Season generously, let it sit 20 minutes, then smoke low for ribs or grill hot for chops and wings.

BBQ Seasoning - Queen Bee Honey Rub for Grilling

Lighting the Coals

Your Pit Playbook

What Queen Bee BBQ Seasoning Rub tastes like, the meats it's built for, and how to season with it, straight from 2X World Champion pitmaster David Bouska.

From the Pit · 01

Description

Queen Bee Honey BBQ Rub — Sweet Honey Flavor with Aromatic Herbs

Sweet honey meets savory herbs. Butcher BBQ Queen Bee brings honey sweetness and aromatic thyme-and-rosemary notes together from the very first bite. A subtle citrus accent from dry lemon peel adds another layer to this distinctive BBQ seasoning.

Looking for something beyond a traditional sweet rub? Queen Bee adds a honey-and-herb twist to chicken wings, pork ribs, turkey, and seafood—whether you're smoking for a crowd or grilling dinner at home.

From the Pit · 02

Why You’ll Love This Rub

Sweet and herbal together: Honey sweetness and aromatic herb notes share the spotlight.
Subtle citrus accent: Dry lemon peel rounds out the flavor.
Made for versatile cooking: Great on chicken, pork, turkey, salmon, and shrimp.
Easy to use: Apply before grilling, smoking, or roasting.
A different Honey Rub experience: Distinct from the classic honey-first flavor of Original Honey Rub.

From the Pit · 03

Best Meats & Foods

Chicken wings and thighs: Build a sweet-and-herbal flavor with a golden finish.

Pork ribs and chops: Honey sweetness and herb notes complement rich pork flavor.

Turkey: Bring honey-and-herb character to smoked or roasted holiday birds.

Salmon and shrimp: Try a light coating for a sweet, herbal, citrus-accented finish.

Find Your Flavor in the Honey Rub Lineup

Original Honey Rub puts honey sweetness first with a subtle savory finish. Garlic Honey Rub leads with garlic and follows with sweetness. Pecan Honey Rub starts sweet and finishes with a warm, nutty pecan note. Queen Bee is different: honey sweetness and aromatic herbal notes arrive together, complemented by a touch of citrus. Each flavor has its own place in your barbecue lineup.

From the Pit · 04

How to Use

Shake an even layer over meat or seafood before cooking. Let the seasoning adhere, then grill, smoke, or roast to your preferred doneness. Use Queen Bee on its own to highlight the honey-and-herb combination, or pair it with a favorite savory rub.

Pitmaster Tip: For a beautiful golden-to-mahogany finish, cook over indirect heat and let the honey sweetness and herbal notes develop together. Want deeper caramelized edges? Finish briefly over direct heat to build color and rich roasted flavor.

From the Pit · 05

Your Reasons to Buy

Honey sweetness with aromatic herbal notes
A subtle citrus accent from dry lemon peel
Versatile on chicken, pork, turkey, and seafood
Ready-to-use seasoning for grilling, smoking, or roasting
Available in a shaker bottle and 2 lb zip-top bag

From the Pit · 06

Ingredients & Nutritional Facts

Ingredients: Sugar, dry honey (cane sugar, honey), salt, spices including paprika, dehydrated garlic, dry lemon peel, natural flavor, paprika oleoresin added for color, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, less than 1% silicon dioxide added to prevent caking.

Queen Bee BBQ seasoning nutrition facts label

From the Pit · 07

Let Me Tell You More

Queen Bee brings together sweet honey flavor and herbal notes for a seasoning that stands apart from a standard honey rub. Explore more flavor ideas in our Honey Rub and Its Flavors guide.

Pitside Answers

Ask the Pitmaster

What cooks ask us most about Queen Bee BBQ Seasoning Rub, answered straight from the pit.

What does Queen Bee Honey Rub taste like?

Queen Bee brings sweet honey flavor and aromatic thyme-and-rosemary herb notes together in the first bite. Dry lemon peel contributes a subtle citrus accent, giving the blend a distinctive sweet, herbal character.

How is Queen Bee different from Original Honey Rub?

Original Honey Rub leads with honey sweetness and a subtle savory finish. Queen Bee combines honey sweetness with herb notes from the start, with a citrus accent that gives it a different flavor direction.

How does Queen Bee compare with the other Honey Rub flavors?

Original Honey Rub emphasizes honey sweetness, Garlic Honey Rub puts garlic first, and Pecan Honey Rub adds a nutty pecan finish after its sweet opening. Queen Bee stands apart by pairing honey sweetness with thyme-and-rosemary herbal notes and a touch of citrus. The remaining flavors have their own profiles, so choose the one that suits the result you want.

What meats work best with Queen Bee Rub?

Queen Bee is a great choice for chicken wings, thighs, whole chickens, pork ribs, pork chops, and turkey. Its honey-and-herb profile also works well with salmon and shrimp.

Is Queen Bee good on chicken wings?

Yes. Coat wings evenly and let the seasoning adhere before cooking. Cook over indirect heat or controlled oven heat until done, then finish briefly with higher heat if you want a deeper golden color.

Can I use Queen Bee on pork ribs?

Yes. Apply an even coat before smoking pork ribs. The honey sweetness and herbal character complement pork, while the subtle citrus note gives the finished ribs an added layer of flavor.

Does Queen Bee work on turkey?

Yes. Queen Bee brings honey sweetness and herbal notes to smoked or roasted turkey. Use it on a whole bird or turkey breast, applying an even layer before cooking.

Can Queen Bee season salmon or shrimp?

Yes. Try a lighter coating on salmon or shrimp. The honey, herbs, and citrus accent complement seafood without needing a heavy sauce.

Is Queen Bee a spicy BBQ rub?

Queen Bee is intended as a sweet-and-herbal seasoning rather than a hot rub. Its ingredient list includes spices, so individual sensitivity may vary, but heat is not the focus of this blend.

How do I get a golden finish with Queen Bee?

Season evenly and let the rub adhere before cooking. Indirect heat helps develop a golden-to-mahogany finish gradually. For deeper caramelized edges, finish briefly over direct heat while watching the surface.

What gives Queen Bee its herbal and citrus character?

The product's Flavor Notes describe thyme and rosemary herbal notes, and the ingredient list includes dry lemon peel. The label also lists honey, garlic, paprika, and other spices. Refer to the current package for complete ingredient details.

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Queen Bee BBQ Seasoning Rub

What You'll Taste Off the Pit

Earned on the Competition Circuit