8 Sizzling Spices for Upping Your Grilling Game

As winter fades and temperatures begin to rise, it’s time to bring out the grills. BBQ season is almost upon us—and with it, come fresh opportunities for exciting product innovations.

Eager to up their grilling game this spring and summer, consumers will be hunting for new spice rubs, marinades, sauces, and recipes. And Hela Spice’s food experts know just how to grab their attention!

We’re North America’s leading food product development company and creator of best-selling food products. In this article, we will offer eight sizzling spices that will take your BBQ products to the next level.

1. Smoked paprika

Smoked paprika is an easy choice for grilling and BBQ-inspired recipes. It’s made by drying peppers over smoking oak wood before grinding them into a fine powder. This process infuses the spice with a wonderful smoky quality that’s perfect for enhancing the flavour of meats, vegetables, and marinades.

The taste isn’t just smokey; this spice is also slightly sweet and earthy, with a subtle warming heat. Since smoked paprika isn’t very spicy, it won’t overwhelm the natural flavours of the dish.

For a rich, smoky flavour, add smoked paprika to any grilled dish. Alternatively, you can opt for regular (unsmoked) paprika spice for a mild, sweet flavour without the smoky kick.

2. Cumin

Cumin is a versatile spice, perfectly suited for grilled dishes. It possesses a warm, savoury, earthy, and slightly nutty taste. When cooked, it becomes increasingly aromatic. Whole cumin seeds are excellent in spice rubs, whereas ground cumin works well in marinades. 

You can use cumin to add depth and complexity to meat or vegetable recipes. Many find that the brash, earthy flavours of cumin pair beautifully with beef and enhance the natural sweetness of grilled root vegetables.

3. Garlic powder

The umami-rich flavour of garlic goes hand in hand with BBQ. It adds a delicious intensity to grilled dishes, regardless of whether they’re meat, vegetable, or even seafood-based. Think steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, mushrooms, asparagus, potatoes, and onions.

Since garlic powder disperses well in marinades, sauces, and rubs, its powerful flavour is spread evenly throughout the dish. It also pairs well with other spices and herbs, such as paprika, cumin, black pepper, and oregano. 

If you’re looking for a stronger garlic flavour, granulated garlic is a good option for rubs and marinades. Granulated garlic has coarse granules that are closer to sand than the flowery consistency of finely ground garlic. 

Alternatively, garlic salt adds garlicky goodness alongside the flavour-enhancing properties of salt. This is a seasoning spice, best used sparingly as to avoid over-salting a dish.

4. Onion powder

Onion powder is another grilling staple. It’s a convenient way to add a savoury sweetness to grilled meat and vegetables. Like garlic powder, onion powder dissolves in marinades, sauces, and rubs, ensuring even coverage. As a result, every bite is infused with the same level of delicious onion flavour.

The flavour of onion powder is much milder than fresh onions, making it an easy ingredient to work with during food product development. It tastes slightly sweet and mellow with a tantalizing subtle kick. It also pairs well with garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.

5. Chile powder

There are many different types of chile powder—all of which are excellent choices for elevating the flavour and overall deliciousness of grilled dishes. Whether it’s cayenne, chipotle, ancho, or general chile powder, you can’t go wrong!

Different chile powders have different spice levels, which is crucial to consider while developing a BBQ-themed food product or custom spice blend. You need to select the right level of heat for your customers while also weighing the other flavour components of that ingredient.

Cayenne chile powder offers some heat, but not so hot that it’s overwhelming. This makes it a great choice for adding spice without scaring away heat-adverse consumers. Cayenne is also earthy and a little fruity.

Chipotle frequently appears in BBQ sauces and grilled dishes. Smokey and pungent, it adds a delectable depth (and colour) to dishes with just the right level of heat. As a medium-heat chile powder, it brings a manageable heat without going overboard.

There are also international chile powders that can appeal to adventurous consumers. Gochugaru, kashmiri, and peri peri are some examples.

6. Szechuan peppercorns

In spite of their name, Szechuan peppercorns are not true peppercorns. They’re actually dried seed husks of a prickly ash shrub in the citrus family. The pinkish-red husks are used for the spice, while the inner black seed is thrown away.

Szechuan (or Sichuan) peppercorns have a citrus-like aroma that differs from the intense heat of traditional peppercorns. They also create a slight numbing sensation on the tongue.

This spice is excellent for grilling meat (particularly steak) and vegetables. Its citrusy and floral notes perfectly complement the charred flavours. 

7. Mustard powder

Mustard powder has a strong, sharp flavour and an intense, pungent aroma. Made from ground mustard seeds, it’s easy to incorporate into marinades, rubs, and sauces for grilled dishes.

Its distinctive tangy taste produces a rich, well-rounded flavour profile that consumers love. Consequently, mustard powder appears in many BBQ recipes and spice blends.

When used in a dry rub, mustard powder creates a flavourful crust on the surface of grilled meats and vegetables. It also helps the meat to caramelize. 

8. Sumac

Sumac is a fantastic choice for innovative food product developers looking to add something special to their BBQ-themed offerings.

This spice comes from the berries of the sumac shrub. Sumac has a citrusy aroma and tangy taste. It brings a brightness and acidity that complements smoky flavours, infusing meats and vegetables with an irresistible quality. You can add it to marinades or spice rubs, or use it as a finishing spice for a burst of colour and flavour.

Hela Spice: North America’s Leading Food Product Development Company

Hela Spice is a food product development company in Canada and the United States. We specialize in custom spice blending and product development, resulting in best-selling creations that consumers love.

Starting with high-quality ingredients, we use our expert knowledge and state-of-the-art food processing facilities to create delicious and nourishing products.

To learn more about food product development from Hela Spice, visit our website or contact us here.