Recipes

Caramelised BBQ Veg (And the Best Rubs for Every Style)

Caramelised BBQ Veg and the Best Rubs for Every Style
16
May
Caramelised BBQ Veg (And the Best Rubs for Every Style)

Caramelised BBQ Veg (And the Best Rubs for Every Style)

The side dish that steals the whole BBQ.

Vegetables on the BBQ are criminally underrated — especially when you hit them with the right rub. Sweetness caramelises. Paprika glows. Herbs lift everything. Smoke adds depth. And suddenly the veg is the dish everyone’s talking about.

Here’s how to choose the best Outback Smoke & Fire rub for the job, plus the recipe that turns veg into a main event.

🔥 The Best Rubs for BBQ Veg (By Flavour Style)

Fixes Most Things — The All‑Rounder
Balanced sweet‑smoky flavour, paprika for colour, garlic and onion for depth, herbs for brightness. Works on every veg you throw at it. The safest, most versatile choice.

Butter Me Up — The Rich, Indulgent One
Golden, buttery, garlic‑bread energy. Perfect for pumpkin, mushrooms, corn and onions. Turns veg into comfort food.

Herbalicious Rubdown — The Fresh, Herb‑Forward One
Bright, green, aromatic. Brilliant on broccolini, zucchini, asparagus and spring veg. Gives everything a clean, lifted finish.

Zesty Slap — The Sunny, Citrus‑Sparked One
Zingy, bright and summery. Amazing on capsicum, onions, corn and charred greens. Adds a citrus wink that makes veg pop.

Explore rubs built for every veg style →

🔥 The Recipe: Caramelised BBQ Veg With Fixes Most Things

Fixes Most Things is the all‑rounder that never misses, so it’s the base recipe here — but feel free to swap in the rub that matches your mood.

Ingredients

  • 1–2 trays of your favourite veg (pumpkin, capsicum, zucchini, corn, mushrooms, onions, broccolini)
  • 1–2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1–2 tbsp Fixes Most Things (or your chosen rub)
  • Lemon wedges (optional)

Method

  1. Slice evenly
    Even slices = even caramelisation.
  2. Pat dry
    Moisture stops browning.
  3. Toss with oil
    Helps the rub stick.
  4. Add your rub
    Veg can handle more seasoning than you think.
    You can swap Fixes Most Things for any Outback Smoke & Fire rub — Butter Me Up for richness, Herbalicious Rubdown for fresh herb lift or Zesty Slap for bright citrus spark.
  5. Rest 5–10 minutes
    The rub hydrates → guaranteed colour.
    For best results, see our guide to applying BBQ rubs properly.
  6. Grill hot and fast
    You want char, not mush.
  7. Finish with lemon
    Brightens smoky‑sweet edges.

Get the all‑rounder that makes veg slap →

🔥 Why This Works

Outback Smoke & Fire rubs give veg:

  • Sticky caramelisation
  • Smoky depth
  • Savoury backbone
  • Balanced sweetness
  • Colour and attitude

For a deeper look at how sugar behaves on the BBQ, see our guide to why sugar doesn’t burn.

It’s the easiest way to make veg taste like it belongs centre‑stage.

🔥 The Final Word

These veggies are glossy, smoky, caramelised and absolutely outrageous — and the rub you choose shapes the whole personality of the dish.

Find the rub that fits your flavour →