Put down the hot dogs. It’s time to challenge yourself at the grill! You’ve found the right grill, the best steaks for grilling and now you need to deliver the flavor.
Both dry rubs and marinades are equally simple—and equally powerful—in transforming whatever you’re preparing. But which one is best the next time you fire up the grill?
Dry Rub vs. Marinade
The main difference between a marinade and a dry rub is liquid.
Marinades blend spices with oil and liquids like vinegar or citrus. The acid helps make meat more tender while upping the flavor. The tougher the meat—think beef and chicken thighs—the longer you can marinate it, from 12 to 24 hours. However, smaller cuts of steak or fish should only be marinated for around an hour.
To learn how to make a marinade, start with our guide. You can also play around with marinades, mixing things up with ingredients like honey, mayonnaise, beer and sour cream.
Dry rubs, not surprisingly, are a dry blend of spices. The ingredients often include things like paprika, brown sugar and salt, which add both flavor and texture. The rub can be used both before and during grilling, but applying it up to an hour before cooking can amp up the flavor. You can buy them at the store, but it’s easy to make your own dry rub.
In our opinion, dry rubs and marinades each deserve their time in the spotlight. Both are equally viable options for making tasty (and healthy!) dishes, and both can do wonders for your meat and vegetables.
What About Brines?
Especially if you’re a Thanksgiving turkey aficionado, you’ve likely come across the word “brine” before. A regular brine is when meats and vegetables are placed in a saltwater solution before cooking, and a dry brine does almost the same thing, albeit with no water. However, a brine’s main job is to guarantee juiciness. You’ll want to stick with marinades and dry rubs for the best flavor.
Marinades That Will Change How You Grill
Hawaiian Huli Huli Marinade
Get a taste of Hawaii with this marinade packed with ginger, soy, garlic and even a little ketchup. It works perfectly on grilled chicken, but give it a go with pork tenderloin on the grill. Get more
marinade tips here.
Lime and Herb MarinadeCitrus makes for a great marinade base. Try limes paired with plenty of herbs (think sage, parsley and thyme) for a mouthwatering marinade for chicken.
Cajun Seafood MarinadeGrilling isn't just for burgers and chicken! Use this Cajun-inspired marinade on shrimp, catfish and other seafoods. It's got a bit of kick!
Tandoori-Style MarinadeBring Indian flavors into your kitchen with a quick yogurt-based marinade. This marinade adds a bit of tanginess and the spices, like curry powder and garam masala, bring big flavor.
Key West MarinadeWhat would a Key West marinade be without Key limes? This tangy marinade starts with the citrus juice as a base (which also works well to tenderize the meat) and bumps up the flavor with onion and cilantro.
Also check out
how to make the best steak marinade.
Ginger Honey MarinadeAll it takes is a brush of this addictive glaze to transform a regular fillet of salmon into a meal worthy of a professional chef. The sweetness of the honey and ginger is balanced by soy sauce, garlic powder and green onion.
With brown sugar, vinegar and mustard, this tangy marinade is perfect for pork and chicken. Use it for grilling or just prepping weeknight dinners for the oven.
ChimichurriYou'll often see chimichurri—a blend of green herbs, garlic, onion and more—served over steak. But chimichurri also works as a fantastic marinade. Try this dill-based sauce with shrimp or opt for a
traditional chimichurri.
Mouthwatering Margarita MarinadeTurn a can of frozen limeade into a Mexican-inspired marinade with garlic cloves and tangy lime juice. Pro tip:
Make your own beer margarita for an adult drink that will have you saying, "Fiesta!"
3-Ingredient Steak MarinadeWith just some barbecue sauce, red wine and lemon juice, you can make a super tender and tasty flank steak. Marinades are a great way to tenderize tougher cuts of meat.
Tangy Tropical MarinadeSay "aloha" to a delicious weeknight dinner! You might not be on a white sand beach in Hawaii, but you can eat like you are with this tropics-inspired recipe. Pour over chicken or even veggies and let soak before tossing on the grill.
Spicy Lemon MarinadeCooking is all about striking the right balance. This tart and spicy marinade gets that balance just right. This marinade is simple and works for almost any protein or veggie you want to toss on the grill.
Bold Barbecue MarinadeYou can't go wrong with a classic BBQ sauce slathered all over ribs or chicken thighs. It's what summer dinner dreams are made of—although it's totally acceptable to eat all year 'round. The chili powder adds a kick at the end.
Caribbean MarinadeGet a taste of the Caribbean with the region's signature spices: allspice and nutmeg. Combined with fresh lemon juice, peppers and honey, you've got a spicy, tangy, flavorful marinade that will turn your backyard into paradise.
Taco MarinadeGive your favorite kabobs a bit of Mexican flair with a taco-inspired marinade. A packet of taco seasoning (or some
taco seasoning made from scratch) is a great base for this marinade.
Basic Pantry MarinadeSometimes you need a marinade that's super simple. This one uses just pantry ingredients like white vinegar and garlic powder to help you make juicy grilled chicken.
West African MarinadeThis peanut-based marinade is great for making beef suya, a popular Nigerian dish. The paprika and garlic also give it a spicy (but not too spicy) punch.
Apple and Mustard MarinadeStart a basic marinade with apple juice. It gives just a touch of sweetness to grilled veggies and proteins.
