Spicy BBQ rubs and hot sauces bring real chilli heat to the grill, from a gentle jalapeño warmth through to ghost pepper and Carolina Reaper burn. This page covers dry rubs, wing dusts, BBQ sauces, chilli oil, pastes, chimichurri and hot sauces from makers like Uncle Mungos, Cobra Chilli, Kosmos Q, Meat Mitch, Heavenly Hell and Coast N Smoke. Flat $10 shipping anywhere in Australia.
Which spicy rub or sauce should I buy?
| Product | Maker | Style / heat | Best on |
| Steak Shooter "Spicy" Rub | Low N Slow Basics | Spicy beef rub, mild (3/11) | Steak, brisket, burgers |
| Honey Hog Hot | Meat Church | Sweet-heat rub, medium (5/11) | Pork ribs, chicken, wings |
| Portuguese Peri Peri | Taipan BBQ | Peri peri rub, medium (5/11) | Whole or butterflied chicken |
| Nashville Hot Wing Dust | Kosmos Q | Cayenne wing dust, medium (6/11) | Wings, fried chicken |
| Chipotle Paste | Gran Luchito | Smoky chilli paste, medium (6/11) | Steak, pulled pork, tacos |
| Hot Jalapeño Chimichurri | El Chori | Green chimichurri, medium (6/11) | Steak, burgers, chicken |
| Drop-In Jerk Rub | Coast N Smoke | Jamaican-style jerk rub, hot (7/11) | Chicken, wings, pork |
| Stay Hot BBQ Sauce | Meat Mitch | Jalapeño-habanero BBQ sauce, hot (7/11) | Ribs, wings, burgers |
| Cluckin Hell Hot Chicken Rub | Heavenly Hell | Hot chicken rub, hot (7/11) | Wings, thighs, chips |
| Bhut Jolokia BBQ | Uncle Mungos | Ghost chilli BBQ sauce, hot (8/11) | Steak, ribs, chicken |
| The Original 1983 Crispy Chilli Oil Extra Hot | DC Cartel | Reaper chilli oil, extreme (9/11) | Noodles, dumplings, wings |
| Fever Chilli Sauce Extreme | Cobra Chilli | Reaper hot sauce, extreme (9/11) | Wings, pulled pork, prawns |
How to use spicy rubs and sauces
- Start small. Chilli heat builds as you eat, so taste before you add more.
- Sweet chilli rubs can scorch over direct flame. Set up a two-zone fire and finish over the hot side.
- Balance the burn with something cool or sharp: slaw, a creamy dip or a tangy sauce.
- Wear gloves with Reaper and ghost pepper products, and keep your hands away from your eyes.
- Every product page shows its Hub Heat rating out of 11.
How hot is hot? Reading Hub Heat
Hub Heat runs from 0 to 11. Mild (1 to 3) is a warmth most people enjoy. Medium (4 to 6) has a clear bite, like Kosmos Q's Nashville Hot Wing Dust. Hot (7 to 8) is for regular chilli eaters, and extreme (9 to 11) is Carolina Reaper territory, like Cobra Chilli's Fever Chilli Sauce. Want it gentler? Try sweet heat, where sugar or honey takes the edge off. Want more? Head to hot.
Spicy rub vs hot sauce
A spicy rub goes on before cooking and builds heat into the crust, so every bite carries it. A hot sauce or chilli oil goes on at the end or at the table, so each person picks their own level. Plenty of cooks do both: a medium rub on the wings, then a few drops of something extreme for the brave. Browse hot sauce, chilli oil and wings.
Chasing a flavour, not just heat? See jerk and tangy, or the full Uncle Mungos and Cobra Chilli ranges.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good spicy rub for chicken wings?
Kosmos Q Nashville Hot Wing Dust and Heavenly Hell Cluckin Hell Hot Chicken Rub are both built for wings. For gentler heat, Meat Church Honey Hog Hot pairs honey sweetness with a medium jalapeño kick.
What does Hub Heat mean?
Hub Heat is The Rub Hub's heat rating from 0 to 11, shown on every product page. 0 is Cool As, 1 to 3 is mild, 4 to 6 is medium, 7 to 8 is hot and 9 to 11 is extreme.
Should spicy rub go on before or after cooking?
Most spicy rubs go on before cooking so they form a crust. Wing dusts can also be shaken on straight after cooking, and hot sauces are usually added at the end or at the table.
How do you cool your mouth down after very hot food?
Dairy such as milk, yoghurt or a creamy dip usually helps more than water, and bread or rice can soak up some of the burn. Next time, start with less and build up.
Where can I buy spicy BBQ rubs and hot sauces in Australia?
The Rub Hub stocks spicy rubs, wing dusts, chilli oils and hot sauces from makers including Uncle Mungos, Cobra Chilli, Kosmos Q and Meat Mitch, and ships Australia-wide for a flat $10.