Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer grilling season.
Whether your cookout menu leans classic, smoky, citrusy, spicy, or somewhere in between, the right seasoning can completely change what comes off the grill. From smash burgers and baby back ribs to cedar plank salmon and charred vegetables, great barbecue starts long before the food hits the flames.
To help build your Memorial Day menu, we rounded up some of our favorite BBQ rubs, grilling seasonings, and cookout-ready blends for burgers, chicken, ribs, brisket, steak, seafood, and grilled vegetables—plus a few ideas for sides and sauces along the way.
Skip mixing seasoning into your ground beef and let the grill do the work instead.
West Coast Burger Blend was crafted specifically for seasoning the outside of burgers, helping create a deeply savory crust with crispy edges and bold flavor in every bite. Roasted garlic, toasted onion, sea salt, and two kinds of black peppercorns build rich burger flavor, while a hint of sugar and citric acid brighten everything up.
This blend shines on smash burgers, grilled cheeseburgers, turkey burgers, and even veggie patties. For the best burger crust, season generously right before the patties hit the grill or griddle.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Smash up some potatoes just like your burgers and season generously.
If your Memorial Day cookout menu includes burgers, grilled vegetables, brats, fries, or dipping sauces, Mt. Elbert earns its spot at the table quickly. This salt-and-pepper-forward blend layers in garlic, herbs, and bell pepper for a versatile seasoning that works well across almost the entire cookout spread.
Mix it into ground beef for burgers, season chicken before grilling, or toss it with vegetables before roasting.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Season spring asparagus with Mt. Elbert All-Purpose seasoning then put on a hot grill for a visually impressive and tender side dish. Or add into homemade ranch dressing.
Looking for even more burger inspiration? Check out our burger recipe collection for grilling ideas, toppings, and cookout favorites.
Sweet Heat BBQ Chicken Rub brings together brown sugar, paprika, garlic, cayenne, and sea salt for the kind of sticky-sweet barbecue flavor that feels right at home at a Memorial Day cookout. The sugar helps caramelize beautifully over the grill while the cayenne adds just enough heat to balance the sweetness, without being too spicy.
This blend works especially well on chicken thighs, wings, drumsticks, and spatchcocked chicken grilled over direct heat or smoked low-and-slow. It’s also a great option if your cookout menu leans more traditional backyard barbecue.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Toss grilled corn with butter and a sprinkle of seasoning for a smoky-sweet side that pairs naturally with ribs and burgers.
If you're planning on chicken being the centerpiece of your cookout, explore more flavors, ideas, and grilling tips in our guide to the best BBQ rubs for chicken on the grill.
For a brighter, tropical direction, Caribe Citrus Poultry Spice layers citrus, ginger, allspice, annatto, and pepper over a sugar-based rub designed to caramelize over heat. Inspired by Caribbean flavors, it brings warmth and sweetness while still letting the flavor of the chicken shine through.
This blend is especially good on grilled chicken thighs, smoked spatchcock chicken, pork tenderloin, and skewers.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Toss pineapple, peppers, and onions in Caribe Citrus before grilling for colorful skewers with sweet heat and tropical flavor.
For more island-inspired grilling ideas, explore Caribbean BBQ traditions, jerk flavors, and tropical grilling techniques in our Caribbean BBQ and grilling guide.
Platte Smokehouse Rib Rub was made for backyard barbecue. Hickory smoke, warm spices, sweetness, and savory depth come together in a classic rib rub built for low-and-slow cooking. The lingering smoky finish gives ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, and even beef a rich barbecue flavor that tastes straight off the smoker.
Named after our original spice shop on Platte Street in Denver, this blend leans deeply into traditional smokehouse flavor while still staying balanced enough for everyday grilling.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Mix into sloppy joes, season potatoes, or sprinkle on deviled eggs.
Georgia Boys BBQ Rub takes inspiration from fruitwood-smoked Southern barbecue with a balance of sweetness, smoke, pepper, and herbs that works especially well on pork ribs and pulled pork. It’s slightly sweeter than Platte Smokehouse, making it a great choice for cooks who like a more classic sweet-and-smoky barbecue profile.
Though designed with pork in mind, it also works beautifully on smoked chicken, grilled beef, or wings.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Stir into baked beans or make a DIY barbecue sauce.
Want to go deeper into rib seasoning, smoking techniques, and flavor profiles? Explore our guide to the best BBQ rib rubs for smoking and grilling.
Texas-style brisket is all about bark, smoke, and pepper-forward flavor, and this blend was built with exactly that in mind. Extra coarse black pepper, garlic, onion, and salt create a simple but deeply savory seasoning that lets smoke and beef stay front and center while helping develop a classic Texas-style crust during a long cook.
The coarse texture holds up especially well over low-and-slow smoking sessions, making it a natural fit for brisket, beef ribs, and other long-smoked cuts.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Toss with smoked potatoes or hearty cowboy-style baked beans for a Texas-inspired side dish.
Pitmasters have used mustard binders for years to help seasoning stick to meat while locking in moisture during long cooks. Cue Glue was inspired by barbecue techniques used throughout the South, including Texas-style brisket slathers made with mustard and pickle juice before smoking.
The tang cooks off during the cook, leaving behind a flavorful bark and helping your dry rub stay put throughout the smoking process. Use it under Texas Brisket Rub, rib rubs, or any coarse BBQ seasoning before smoking brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, or turkey.
Pitmaster Tip: Apply a thin layer of Cue Glue before adding your dry rub to help create a chewy, flavorful bark during low-and-slow cooks.
Created by award-winning Chef Troy Guard, Guard and Grace Steak Rub brings steakhouse flavor straight to the grill. Salt, pepper, garlic, warm spices, and bright sumac build a deeply savory crust with subtle citrus notes that pair especially well with ribeye, strip steak, and grilled vegetables.
The balance here is what makes it special: bold enough for a beautifully seared steak, but nuanced enough to work across the rest of the plate.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Toss with mushrooms, asparagus, or blistered shishito peppers before grilling for an impressive steakhouse-style side dish for the cookout.
Santa Maria-style barbecue is known for simple, bold seasoning and high-heat cooking, and this blend stays true to that tradition. Grey sea salt, garlic, black pepper, and parsley create a coarse-textured rub that works especially well on tri-tip and steak while still pairing naturally with chicken, ribs, and vegetables.
The larger texture helps the seasoning hold up over high heat, creating a flavorful crust without overpowering the meat itself.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Sprinkle over grilled baby potatoes, roasted onions, or grilled bread with butter for a simple California-inspired cookout side.
Created with cedar plank salmon in mind, Pearl St. Salmon Rub combines maple sweetness, smoky paprika, garlic, mustard, and chile heat into a blend that feels tailor-made for Memorial Day grilling. The balance of sweet smoke and spice works especially well on salmon, shrimp, scallops, and even grilled vegetables.
The maple sweetness caramelizes beautifully over flame while the paprika and garlic bring classic barbecue depth to seafood.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Sprinkle lightly onto grilled zucchini, shrimp skewers, or potato salad for a smoky-sweet finish.
Hidden Cove Lemon Garlic Blend takes familiar lemon-garlic flavor and layers in Caribbean-inspired warmth from turmeric, ginger, and allspice. The result is bright and citrusy with a subtle island-style finish that works beautifully on fish, chicken, vegetables, and grilled shrimp.
This blend is especially useful for lighter Memorial Day cookout dishes when you want something vibrant alongside heavier smoked meats and barbecue classics.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Toss grilled corn with butter, lime juice, and Hidden Cove for a bright, citrusy side dish with Caribbean character.
Pikes Peak Butcher’s Rub brings together salt, pepper, garlic, green onion, herbs, and bell pepper for a savory all-purpose blend that works especially well on grilled vegetables. While originally designed as a butcher-style meat rub, the herbal and peppery profile makes it equally good on zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, onions, and green beans.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Toss grilled green beans or roasted potatoes with Pikes Peak Butcher's Rub before serving.
Nantucket Herb & Citrus Rub adds brightness to cookout sides with orange, lemon, herbs, garlic, and sea salt. It’s especially good when your Memorial Day spread needs something lighter to balance smoky meats and richer barbecue dishes.
Use it on grilled vegetables, potatoes, seafood, or even dips and spreads throughout the weekend.
Bonus Memorial Day Use: Stir into sour cream or Greek yogurt for a citrus-herb dip or sprinkle over grilled corn and potato salad for a fresh finish.
Great Memorial Day cookouts usually bring together a little bit of everything: smoky ribs, juicy burgers, grilled chicken, fresh seafood, charred vegetables, and plenty of sides coming off the grill along the way.
Whether your menu leans classic barbecue, Texas smokehouse, Caribbean-inspired grilling, or steakhouse-style, the right rubs and seasonings help tie the whole spread together. From burgers and brisket to grilled corn and backyard sides, these blends are built to help you make the most of grilling season all summer long.
