Backyard BBQ season is not just about firing up the grill. It is about flavor. Burgers, steaks, ribs, chicken, seafood, pasta salads, grilled corn, potatoes, foil packets, rice bowls, and cookout sides all need the right seasoning to bring them to life.
That is where homemade seasoning mixes earn their spot in the pantry. Instead of buying bottle after bottle of store-bought blends, you can make your own seasonings, rubs, dry mixes, and copycat blends with simple pantry ingredients.
This guide brings together the best BBQ-friendly seasonings, rubs, copycat blends, and pantry mixes from This Old Baker. Use it as your summer grilling shortcut, your meal prep flavor guide, and your homemade pantry seasoning resource.
Table of Contents
- Burger & Steak Seasonings
- BBQ Rubs & Smoker Favorites
- Chicken & Poultry Seasonings
- Copycat Kinder’s Seasonings
- Tex-Mex & Taco Night Blends
- Seafood & Coastal BBQ Seasonings
- Potato, Vegetable & Side Dish Seasonings
- Cookout Party, Snack & Dip Seasonings
- Pantry Sauce Mixes & Meal Starter Blends
- Why Homemade Seasonings Work So Well for BBQ Season
Burger & Steak Seasonings
Burger Seasoning
A solid burger seasoning is one of the most useful blends to keep on hand for backyard cookouts. Use it for hamburger patties, sliders, meatballs, grilled potatoes, or even cheeseburger bowls.
https://thisoldbaker.com/burger-seasoning/
Copycat Grill Mates Burger Seasoning Mix
This copycat-style burger blend brings big cookout flavor to homemade patties without needing a store-bought bottle. It is especially useful for grilled burgers, smash burgers, and summer meal prep.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-grill-mates-burger-seasoning-mix/
Copycat McCormick’s Smash Seasoning
Smash burgers need bold seasoning because they cook fast and rely on that crispy seared crust. This blend is perfect for Blackstone burgers, griddle burgers, and skillet-style cookout meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-mccormicks-smash-seasoning/
Copycat Montreal Steak Seasoning
A bold, peppery steakhouse-style blend that works beautifully on steaks, burgers, kabobs, potatoes, and grilled vegetables.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-montreal-steak-seasoning/
BBQ Rubs & Smoker Favorites
Texas Style Dry Rub
Big, bold, peppery flavor made for brisket, beef ribs, steaks, smoked meats, and serious backyard BBQ.
https://thisoldbaker.com/texas-style-dry-rub/
Kansas City Rib Rub
A sweet, smoky rib rub perfect for ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and classic backyard BBQ plates.
https://thisoldbaker.com/kansas-city-rib-rub/
South Carolina Mustard Dry Rub
This tangy mustard-forward dry rub is perfect for pork, chicken, ribs, and smoked meats when you want Carolina-style BBQ flavor.
https://thisoldbaker.com/south-carolina-mustard-dry-rub/
Pork Rub Seasoning
A pork rub is one of the most versatile BBQ blends to keep around. Use it for pork chops, pulled pork, ribs, tenderloin, and smoked shoulder.
https://thisoldbaker.com/pork-rub-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s Brown Sugar BBQ Rub
Sweet and smoky with that classic BBQ flavor profile. This works beautifully on ribs, pork, chicken, and grilled vegetables.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-brown-sugar-bbq-rub/
Copycat Kinder’s Hickory Brown Sugar Rub & Seasoning
A hickory-style sweet rub that fits perfectly with smoker meals, ribs, pulled pork, grilled chicken, and BBQ foil packets.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-hickory-brown-sugar-rub-seasoning/
BBQ Popcorn Seasoning
This may be a popcorn seasoning, but the smoky BBQ flavor makes it fun for fries, snack mixes, roasted nuts, and party bowls during cookout season.
https://thisoldbaker.com/bbq-popcorn-seasoning/
Chicken & Poultry Seasonings
Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning
Classic savory chicken flavor that works for grilled chicken, roasted chicken, meal prep chicken, and chicken salad leftovers.
https://thisoldbaker.com/rotisserie-chicken-seasoning/
Copycat KFC Seasoning Mix
A nostalgic comfort-food seasoning blend that works for chicken, breaded cutlets, oven-fried meals, and summer chicken sandwiches.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kfc-seasoning-mix/
Copycat Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning
Bold heat for wings, chicken sandwiches, grilled chicken, and spicy summer cookout plates.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-nashville-hot-chicken-seasoning/
Turkey Seasoning Rub
Not just for holidays. This herb-forward rub can work on turkey burgers, grilled turkey tenderloin, chicken, vegetables, and sheet pan meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/turkey-seasoning-rub/
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Bright, citrusy, and perfect for grilled chicken, seafood, vegetables, wings, and summer pasta salads.
https://thisoldbaker.com/lemon-pepper-seasoning/
Garlic Herb Complete Seasoning Mix
A true all-purpose kitchen workhorse for chicken, vegetables, potatoes, seafood, pasta salad, and grilled bread.
https://thisoldbaker.com/garlic-herb-complete-seasoning-mix/
Copycat Kinder’s Seasonings
20+ Copycat Kinder Seasonings You Can Make at Home
A full roundup of homemade Kinder-inspired blends perfect for grilling season, backyard BBQs, burgers, chicken, vegetables, potatoes, smoker meals, and Blackstone cooking.
https://thisoldbaker.com/20-copycat-kinder-seasonings-you-can-make-at-home/
Copycat Kinder’s The Blend Mix
A simple garlic, salt, and pepper-style blend that belongs beside every grill.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-the-blend-mix/
Copycat Kinder’s All-Purpose Seasoning
A versatile everyday seasoning blend for meats, vegetables, burgers, and potatoes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-all-purpose-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s All-Purpose Meat & Veggie Rub
A grill-friendly seasoning blend built for meats, vegetables, foil packets, and easy summer dinners.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-all-purpose-meat-veggie-rub/
Copycat Kinder’s The Steak Blend
A bold steakhouse-inspired blend perfect for steaks, burgers, kabobs, and grilled onions.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-the-steak-blend/
Copycat Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Seasoning
Rich buttery steakhouse flavor for steaks, burgers, potatoes, mushrooms, and vegetables.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-buttery-steakhouse-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s Butcher’s Burger Blend
A bold savory burger seasoning built for backyard cookouts and smash burgers.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-butchers-burger-blend/
Copycat Kinder’s Buttery Burger Blend
A buttery burger seasoning perfect for sliders, smash burgers, and Blackstone meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-buttery-burger-blend/
Copycat Kinder’s Grilled Chicken Seasoning
A summer grilling staple for chicken breasts, thighs, wings, skewers, and meal prep.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-grilled-chicken-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s The Fajita Blend
Perfect for fajitas, tacos, grilled peppers and onions, steak, chicken, and shrimp.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-the-fajita-blend/
Copycat Kinder’s The Greek Blend
A Mediterranean-inspired blend perfect for skewers, vegetables, potatoes, seafood, and rice bowls.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-the-greek-blend/
Copycat Kinder’s Brown Butter Garlic Seasoning
Rich buttery garlic flavor for steak, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, grilled bread, and seafood.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-brown-butter-garlic-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s Buttery Garlic & Herb
A buttery herb blend perfect for grilled chicken, vegetables, potatoes, and seafood.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-buttery-garlic-herb/
Copycat Kinder’s Caramelized Onion Butter
A buttery onion-forward blend perfect for burgers, steak, potatoes, mushrooms, and vegetables.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-caramelized-onion-butter/
Copycat Kinder’s Cowboy Butter
Bold buttery flavor with herbs and spice for steak, shrimp, chicken, vegetables, and potatoes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-cowboy-butter/
Copycat Kinder’s Woodfired Garlic
A smoky garlic blend perfect for grilled meats, vegetables, potatoes, and campfire-style meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-woodfired-garlic/
Copycat Kinder’s Honey Mustard Seasoning
Sweet tangy flavor for chicken, pork, potatoes, vegetables, and dipping sauces.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-honey-mustard-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s Honey Chipotle
Sweet heat flavor perfect for chicken, pork, ribs, shrimp, and grilled vegetables.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-honey-chipotle/
Copycat Kinder’s Red Jalapeno Garlic
A spicy garlic-forward blend for burgers, tacos, chicken, potatoes, and grilled vegetables.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-red-jalapeno-garlic/
Copycat Kinder’s Steakhouse Potato Seasoning
Loaded savory flavor for potatoes, wedges, roasted vegetables, and foil packets.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-steakhouse-potato-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s Hickory Brown Sugar Rub & Seasoning
A sweet smoky BBQ blend made for ribs, pulled pork, grilled chicken, and smoker meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-hickory-brown-sugar-rub-seasoning/
Copycat Kinder’s Korean BBQ
A sweet savory BBQ-inspired blend perfect for beef, chicken, pork, skewers, and rice bowls.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-kinders-korean-bbq/
Tex-Mex & Taco Night Blends
Taco Seasoning Mix
A must-have for taco bowls, taco salads, walking tacos, grilled chicken tacos, beef tacos, and quick summer dinners.
https://thisoldbaker.com/taco-seasoning-mix/
Cheesy Taco Seasoning Mix
This adds cheesy taco flavor to beef, chicken, rice bowls, pasta bakes, and kid-friendly taco night meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/cheesy-taco-seasoning-mix/
Fajita Seasoning
Made for sizzling peppers, onions, chicken, steak, shrimp, and summer sheet pan meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/fajita-seasoning/
Chili Powder Seasoning
A homemade chili powder blend is useful far beyond chili. Add it to burgers, rubs, taco meat, beans, grilled corn, and BBQ sauces.
https://thisoldbaker.com/chili-powder-seasoning/
Enchilada Sauce Mix
A dry enchilada sauce mix is perfect for quick Tex-Mex dinners, chicken enchiladas, rice bowls, and leftover grilled meat.
https://thisoldbaker.com/enchilada-sauce-mix/
Elote Seasoning Mix
Grilled corn season needs elote seasoning. Use it on corn, potatoes, popcorn, fries, vegetables, and creamy dips.
https://thisoldbaker.com/elote-seasoning-mix/
Copycat Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle Seasoning Mix
A salt-free Southwest-style blend for chicken, vegetables, potatoes, rice bowls, and grilled meats.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-mrs-dash-southwest-chipotle-seasoning-mix/
Seafood & Coastal BBQ Seasonings
Copycat Red Lobster Signature Seafood Seasoning
Perfect for shrimp, seafood boils, potatoes, corn, grilled fish, and coastal-style cookout meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-red-lobster-signature-seafood-seasoning/
Fish Fry Seasoning
A fish fry seasoning works for fried fish, grilled fish, shrimp, fries, hush puppies, and summer seafood baskets.
https://thisoldbaker.com/fish-fry-seasoning/
Copycat Slap Ya Mama Seasoning
Bold Cajun-style flavor for seafood, chicken, potatoes, corn, rice dishes, and shrimp boils.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-slap-ya-mama-seasoning/
Copycat Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
A Creole-inspired blend for shrimp, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, gumbo-style meals, and seafood boils.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-tony-chacheres-creole-seasoning/
Potato, Vegetable & Side Dish Seasonings
French Fry Seasoning Mix
One of the best cookout seasonings for fries, potato wedges, roasted potatoes, burgers, grilled corn, and snack trays.
https://thisoldbaker.com/french-fry-seasoning-mix/
Vegetable Seasoning Mix
A homemade vegetable seasoning mix makes grilled zucchini, squash, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and foil packet vegetables easier and more flavorful.
https://thisoldbaker.com/vegetable-seasoning-mix/
Homemade Yellow Rice Seasoning Mix
Turns plain rice into a flavorful BBQ side dish for grilled chicken, shrimp skewers, pork, steak, and rice bowls.
https://thisoldbaker.com/homemade-yellow-rice-seasoning-mix/
Copycat Knorr Mi Arroz Red Rice Seasoning Mix
A flavorful rice seasoning mix that works well with grilled chicken, taco bowls, burrito bowls, beans, and summer side dishes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-knorr-mi-arroz-red-rice-seasoning-mix/
Copycat Knorr’s Vegetable Recipe Mix
A classic pantry mix for dips, pasta salads, vegetable sides, rice dishes, casseroles, and cookout spreads.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-knorrs-vegetable-recipe-mix/
Dry Onion Soup Mix
A cookout staple for burgers, dips, potatoes, meatloaf, roasts, and slow cooker BBQ-style meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/dry-onion-soup-mix/
Garlic Bread Seasoning Mix
Perfect for grilled bread, garlic toast, pasta salad, potatoes, vegetables, and summer Italian-style sides.
https://thisoldbaker.com/garlic-bread-seasoning-mix/
Pizza Seasoning Mix
A fun blend for grilled pizza, pizza burgers, pasta salad, garlic bread, vegetables, and tomato-based summer dishes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/pizza-seasoning-mix/
Pasta Salad Seasoning Mix
Cookout pasta salad deserves its own pantry blend. This one helps make quick, flavorful cold salads for summer gatherings.
https://thisoldbaker.com/pasta-salad-seasoning-mix/
Sandwich Seasoning
Use this for subs, burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, wraps, sliders, and picnic-style summer meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/sandwich-seasoning/
Copycat Morton’s Nature’s Seasoning
A versatile everyday seasoning for vegetables, chicken, potatoes, eggs, burgers, and side dishes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-mortons-natures-seasoning/
Copycat Dan-O’s Seasoning
A useful all-purpose blend for grilled chicken, vegetables, potatoes, eggs, and quick summer meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-danos-seasoning/
Cookout Party, Snack & Dip Seasonings
Buttermilk Ranch Mix
A homemade ranch mix belongs at every cookout. Use it for dips, pasta salads, potato salad, chicken marinades, and veggie trays.
https://thisoldbaker.com/buttermilk-ranch-mix/
Ranch Dressing Mix
Another ranch-style staple for dressings, dips, pasta salads, potatoes, and grilled chicken.
https://thisoldbaker.com/ranch-dressing-mix/
Everything Bagel Seasoning
Great for burger buns, grilled bread, dips, cream cheese spreads, potatoes, and snack boards.
https://thisoldbaker.com/everything-bagel-seasoning/
Copycat Einstein Bros. Everything Bagel Seasoning
A copycat everything bagel blend for dips, sandwiches, grilled breads, and summer snack trays.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-einstein-bros-everything-bagel-seasoning/
Hot Honey Seasoning Mix
Sweet heat for chicken, wings, grilled shrimp, roasted nuts, fries, and summer snack mixes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/hot-honey-seasoning-mix/
Nacho Cheese Popcorn Seasoning
Great for popcorn, fries, snack mixes, chips, potatoes, and kid-friendly cookout sides.
https://thisoldbaker.com/nacho-cheese-popcorn-seasoning/
Dill Pickle Popcorn Seasoning
A tangy seasoning for popcorn, fries, potato chips, snack mixes, and pickle lovers at the cookout table.
https://thisoldbaker.com/dill-pickle-popcorn-seasoning/
Cajun Kick Popcorn Seasoning Mix
A spicy snack seasoning that can also work on fries, potatoes, roasted nuts, and party mixes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/cajun-kick-popcorn-seasoning-mix/
Pantry Sauce Mixes & Meal Starter Blends
Dry BBQ Sauce Mix with 4 Flavors
A dry BBQ sauce mix is perfect for pantry storage, quick sauces, grilled meats, pulled pork, chicken, and summer meal prep.
https://thisoldbaker.com/dry-bbq-sauce-mix-with-4-flavors/
Copycat Swiss Chalet Dipping Sauce Dry Mix
A savory dipping sauce mix for chicken, potatoes, sandwiches, fries, and roast-style summer dinners.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-swiss-chalet-dipping-sauce-dry-mix/
Au Jus Mix
Perfect for French dip sandwiches, roast beef, steak sandwiches, beef sliders, and rich savory gravies.
https://thisoldbaker.com/homemade-au-jus-mix/
Beef Bouillon Seasoning
A homemade beef bouillon-style blend is useful for gravies, sauces, rice, soups, stews, roasts, and beefy summer skillet meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/beef-bouillon-seasoning/
Beef Stew Seasoning
Not just for winter. Use it for beef tips, pot roast, camp-style meals, foil packet dinners, and hearty grill-night sides.
https://thisoldbaker.com/beef-stew-seasoning/
Copycat McCormick’s Pot Roast Seasoning
A savory packet replacement for roasts, slow cooker beef, shredded beef sandwiches, and meal prep.
https://thisoldbaker.com/copycat-mccormicks-pot-roast-seasoning/
Meatloaf Seasoning Mix
Great for meatloaf, burgers, meatballs, stuffed peppers, and beefy summer casseroles.
https://thisoldbaker.com/meatloaf-seasoning-mix/
Sloppy Joe Seasoning
Perfect for summer sandwiches, ground beef meal prep, sliders, and easy backyard dinners.
https://thisoldbaker.com/sloppy-joe-seasoning/
Stroganoff Sauce Mix
A dry sauce mix for quick skillet dinners, beef leftovers, noodles, and comfort-food meal prep.
https://thisoldbaker.com/stroganoff-sauce-mix/
Dry Spaghetti Sauce Mix
Use this for grilled meatball subs, pasta bakes, pizza-style dishes, and quick tomato sauces.
https://thisoldbaker.com/dry-spaghetti-sauce-mix/
Spaghetti Seasoning
A simple Italian-style seasoning for pasta, grilled pizza, meatballs, sauces, and garlic bread.
https://thisoldbaker.com/spaghetti-seasoning/
Stuffing Seasoning Mix
A savory herb blend that can season chicken, pork chops, vegetables, casseroles, and old-fashioned side dishes.
https://thisoldbaker.com/stuffing-seasoning-mix/
Classic Italian Sausage Seasoning Mix
Use this for homemade sausage, burgers, meatballs, pasta sauce, grilled peppers, and Italian-style cookout meals.
https://thisoldbaker.com/classic-italian-sausage-seasoning-mix/
Breakfast Sausage Seasoning
A good breakfast sausage seasoning is perfect for brunch cookouts, breakfast skillets, freezer meals, and homemade sausage patties.
https://thisoldbaker.com/breakfast-sausage-seasoning/
Dry Breakfast Skillet Base
A pantry base for breakfast skillets, griddle meals, camping breakfasts, and weekend brunch spreads.
https://thisoldbaker.com/dry-breakfast-skillet-base/
Teriyaki Seasoning and Rub
A sweet-savory blend for grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, pork, rice bowls, skewers, and vegetables.
https://thisoldbaker.com/teriyaki-seasoning-and-rub/
Guacamole Dry Mix
A handy dry mix for quick guacamole, avocado spreads, tacos, burgers, wraps, and summer appetizer trays.
https://thisoldbaker.com/guacamole-dry-mix/
Why Homemade Seasonings Work So Well for BBQ Season
Homemade seasonings make backyard cooking easier because the flavor is ready before the grill is even lit. Instead of pulling out ten different spice jars every time you make burgers, chicken, ribs, potatoes, or pasta salad, you can reach for one prepared blend and keep cooking.
They also help stretch the grocery budget. One homemade jar can replace several packets or bottled blends, and you can adjust the salt, heat, sweetness, or smoky flavor to match your family’s taste.
For summer cooking, these blends are especially helpful for:
- Backyard BBQs
- Grilled burgers and steaks
- Chicken marinades and dry rubs
- Smoked ribs and pork
- Seafood boils and shrimp skewers
- Potato wedges and fries
- Grilled corn and vegetables
- Rice bowls and taco bowls
- Pasta salads and cold side dishes
- Camping meals and Blackstone cooking
- Mason jar gifts and pantry stocking
Once you build a homemade seasoning pantry, summer meals get faster, cheaper, and a whole lot more flavorful. And that, my friend, is how you make backyard BBQ season taste like you had a plan all along.
Download this entire guide at https://thisoldbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/definitive_bbq_seasoning_resource.pdf
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