A hot rub is a BBQ rub with real chilli heat built into the bark, so you get crust and kick in the same bite. This range runs from medium (5/11) to hot (7/11) on our Hub Heat scale, with wing and chicken rubs from John Henrys and Heavenly Hell, beef rubs from Kosmos Q, and all-rounders from Jack Daniel's, Emus Rub and Low N Slow Basics. Shipping is a flat $10 Australia-wide.
Which hot rub should I buy?
| Product | Maker | Style / heat | Best on |
| Spicy White Lightning | Boars Night Out | Garlic herb with heat / medium (5/11) | Wings, steak, seafood, chips |
| Jalapeño Pepper Rub | John Henrys | Sweet heat / medium (6/11) | Ribs, brisket, fajitas |
| Hot Wing Rub | John Henrys | Smoky, zesty / medium (6/11) | Wings, chicken, pork |
| Chilli Citrus Charge | Low N Slow Basics | Chilli citrus / medium (6/11) | Wings, thighs, pork ribs |
| Cluckin Hell Hot Chicken Rub | Heavenly Hell | Hot chicken / hot (7/11) | Wings, fried chicken, chips |
| Fire BBQ Rub | Jack Daniel's | Hot and peppery / hot (7/11) | BBQ and fried chicken |
| Cow Cover Hot Rub | Kosmos Q | Hot beef rub / hot (7/11) | Steak, burgers, brisket |
| Hot Rub | Emus Rub | Hot all-purpose / hot (7/11) | Any protein |
| Jerk Rub | Emus Rub | Hot jerk / hot (7/11) | Any protein that can take it |
How to use a hot rub
- Start light. Use about half your usual amount the first time, taste, then build up on the next cook.
- Let it cook in. Chilli mellows as it cooks into the bark. A rub that tastes fierce raw is often milder on the plate.
- Wings handle heat well. Dry the skin, rub, and cook hot until crisp. A sauce or dip on the side cools things down.
- Mix with a milder rub. Blend a hot rub with your usual all-purpose to set the heat where you want it.
- Every product page shows its Hub Heat rating out of 11.
Hot rub vs hot sauce
A hot rub goes on before the cook and becomes part of the crust. A hot sauce goes on after, or at the table, so each person can choose their heat. Plenty of cooks use both: a medium rub on the wings and a hotter sauce on the side. See our hot sauces.
Are hot rubs gluten free?
Some list it. Heavenly Hell Cluckin Hell is listed as gluten friendly with no MSG, while Boars Night Out Spicy White Lightning contains milk and MSG. Check the ingredient list on each product page; recipes can change.
Shop by maker with John Henrys and Emus Rub, or browse wings, chicken rubs, extra hot and every BBQ rub.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy hot BBQ rubs in Australia?
The Rub Hub stocks hot BBQ rubs from John Henrys, Heavenly Hell, Jack Daniel's, Kosmos Q, Emus Rub, Boars Night Out and Low N Slow Basics, and ships Australia-wide for a flat $10.
What is a good hot rub for chicken wings?
John Henrys Hot Wing Rub and Heavenly Hell Cluckin Hell Hot Chicken Rub are both built for wings. Hot Wing sits at medium (6/11) and Cluckin Hell at hot (7/11) on our Hub Heat scale.
How hot are the rubs in the hot rubs range?
They run from medium (5/11) to hot (7/11) on The Rub Hub's Hub Heat scale, which goes from 0 to 11. Every product page shows its rating.
Does a hot rub get milder when cooked?
Usually, yes. Chilli heat tends to mellow as the rub cooks into the bark, so a rub that tastes fierce raw is often milder on the finished meat.
Is there a hot rub for beef?
Yes. Kosmos Q Cow Cover Hot Rub is a hot beef rub for steak, burgers, brisket and beef ribs, with chilli, garlic and hickory smoke.