Summer's Best Rubs and Marinades

Do you love cooking meat on the grill but hate the same old barbecue sauce you use every summer? Read on! We’ve polled family, friends, and readers for the best marinades and rubs to use for your backyard BBQ. We think you’ll enjoy these delicious alternatives to BBQ sauce from the bottle.

Shish Kebab Marinade

 Fantastic with beef skish kebab – add onion, peppers, tomatoes, and pineapples to the skewer.

1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix all ingredients and bring to a boil. Marinate beef for a minimum of 4 hours.

Beef Bulogi Marinade

This traditional Korean recipe is comprised of marinated steak cut into strips and served on lettuce or rice. It is great for pork, too.

1/2 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons sake or sherry
3 tablespoons white or brown sugar
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (toast them briefly in your toaster oven for better flavor)
2 tablespoons sesame oil
4 scallions (green onions), finely sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Whisk everything together except the scallions. Once sugar has dissolved, add meat and onions and massage the marinade onto the meat. Let sit in the refrigerator for one hour.

Indian Spice Marinade

This marinade, delicious on salmon or lamb, lets you use all the exotic spices on your spice rack.

2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
dash cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients and mix into a smooth paste. Let sit on meat or fish for 30 minutes at room temperature before broiling or grilling.

Mesquite BBQ Rub

Rubs work more quickly than marinades, so you'll have dinner ready in minutes. Prepare this rub beforehand and store in a glass jar or empty spice container. This rub was designed for chicken.

1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon dried sage, ground

Click here for detailed instructions on how to use a dry rub.

Memphis-Style Rub

In Memphis, ribs are traditionally made without sauce. This simple rib rub recipe will make you a convert!

1/4 cup paprika
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder


Do you have a marinade or rub recipe that tops any of the ones we listed above? Let us know, and we'll post yours on our website!