that matches your taste and cooking style.
My Award-Winning Brisket Rub
Personally, I like a hint of sweetness and heat to my brisket rub. And plenty of barbecue judges on the competition circuit do too.
My Girls Can Grill Brisket Rub has earned me multiple first place brisket wins. It includes a balanced blend of salt, pepper, garlic, chiles, cumin and a touch of sweetness.
It’s designed to enhance beef, not cover it up. It was even named the 5th best beef rub by Barbecue News Magazine.
My Go-To Brisket Rub for Building Flavor and Bark
I use Girls Can Grill Brisket Rub on all of my briskets. This blend layers salt, pepper, garlic and savory spices to highlight the natural beef flavor while helping the bark develop evenly.
Texas Brisket Rub
In Texas, brisket rub isn’t complicated. The traditional rub is simply:
- Kosher salt
- 16-mesh black pepper
That’s it. No sugar. No garlic. No extras.
For Texas-style smoked brisket, combine these two in equal amounts in a shaker that has a lid to allow coarse grains to evenly flow through it.
Some people refer to this blend as Dalmatian rub because of its visible “black and white” mix.
SPG
In the world of barbecue, you’ll often hear people use the term SPG. This simply means salt, pepper, garlic.
SPG starts with the Texas brisket rub foundation and adds granulated garlic or garlic powder. It’s one of the most widely used brisket rubs because it adds savoriness without covering up the beef.
Sweet Brisket Rub
When people start to add sugar to their brisket rub, that’s when the Texans chime in to let you know that you’re doing it wrong.
But hey, if you like a little sweetness with your beef, go for it. This is your brisket, after all.
Try this simple ratio:
- 1 part kosher salt
- 1 part 16-mesh ground black pepper
- 1/2 part sugar in the raw or pourable brown sugar
- 1/4 part granulated garlic
Popular Brisket Rubs I Recommend
- Girls Can Grill Brisket Rub: My award-winning rub was designed especially for beef brisket. It contains salt, pepper, garlic and a variety of chiles for added depth of flavor.
- SPG: Kosher salt, coarse pepper and granulated garlic. Classic, balanced, and great on any smoker.
- Blues Hog Bold & Beefy: An amped-up SPG with sugar and yeast extract for extra richness.
- MSG: Use sparingly. It boosts umami without adding saltiness and elevates any rub that doesn’t already include it.
Which Brisket Rub Should You Choose?
- Texas Rub: If you want pure beef flavor
- SPG: If you want savory balance with zero effort
- Sweet Rub: If you like sweet heat or cook comps
- Girls Can Grill Brisket Rub: If you want layered flavor of SPG with a touch of sweetness that wins over judges and guests
Brisket Guides
This BBQ Tip is part of my Ultimate Brisket Guide, which breaks down every step from anatomy to trimming to cooking.
Explore more brisket fundamentals:
For a full overview:
My Go-To Brisket Rub for Building Flavor and Bark
I use Girls Can Grill Brisket Rub on all of my briskets. This blend layers salt, pepper, garlic and savory spices to highlight the natural beef flavor while helping the bark develop evenly.
