CROIX VALLEY: Original Barbecue Booster | All-Purpose Seasoning | 170g (6oz) shaker

The house blend that started it all

Original Barbecue Booster is Croix Valley's foundational, all-purpose seasoning — the one built to sit on the bench next to the grill every single cook. It draws on the same steakhouse roots that turned a family recipe into a 20,000 square foot production facility back in Hudson, Wisconsin. If you only keep one shaker in the house, the brand built this one to be it.

The flavour

Savoury and slightly sweet up front, with a classic barbecue backbone of paprika-style warmth and cracked pepper. The middle carries a rounded, umami-forward saltiness that reads as familiar rather than complicated. It finishes clean with a faint caramelised edge, the kind of note that makes a plain burger patty taste like it's already been on the grill for longer than it has.

How to cook with it

• Season burger patties on both sides before they hit a hot flat-top or grill grate — press it in rather than shaking and walking away.
• Dust fries or chips straight from the fryer while the oil is still glistening, so the seasoning actually sticks.
• Rub it under and over the skin of a whole roast chicken before it goes in the oven for an even, savoury crust.
• Season steak generously at least twenty minutes before cooking and let it sit at room temperature so the salt has time to work in.
• Stir a pinch into mayonnaise for an instant burger sauce that does more work than the extra toppings.

In the shaker

A warm reddish-brown blend with a fine, even grind that pours steadily with no clumping. It builds a proper savoury crust on direct heat without scorching too fast, which makes it forgiving for cooks who like to season generously and walk away.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients: Full ingredient statement to be confirmed from the physical label.

Dietary: Vegan and gluten free (brand claim) — always check the physical label.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Every kitchen needs one shaker you trust without reading the label twice, and this is Croix Valley's answer — savoury, a little sweet, built for burgers and steak alike. Press it into the patty rather than shaking and walking off, that's the whole difference. Team it with Fancy Hank's original BBQ sauce for a proper beef night.

Questions answered

What makes this different from Croix Valley's other boosters?

It's the original, all-purpose house blend — a classic, savoury barbecue flavour rather than a themed one like the Italian or Greek boosters.

Is it good on steak?

Yes — it's listed among the brand's best uses, along with burgers, chips and roast chicken.