
I love this spice rub so much that I keep a giant jar of it right next to my stove. It is awarded place next to my most used kitchen items: salt and olive oil. That’s how much I use it and how much I love it!
Anytime I’m cooking any type of meat or seafood (or even veggies!), you can pretty well bet that this spice rub is getting all up in that situation 💃🏻
It is savory, complex, and very slightly sweet with a touch of heat to round it all off. It makes anything – especially meat and seafood – taste like heaven!

This rub is reminiscent of a jerk seasoning, but it’s a little milder – not quite so overpowering. Here’s what we’ve got goin’ on:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Sugar
- Paprika
- Ground thyme
- Black pepper
- Allspice
- Cayenne
- Nutmeg
- Cinnamon
Yes, it’s a lot, but once you grab everything and lay it out, it really doesn’t take long to throw it all together! I like to make a BIG batch and then just keep it in a jar and use it anytime I want! Then you don’t have to get all your measuring spoons + spices out every time you want to take a one way flight to spice rub paradise, feel me?

Do you remember that Blackened Chicken I posted recently? The one that is piled high with summer fresh peach salsa? YAS. This rub is what coated that flavor bomb chicken.
I also have a recipe coming your way on Thursday that utilizes this rub. (Spoiler: it’s grilled flank steak topped with apricot salad and it’ll change your world – watch for it!)
This rub is absolutely LIFE GIVING on salmon – that’s one of my favorite ways to use it. Honestly, I’m just going to stop rambling off different things you need this on and just sum it up with one word: EVERYTHING. It’s literally good on everything.
That is all.

My Favorite Spice Rub (amazing on meat and seafood!)

This spice rub is easy to throw together and is absolutely life changing on any and all meat and seafood!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1/4 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup garlic powder
- 1/4 cup onion powder
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 1 tablespoon ground thyme
- 1 tablespoon allspice
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper (1/2 tablespoon = 1 1/2 teaspoons if that’s easier for measuring)
- 1/2 tablespoon nutmeg
- 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix all spices together in a bowl and store to combine! Store in a jar or spice container.
Notes
This rub doesn’t contain salt, so make sure that when you use it, you salt your meat/seafood separately from the rub! I like adding the salt separately because I can control it more that way, otherwise the meat can easily be under/over salted.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 28
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries so I can see!
Thanks for sharing