Homemade BBQ Spice Rub and Father’s Day Grilling Basket

A simple and delicious, sweet and smoky, homemade BBQ spice rub that can be used on anything from grilled chicken to smoked brisket or ribs! Add it to a grilling gift basket for the perfect Father’s Day gift.

This post is sponsored by American Greetings. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Lively Table running!

My dad is great at grilling, smoking, and barbecuing almost anything. I grew up going to the lake with my family on the weekends, where my dad would almost always smoke a brisket or ribs. At home, he loves to grill out in the backyard during the summer months when it’s nice out. Thanks to him, I have a love for barbecue and all things grilled, so to thank him, a gift with his love of grilling in mind is in order. What better way to thank him this Father’s Day than with a homemade gift that Dad will use all the time and a card from his favorite child (me)?

My dad loves gifts that are useful (what dad doesn’t?), and what’s more useful than a basket full of everything you need to grill a fantastic meal?

A homemade BBQ spice rub is an essential kitchen item for any griller and makes a fabulous addition to a Father’s Day gift for any dad who loves to grill like my dad does. Store-bought spice rubs are fine, but when you make your own, you can control everything that goes in it. No super-high sodium count, and no strange preservatives. It also means you can tweak the ingredients to fit Dad’s tastes. If Dad likes a super spicy rub, bump up the cayenne. If he prefers his rub a little sweeter, add some more brown sugar. You are free to add exactly what you like to make Dad’s chicken, ribs, or beef exactly how he likes them!

To help you put together a fun, useful gift for Dad this year, I’ve made a grilling gift basket with this homemade BBQ spice rub, a few essential grilling tools, and a fun grilling-themed card, all from Target. You can stop in and pick out everything you need, and even use Cartwheel to save a little money!

Whether this grilling gift basket is for a new dad (or hubby) who needs all of the grilling essentials, or for a seasoned grilling pro whose tools have seen their better days, it is sure to be a gift that he loves. I included some of my favorites in this basket, but you can customize it for what your dad needs or loves. Some fun ideas include:

• Wood chips (We like apple wood)
• Cedar planks
• Thermometer
• Grill brush
• Grilling tongs and spatula
• Grilling mitt
• Wooden skewers
• Grill press
• Beer can chicken tool
• Veggie grilling basket
• Fish grilling basket
• BBQ sauce brush

Always make sure you include a thoughtful card with your gift basket, and your dad is sure to love it! My dad loves funny cards, so I usually go for a card that I know will make him laugh. If your dad is more sentimental, get him a sweet, poetic card. You can find any card you need at Target. You can’t go wrong with a message just for him that will make him smile.

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