CATTLEMAN'S GRILL: Ranchero Seasoning – 283g

The one that makes vegetables disappear

Ranchero was designed with Chef Tom Jackson as the ultimate poultry seasoning, and on chicken it absolutely delivers — but that undersells it. Garlic and lemon with a slight touch of heat turns out to be the most useful savoury combination in the cupboard, which is why it ends up on pork chops, roast vegetables and, according to the brand, macaroni cheese. This is the everyday shaker of the Cattleman's range.

The flavour

Dehydrated garlic leads and it leads hard — toasty, savoury, generous. Lemon sits right behind it and lifts the whole thing so it never goes heavy, with a little sugar rounding the salt. The finish carries just enough warmth to register without ever reading as a hot seasoning.

How to cook with it

• Season a whole chicken generously inside and out, leave it uncovered in the fridge overnight, then roast it until the skin crackles.
• Toss wings in a little oil and a heavy coat, then cook them indirect before finishing hot for the last few minutes.
• Cut pumpkin, potato and carrot into chunks, coat them in oil and a solid pinch, and roast until the edges caramelise.
• Stir a teaspoon through the sauce of a macaroni cheese before it goes under the grill — the brand's own trick.

In the shaker

A pale, coarse-ish savoury blend, heavy with visible granules of garlic and onion. It scatters evenly, sticks well to oiled skin, and browns rather than burns — which is why it handles a long roast so comfortably.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients: Dehydrated garlic, salt, spices, sugar, dehydrated onion and extractions of lemon.

Dietary: Cattleman's Grill state no MSG, no chemical preservatives and no anti-caking agents across the range. No gluten-containing ingredient appears in the statement above and no formal gluten-free certification is carried, so we list it as gluten friendly — always check the physical label.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Word from the docks: this is the jar that runs out first. Salt the bird the night before and leave it uncovered in the fridge — dry skin is the whole secret to crackle, and no amount of clever seasoning fixes a wet one. Brush SuckleBusters Honey BBQ Glaze on in the last ten minutes and put Drunken Sailor Onion, Cranberry & Bourbon Relish on the carving board.

Questions answered

Is Ranchero only for chicken?
No. It was designed as a poultry seasoning but Cattleman's Grill also recommend it on pork chops, vegetables and macaroni cheese.

How hot is it?
Mild. There is a slight touch of heat behind the garlic and lemon, but it is a savoury seasoning rather than a spicy one.

Does it contain MSG?
No. Cattleman's Grill state that they do not use MSG, chemical preservatives or anti-caking agents in any of their blends.