Texas sugar seasoning is a unique blend of spices and sugars that is commonly used to flavor meats like brisket, ribs, and sausage. It’s a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy rub that adds delicious flavor to barbecue and grilled foods. Texas sugar seasoning gets its name from the Lone Star State where this style of barbecue seasoning originated. Let’s take a closer look at what’s in Texas sugar seasoning, how to make your own blend, and how to use it to flavor Texas-style barbecue.
Origin and History
Texas sugar seasoning has its roots in the Central Texas region, an area known for its flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue. The exact origins of the seasoning are unclear, but it seems to have emerged in the mid-20th century alongside Texas barbecue joints and competitions. Backyard pitmasters and barbecue restaurants began experimenting with different ratios of salt, pepper, sugar, and other spices to come up with a unique seasoning that complemented the beef and pork being smoked over indirect heat. The sweet, spicy rub helped form the bark on the outside of the meat while penetrating deep into the fibers to add oomph to every bite.
One of the earliest forms of Texas sugar seasoning may have been Dalmatian rub, which contains only salt, pepper, and granulated sugar. It provides a basic balancing of savory, spicy, and sweet flavors. As pitmasters continued tweaking and expanding the original rub recipe, popular additions like chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic and onion powders, and even instant coffee were thrown into the mix. Brown sugar replaced some or all of the white sugar to provide deeper molasses notes. Ground cumin, mustard powder, and dried oregano brought extra dimensions of flavor. Eventually, the rub evolved into the Texas-style barbecue seasoning we know today.
While the exact origin is unclear, Central Texas towns like Austin, Lockhart, and Luling all played a role in shaping and popularizing this cuisine. The seasoning blend has become a staple of the regional barbecue scene and is now used well beyond Texas too. It embodies the big, bold flavors that Texas barbecue is renowned for.
Common Ingredients
While recipes can vary, Texas sugar seasoning typically contains some key ingredients:
- Salt – The salt provides a necessary savory flavor base and also helps draw moisture out of the meat to aid the bark formation.
- Black pepper – Freshly cracked black pepper supplies spicy heat and bite.
- White and/or brown sugar – Sugar balances the other flavors and helps achieve the signature caramelized bark.
- Chili powder – This adds both mild heat and deep chili flavor.
- Smoked paprika – Smoked paprika lends a subtle smokiness and red pepper flavor.
- Garlic and onion powder – garlic and onion powders provide aromatic backbone.
- Cumin – Earthy cumin complements the other Southwest-inspired spices.
Beyond the core ingredients, other potential mix-ins include mustard powder, ground chipotle pepper, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, coffee, and citrus zests. Adding a touch of MSG enhances the savory umami taste even further. The possibilities are nearly endless!
How to Make Your Own
Want to whip up a batch of Texas sugar seasoning at home? It’s easy to make your own customized blend.
Start with a basic salt, pepper, and sugar base. Use a 2:1:1 ratio as a starting point. For every 1 cup of seasoning:
- 2⁄3 cup salt
- 1⁄3 cup black pepper
- 1⁄3 cup brown sugar and/or white sugar
Next, add anywhere from 1 to 4 tablespoons each of spices like:
- Smoked paprika
- Chili powder
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- Mustard powder
- Cayenne pepper
After that you can add extras like citrus zest, dried oregano, instant coffee powder, or chipotle powder to taste. Starting with smaller amounts of the add-ins and adjusting in subsequent batches is recommended.
Thoroughly mix everything together in a bowl. You can use a whisk to break up any clumps. For maximum flavor, let the mixture sit overnight before using so the spices can meld together. Then store in an airtight container away from heat and light.
How to Use
There are a few easy ways to use Texas sugar seasoning:
As a Dry Rub
The most popular way to use Texas sugar seasoning is as a dry rub. Simply sprinkle it liberally over any meat before cooking – brisket and ribs are perfect choices. Rub the blend thoroughly over every surface so the seasoning adheres. Allow the meat to marinate for at least an hour before smoking or grilling to let the flavors penetrate.
In a Wet Rub or Marinade
For an extra flavor punch, incorporate the Texas sugar seasoning into a wet rub or marinade. Whisk some of the dry rub into a paste using water, oil, vinegar, or other liquid to create a wet rub. You can also add extra ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, or citrus juice. Allow meat to marinate in the wet rub overnight in the fridge so the liquid completely penetrates.
As a Sauce or Condiment
Stir some of the seasoning into your favorite barbecue sauce, ketchup, or mayo to give it some Texas-style zing. You can also sprinkle it over brisket, ribs, or pulled pork after cooking. The sugar in the blend melts into an irresistible glaze on the hot meat.
On Other Proteins and Veggies
While it’s tailor-made for beef and pork, Texas sugar seasoning also jazzes up chicken, turkey, fish, shrimp, potatoes, corn, and more. Feel free to get creative with how you incorporate that sweetheat!
Pairings
What are some tasty things to serve alongside meat crusted with Texas sugar seasoning? Here are some classic pairings:
- Baked beans – Sweet, smoky beans complement the seasoned meat.
- Coleslaw – Cool, creamy coleslaw balances the heat.
- Potato salad – Potato salad’s texture and acidity offsets the richness.
- Mac and cheese – Ooey-gooey mac and cheese soaks up the meat juices.
- Cornbread – Crumbly, buttery cornbread is perfect for sopping up sauce.
- Picket fence potatoes – Fried potato sticks add satisfying crunch.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box either. Grilled vegetables, fried okra, fruit salsa, and spinach salad offer lighter complements. Iced tea, lemonade, and beer are refreshing beverage choices.
Where to Find Pre-Made Blends
If making your own Texas sugar seasoning from scratch sounds like too much work, pre-blended options are widely available.
Many barbecue restaurants and meat markets in Texas sell their own house blends. Retail spices companies like McCormick, Oakridge BBQ, and Meat Church also offer high quality pre-made Texas sugar seasoning.
You can find both name brand and generic versions in the spice aisle at most major supermarkets. Walmart, Kroger, Publix, HEB, and Central Market are good places to check. Amazon and other online retailers like Texas Spice Company have a wide selection available for ordering too.
When purchasing pre-made blends, look for packages that specifically say “Texas Sugar Seasoning.” The list of ingredients should include salt, pepper, sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and paprika at a minimum.
Popular Brands
Here are 5 top rated, readily available Texas sugar seasoning brands to try:
| Brand | Where to Buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| McCormick Grill Mates | Grocery stores, Amazon | Well-balanced blend with smokey undertones |
| Oakridge BBQ | Amazon, OakridgeBBQ.com | Nice heat level with touch of lemon |
| Meat Church Honey Hog | Online at MeatChurch.com | Amped up version with 3 types of pepper |
| HEB Texas Sugar | HEB stores | Classic flavor at a great price |
| Killer Hogs The BBQ Rub | Online at KillerHogs.com | Handcrafted blend withloyal following |
While they each put their own spin on it, you can’t go wrong with any of these highly-rated blends modeled after traditional Texas sugar seasoning.
Storage and Shelf Life
Like most spice rubs and seasoning blends, Texas sugar seasoning has a fairly long shelf life but will slowly lose potency over time. Follow these tips for storing it properly:
- Keep in a cool, dark place away from direct light and heat.
- An airtight glass or plastic container works best.
- Shelf life is up to 2 years for homemade blends stored properly.
- Commercial products will have 1-3 year best by dates.
- Over time, the sugar may clump and spices lose their punch.
- For maximum freshness and flavor, try to use within 1 year.
Give containers a good shake before using to redistribute any settled powder. You can also rub the blend through a fine mesh sieve if heavily clumped.
Substitutions
Don’t have all the ingredients for Texas sugar seasoning on hand or want to adjust for dietary needs? Here are some simple swap options:
- For salt, substitute seasoned salt or leave out completely.
- Instead of granulated sugar, use brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
- Onion and garlic granules can stand in for the powders.
- Smoked paprika can be replaced with regular paprika.
- For those avoiding nightshades, swap chili powder for cumin.
- Omit cayenne altogether or sub a dash of ground black pepper for heat.
- MSG can be left out or replaced with mushroom powder.
While it may alter the traditional Texas flavor a bit, you can tweak and customize the blend to your tastes and ingredients on hand. The basic salt, sugar, and pepper backbone still provides lots of flavor.
Cost Analysis
Wondering how much it costs to make your own Texas sugar seasoning compared to buying a pre-made blend? Here’s a quick cost breakdown:
For a batch yielding 1 cup (about 12 ounces) of homemade seasoning, you’ll need approximately:
- 1⁄2 cup salt = $0.15
- 1⁄4 cup pepper = $0.30
- 1⁄4 cup sugar = $0.05
- 2 Tbsp chili powder = $0.15
- 1 Tbsp paprika = $0.10
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder = $0.10
- 1 Tbsp onion powder = $0.10
- 1 tsp cumin = $0.05
That brings the total cost to make a 12 oz batch to around $1.00.
For comparison, a typical 7 oz bottle of pre-made Texas sugar seasoning costs $3 to $5 in stores. Some premium artisan blends run even higher. Making your own allows you to get significantly more seasoning for less money compared to buying it pre-blended.
However, the convenience factor of pre-made blends may be worth the higher cost for some. It ultimately comes down to your budget and preferences.
Nutrition
Texas sugar seasoning gets most of its flavor from salts, sugars, and dried spices. Here is the basic nutrition profile per 1 tablespoon (15g) serving:
| Calories | 15 |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0g |
| Carbs | 4g |
| Protein | 0g |
| Sodium | 590mg |
As you can see, Texas sugar seasoning is very low in calories, fat, carbs, and protein. However, the high salt content means it provides 25% of your daily recommended sodium in just 1 tablespoon.
Those on low-sodium diets may want to use a reduced amount or sodium-free alternative. Otherwise, the blend can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.
Popularity
While born in Texas, the popularity of Texas-style seasoning rubs has expanded nationwide and beyond. The 2015 documentary Peace, Love, and BBQ followed top pitmasters across 13 states and 3 countries as they competed for the title of Grand Champion at a major barbecue competition. Many featured variations of seasoned salt, pepper, and sugar rubs inspired by traditional Texas sugar seasoning.
These sweet and spicy blends strike a perfect balance for American barbecue fans. Major brands like McCormick now sell mass produced versions in supermarkets across the country.
According to Google Trends data, online searches for “Texas sugar seasoning” have steadily increased over the past decade, reflecting its growing national appeal. It’s commonly featured on barbecue focused TV shows, websites, and magazines as an essential element of low and slow barbecue.
While originally unique to Texas, this blend of salts, sugars, and spices now powers barbecue pits far beyond the Lone Star State. Its balance of sweet and spicy with a kiss of smoke epitomizes the perfect barbecue rub.
Conclusion
Texas sugar seasoning brings together the core flavors of salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder and sugar to add finger-licking, craveable flavor to smoked and grilled meats. This balanced sweet and spicy rub originated in Central Texas barbecue joints but has won over backyard grillers and competition smokers across the country. While delicious on Texas-style brisket, ribs, and sausage, it also livens up burgers, chicken, veggies, and more. Either make your own or pick up a pre-blended bottle to bring some authentic Texas barbecue flavor to your next cookout. Just be prepared for some seriously mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth results!