Chef Marks’ Recommendations
The table below displays what seasonings/rubs the prolific award winning chef, Chris Marks, suggests for different foods.
Traditional BBQ Sauces & Rubs
Kansas City All-Purpose BBQ Rub
Three Little Pigs® Kansas City All-Purpose BBQ Seasoning is a versatile, go-to blend crafted to deliver classic barbecue flavor with a fresh, balanced twist. Designed by championship pitmaster Chris Marks, this rub enhances natural flavors without overpowering them — making it perfect for everyday cooking and competition-quality results alike.Use it on poultry, pork, beef, seafood, and wild game for bold, savory flavor. It also shines on vegetables, French fries, baked potatoes, popcorn, and more, turning ordinary dishes into crowd-pleasing favorites.
Whether you’re grilling, smoking, roasting, or pan-searing, this all-purpose seasoning brings authentic Kansas City BBQ taste to any meal.
Perfect For:
- Chicken, turkey, pork, and ribs
- Brisket, steaks, burgers, and beef roasts
- Fish, shrimp, and seafood
- Vegetables, potatoes, fries, and sides
- Everyday grilling or low-and-slow barbecue
Kansas City Championship BBQ Rub
Bring authentic competition flavor to your backyard with Three Little Pigs® Kansas City Championship BBQ Seasoning — a perfectly balanced blend of sweet heat, savory spices, and rich barbecue character developed on the championship circuit.This award-winning style rub delivers a bold flavor boost whether you’re grilling, smoking, roasting, or cooking indoors. Designed for versatility, it enhances everything from brisket, ribs, pork, and chicken to vegetables, soups, chili, baked potatoes, and more.
Why Pitmasters Love It
- Signature Kansas City sweet-and-spicy profile
- Ideal for grilling, smoking, roasting, or everyday cooking
- Perfect on beef, pork, poultry, seafood, and vegetables
- Adds depth to soups, chili, beans, and side dishes.
- Competition-inspired flavor trusted by champions.
From backyard cooks to serious pitmasters, this is the go-to seasoning when you want reliable, crowd-pleasing barbecue flavor on virtually anything.
One shake. Championship results.
Kansas City Sweet BBQ Rub
Three Little Pigs™ Kansas City Sweet BBQ Seasoning delivers classic Kansas City–style flavor with a balanced, savory sweetness that enhances—never masks—the natural taste of your meat. Designed for versatility, this mild blend is perfect for ribs, pork, chicken, and other backyard favorites.Crafted by championship pitmasters, this rub creates a rich, caramelized bark while allowing the true character of the protein to shine through. Its smooth profile makes it an ideal foundation rub for cooks who want to customize their flavor—easily boosting sweetness with brown sugar or honey, heat with peppers, or salt to suit personal taste.
Whether you’re cooking for competition, family, or a weekend gathering, this rub delivers dependable, crowd-pleasing results every time.
Perfect for:
- Pork ribs and pulled pork
- Chicken (whole, halves, or wings)
- Pork chops and tenderloin
- Grilled or smoked poultry
- Everyday backyard BBQ
Flavor Profile: Mild • Sweet • Savory • Classic Kansas City Style
Kansas City Touch of Cherry BBQ Rub
Three Little Pigs® Touch of Cherry BBQ SeasoningOne of the most distinctive seasonings in the Three Little Pigs® lineup, Touch of Cherry delivers a perfectly balanced sweet-savory profile with a subtle natural cherry finish that sets it apart from traditional BBQ rubs.
Crafted with sugar, brown sugar, salt, garlic, onion, premium spices, and natural cherry smoke flavor, this award-winning blend creates a beautiful caramelized crust while enhancing the natural flavor of your food — not overpowering it.
Touch of Cherry is exceptionally versatile and shines on:
- Pork (ribs, chops, tenderloin, pulled pork)
- Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck)
- Ham
- Fish and seafood (especially salmon and shrimp)
- Vegetables and mushrooms
- Wild game
For a unique twist, sprinkle on sliced apples before baking — try adding a touch of cinnamon for an unforgettable sweet-savory dessert.
Whether you’re cooking in the backyard, competing, or preparing a gourmet meal, Touch of Cherry delivers a signature Kansas City flavor experience unlike anything else on the market.
Sweet. Savory. Unexpected. Unforgettable.
Kansas City Hot Championship BBQ Seasoning
Three Little Pigs® Hot Championship BBQ RubTurn up the heat with the fiery version of our legendary Championship blend. Three Little Pigs® Kansas City Hot Championship BBQ Seasoning builds on the award-winning sweet profile that made our original famous — then adds a powerful boost of chili peppers for a bold, mouthwatering kick.
This balanced sweet-heat formula delivers deep barbecue flavor with a clean burn that enhances your food rather than overpowering it. Designed for grilling, smoking, and everyday cooking, it produces a beautiful, caramelized crust while bringing authentic Kansas City competition flavor to your table.
Outstanding on:
- Pork (ribs, shoulder, chops)
- Chicken and turkey
- Beef (brisket, steaks, burgers)
- Seafood
- Wild game
It’s also a versatile pantry powerhouse — perfect for chili, soups, vegetables, baked potatoes, eggs, and any dish that needs a bold BBQ punch.
Whether you’re competing, tailgating for the Chiefs, or cooking in the backyard, this rub delivers championship flavor with serious heat.
Sweet Heat. Bold Flavor. Championship Results.
Texas Beef BBQ Rub
Texas Beef BBQ RubThree Little Pigs® Texas-Style Beef Seasoning
Built for serious beef flavor, Three Little Pigs® Texas-Style Beef Seasoning delivers a bold, pepper-forward profile inspired by traditional Lone Star pitmasters.
Specifically formulated for beef — especially brisket — this robust blend shines on high-heat grills and smokers thanks to its low sugar content, allowing you to achieve a perfect bark without burning.
A powerful mix of freshly ground black, white, and red pepper forms the backbone of this seasoning, supported by coarse kosher salt, garlic, and select spices that enhance the natural richness of beef rather than masking it.
Perfect for:
- Brisket
- Thick-cut steaks
- Prime rib
- Tri-tip
- Beef ribs
- Burgers
It’s equally outstanding on pork chops and makes an excellent table seasoning for anyone who loves a bold, peppery kick.
Whether you’re cooking low-and-slow or searing over blazing heat, this Texas-style blend delivers authentic steakhouse flavor and competition-worthy results every time.
Bold. Peppery. Built for Beef.
Pecan BBQ Seasoning
Three Little Pigs® Pecan BBQ RubRich, nutty, and slightly sweet, Three Little Pigs® Pecan BBQ Seasoning delivers a distinctive flavor experience that stands apart from traditional barbecue rubs. This unique blend combines sweet pecan notes with sugar, sea salt, garlic, onion, premium spices, and a savory Worcestershire-style flavor to create a beautifully balanced sweet-savory profile.
Designed to produce a delicious, caramelized finish, this seasoning enhances the natural flavors of your food while adding depth and complexity that only pecan can provide.
Excellent on:
- Pork (ribs, chops, tenderloin, pulled pork)
- Poultry (chicken, turkey)
- Ham
- Fish and seafood (especially shrimp and salmon)
- Vegetables and mushrooms
- Wild game
Whether you’re smoking low and slow or grilling hot and fast, Pecan BBQ Seasoning delivers a warm, Southern-style flavor that’s both comforting and memorable.
Sweet. Nutty. Savory. Uniquely Delicious.
Spicy Honey & Maple BBQ Seasoning
Three Little Pigs® Sweet Heat Honey & Maple BBQ RubSweet meets heat in this bold, flavor-packed seasoning that delivers a truly unforgettable barbecue experience. Three Little Pigs® Sweet Heat Honey & Maple BBQ Rub combines rich honey sweetness, a touch of natural maple flavor, and the lively kick of jalapeño peppers to create a perfectly balanced sweet-spicy profile.
Designed for grilling, smoking, or roasting, this versatile blend forms a beautiful, caramelized crust that locks in moisture while layering your food with deep, complex flavor. The result is juicy, tender meat with a sweet heat finish that keeps you coming back for more.
Outstanding on:
- Pork (ribs, chops, tenderloin, pulled pork)
- Chicken and turkey
- Salmon and seafood
- Ham
- Vegetables and roasted dishes
Whether you’re a competition pitmaster, weekend griller, or home cook looking to impress guests, this rub delivers bold flavor with a gourmet twist.
Sweet. Smoky. Spicy. Irresistible.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Three Little Pigs® Lemon Pepper SeasoningBright, fresh, and incredibly versatile, Three Little Pigs® Lemon Pepper Seasoning delivers a vibrant burst of citrus flavor balanced with savory garlic and bold cracked pepper. This carefully crafted blend brings a clean, zesty finish that enhances food without overpowering it.
One of the most requested seasonings from more than 25 years of Three Little Pigs® BBQ classes, this crowd favorite has become a kitchen staple for cooks who want simple ingredients and big flavor.
Perfect on:
- Chicken (grilled, baked, or smoked)
- Fish and seafood
- Vegetables
- Turkey and pork
- Potatoes and pasta dishes
It’s also surprisingly outstanding as a finishing seasoning on barbecue, adding a bright lift that balances rich, smoky flavors.
Whether you’re cooking for family dinners or backyard gatherings, this versatile blend delivers fresh flavor in every bite.
Bright. Savory. Classic. Family-Approved.
Cajun BBQ Rub
Three Little Pigs Cajun BBQ Rub – Bold Cajun Seasoning for Seafood, Chicken & Grilling (New for 2026)Bring authentic Southern flavor to your grill with Three Little Pigs Cajun BBQ Rub. This bold Cajun seasoning blend combines savory spices, garlic, and peppers to deliver the perfect balance of flavor and heat.
Designed for versatility, this Cajun rub is perfect for shrimp, fish, chicken wings, pork chops, and vegetables. Whether you’re grilling, smoking, roasting, or blackening, it creates a flavorful crust and adds authentic Cajun-style taste to every bite.
Developed by Chris Marks and the championship winning Three Little Pigs BBQ team, this seasoning continues a tradition of award-winning barbecue flavors trusted by backyard cooks and competition pitmasters across North America.
Add bold Cajun flavor to your next cook and bring restaurant-quality seasoning to your backyard.
Product Highlights
• Authentic Cajun BBQ Flavor – Classic blend of garlic, peppers, and savory spices
• Perfect for Seafood – Ideal for shrimp, fish, crab, and seafood boils
• Great on Chicken & Pork – Excellent for wings, grilled chicken, and pork chops
• Versatile Cajun Seasoning – Use for grilling, smoking, roasting, or blackening
• Competition BBQ Quality – From the award-winning Three Little Pigs BBQ team • New for 2026 – A bold new flavor from a trusted BBQ brand
Great On
Shrimp • Fish • Chicken Wings • Pork • Burgers • Vegetables • Seafood Boils • Cajun Grilling
Three Little Pig’s Competition BBQ Sauces
There is no denying that this is one of the most successful barbecue sauces on the competition circuit. With 8 American Royal Championships, these sauces have been bringing home the trophies for Chris Marks and the Three Little Pigs competition team for two decades. Despite all the renown, these are a classic tomato based sauce starting with ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, seasonings, and smoke. It is the balance of flavors that is the genius of this sauce. Thick enough to stay put, thin enough to pour, even when cold.
All in all the flavor of these sauces are conservative. But the balance of sweet (sugars), sour (vinegar and Worcestershire sauce), heat, spicy (cayenne mash) and smoke make them simply perfect.
Aroma
A sweet and sugary aroma fills the nose on first whiff of this sauce, keeping with barbecue competition standards. There’s a bright tomato ketchup base along with an upfront, but not too strong, molasses component. Vinegar adds a contrasting tang, but it’s light compared to the sweetness that dominates overall. After taking in a few more whiffs of the sauce, a garlicky undertone starts to make itself known, as well as a depth that clearly comes from Worcestershire.
Thickness & Texture
This smooth and shiny sauce has a dark mahogany hue. Its syrupy texture is broken up with some small bits that look like they include garlic, onion, and black pepper. The sauce runs medium-thin, flowing quickly in a steady stream off a suspended spoon, leaving a thin, transparent coating left clinging to the silverware.
Out of the Jar
Delivering on a promise made by the aroma, this sauce starts out like a spoonful of sugar. It has the tongue coating consistency of corn syrup, but the flavor doesn’t follow suit. There’s a molasses depth behind the sugar, and a bright and fruity tomato ketchup base. These three upfront flavors begin to mingle with a tart vinegar after a few seconds on the tongue. Things get more complex as Worcestershire makes an appearance, quickly followed by garlic and onion, adding extra bite and texture. Finally, a nice heat rounds thing out right at the end, but the sugar never really backs down, making the final aftertaste one that’s primarily sweet and sugary, with a little tanginess still remaining.