This savory recipe is the best rub for pulled pork and is perfect for slow cooker pork shoulder and other meats. Use it for any Crock Pot, oven, grill or smoker recipes for mouthwatering results!
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If you’re looking for a smoky, savory, sweet and spicy pulled pork dry rub, look no further. This is my signature tried-and-true slow cooker pork rub that I include in my Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe. Use this as an all-purpose rub for grilling season or for pork shoulder cooked low and slow.
Whether you’re a grill master, pit master making Traeger pork butt or a home chef looking for a great pork rub for Crock Pot or Instant Pot pulled pork, you’re going to want to keep this DIY spice mix around.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Balanced blend of seasonings – the flavor profile is the perfect balance of seasonings that infuse meat with sensational savoriness, a hint of sweetness and a touch of heat
- Simple and easy – you can make this homemade spice mix in a matter of minutes with simple pantry staples
- Save money – making your own dry rub or homemade spice mixes can save you money. You can make as much or as little as you want. And, you get to customize them to your own tastes.
- Sugar-free and special diet friendly – you don't need sugar for the best pulled pork! This recipe is low-carb, keto-friendly, paleo, Whole30 and uses all low-FODMAP spices.
Ingredients
These ingredients are most likely already in your spice rack. Combined, they create a savory flavor that naturally enhances the flavor of any cut of pork.
- Coriander – fresh, fragrant and citrusy
- Cumin – warm, earthy and slightly nutty
- Sage – complex woodsy, piney and peppery notes
- Onion powder – zesty, sharp and pungent - omit for low-FODMAP
- Garlic powder – strong and pungent - omit for low-FODMAP
- Fennel seed – aromatic and licorice-like. Use powdered or whole. If you have whole seeds, it’s best to grind them in a mortar and pestle. This isn’t a key ingredient, so if you don’t have any, it’s fine to leave it out.
- Red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper – peppers contribute a spicy, smoky flavor. Aleppo pepper is less spicy than red pepper flakes and more flavorful. Read more about it in my Aleppo Pepper Ingredient Spotlight.
- Black pepper – earthy, spicy and brings flavors together
- Salt – enhances flavor of the rub. I love using kala namak black salt in place of regular salt. It really enhances this rub. Read more in my Kala Namak Ingredient Spotlight.
- Cinnamon – sweet, woody and slightly spicy
- Clove powder – warm, strong and pungent with a slight bitter-sweetness
- Smoked paprika – smoky, spicy and warm
Instructions
Making your own homemade spice mix takes very little time and effort.
Simply combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly
TIP: Using whole herbs is just fine as well. Grind them into a powder (or as close as you can get) using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. I find fennel is challenging to source powdered, so I use a mortar and pestle to grind it myself. Freshly ground herbs tend to have stronger aroma and flavor than powdered herbs. Double-check your measurements after grinding because whole herbs will measure different than powders.
How to use
You don’t need a rub guide to learn the best way to use this seasoning. Here are a few guaranteed delicious ways to use it in addition to making the best shredded pork recipe:
- Dry rub – sprinkle the spice mix directly onto the surface of the meat and massage it in until it sticks to the surface. I enjoy using this on Smoked Pork Tenderloin in addition to making Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.
- Wet rub – while this recipe is used mostly for dry rubbing, it can also be used as a wet rub. Mix with wet ingredients (such as mustard) to make a paste and apply to the surface of the meat.
- Use as a standard meat seasoning – apply to meats when grilling, frying, smoking, slow cooking or pressure cooking. This is amazing as a pulled pork rub, but is also perfect for pork chops, chicken, steaks and even tofu.
- Marinade – for easy meal prep, you can sprinkle dry rub on any meat, poultry or fish and let sit overnight for the best flavor. I like to do this when I’ll be cooking stove-top or marinating meat to put in the oven. Letting the flavors absorb into the meat for a few hours before frying or baking can make a big difference.
The flavor profile of this homemade spice mix pairs well with Pineapple Habanero Sauce or Pineapple Habanero Salsa and creates a total flavor bomb.
How to store
The best way to store spices and dried herbs is in a cool dry place, in a container with a tight fitting lid. Glass is best, since it is less porous than plastic. Spices should always be stored away from light and heat, as they will deteriorate faster.
Variations
Here are a few options to customize your rub:
- Add orange peel – this is my absolute favorite variation. Pork pairs very well with citrus flavors. I like to use a tablespoon of powdered orange peel with this spice blend.
- Make a sweet rub – if you prefer a sweet rub, add your favorite sweetener. If you follow a low-carb diet, add your favorite alternative sweetener to these keto spices. I recommend stevia or Lakanto Golden Monk Fruit. If you don’t follow a keto diet, I’d recommend brown sugar, maple sugar or coconut sugar, which I feel imparts a stronger molasses-like flavor. Coconut sugar is a low-FODMAP sweetener in 1 teaspoon servings, as it can be high in fructans in larger servings. If you choose to use sugar, ¼ cup divided over 12 servings of slow cooked shredded pork is about 1 teaspoon of sweetener per serving, adding about 4 carbs per serving.
- Chipotle rub – replace the red pepper or Aleppo pepper flakes with chipotle powder. It will add more spice and a warm, smoky flavor with a slight Mexican-inspired flavor.
Other spice blends you might like
FAQ
The best cuts come from the shoulder portion of the pig and include pork shoulder (aka pork picnic) and pork butt (also called Boston butt). They have the best fat to protein ratio and are perfect for shredded pork. Read more about these cuts in my Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe.
No. This is personal preference and is typically not done for pulled pork, especially when a BBQ sauce will be used. A mustard rub is helpful for rubs to adhere to meat when you want to apply a thicker coating, such as on these Traeger Smoked Beef Ribs.
While this spice mix doesn’t need garlic and onion to make it complete, you can add chives or a pinch of asafoetida for additional flavor. However, it’s a perfect no garlic no onion recipe all on its own.
Yes, paprika is FODMAP-friendly in normal serving sizes. However, it contains capsaicin that can bother some people with IBS.
Great sauces for pulled pork
Check out these favorite homemade sauces to pair with your pulled pork and other recipes for the grill.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know how you liked it by giving a star rating and leaving a comment!
📖 Recipe
Best Rub for Pulled Pork (keto and FODMAP-friendly)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coriander (powder or whole coriander if grinding in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder)
- 1 tablespoon cumin (powder or whole cumin if grinding)
- 1 tablespoon sage (powder or whole sage if grinding)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder (omit for low-FODMAP)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (omit for low-FODMAP)
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed (powder or whole fennel seed if grinding)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or Aleppo pepper. Read more about Aleppo pepper in my Aleppo Pepper Ingredient Spotlight)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper (or whole black peppercorns if grinding)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon clove powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- If using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, grind whole herbs into a powder.
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
Notes
How to store
The best way to store spices and dried herbs is in a cool dry place, in a container with a tight fitting lid. Glass is best, since it is less porous than plastic. Spices should always be stored away from light and heat, as they will deteriorate faster.Variations
Add orange peel – this is my absolute favorite variation. Pork pairs very well with citrus flavors. I like to use a tablespoon of powdered orange peel with this spice blend. Make a sweet rub – if you prefer a sweet rub, add your favorite sweetener. If you follow a low-carb diet, add your favorite alternative sweetener to these keto spices. I recommend stevia or Lakanto golden monkfruit. If you don’t follow a keto diet, I’d recommend brown sugar, maple sugar or coconut sugar, which I feel imparts a stronger molasses-like flavor. Coconut sugar is a low-FODMAP sweetener in 1 teaspoon servings, as it can be high in fructans in larger servings. If using sugar, ¼ cup divided over 12 servings of pulled pork yields about 1 teaspoon of sweetener per serving and about 4 carbs. Chipotle rub – replace the red pepper or Aleppo pepper flakes with chipotle powder. It will add more spice and a warm, smoky flavor with a slight Mexican-inspired flavor.How to use
- Dry rub – sprinkle the spice mix directly onto the surface of the meat and massage it into the meat until it sticks to the surface
- Wet rub – while this recipe is used mostly for dry rubbing, it can also be used as a wet rub, if you’d like. Mix with wet ingredients (like mustard) to make a paste and apply to the surface of the meat.
- Use as a standard meat seasoning – apply to meats when grilling, frying, smoking, slow cooking or pressure cooking. This is amazing as a pulled pork rub, but is also perfect for pork chops, chicken, steaks and even tofu.
- Marinade – for easy meal prep, you can sprinkle dry rub on any meat, poultry or fish and let sit overnight for the best flavor. I like to do this when I’ll be cooking stove-top or marinating meat to put in the oven. Letting the flavors absorb into the meat for a few hours before frying or baking can make a big difference.
Nutrition
*Net carbs = carbohydrates - fiber
Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.
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