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Raichlen’s Four-by-Four BBQ Rub

By Steven Raichlen
Homemade BBQ spice rub for meat.
File ID 97162719 | © Michelle Arnold | Dreamstime.com
Prep Time
5 minutes
Number of Servings
Makes 1 cup
Recipe Source
Ingredients
  • 14 cup salt (coarse, fine, kosher, sea, smoked, etc.)
  • 14 cup pepper (cracked, coarse, fine, black, white, green, rainbow, etc.)
  • 14 cup paprika (sweet, hot, or pimentón)
  • 14 cup sugar (dark brown, light brown, maple, granulated, or Sucanat)

Optional Flavorings

  • 1 Tbsp granulated garlic
  • 1 Tbsp granulated onion
  • 1 tsp celery seed
Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix, breaking up any lumps in the sugar with your fingers.
  2. Raichlen’s Rub will keep, in a sealed jar away from heat or light, for several weeks.
Notes
  • One cup of rub is enough for 16 to 20 pounds of meat.
  • A four-by-four rub requires only 4 basic ingredients in equal proportions:
    • salt
    • pepper
    • paprika
    • sugar

Looking for More?

Here are the basics of rubs and marinades. BBQ like a pro with this great info!

Contributor

Steven Raichlen

Author, journalist, lecturer, and TV host Steven Raichlen is the man who launched the barbecue revolution.

His 32 books include the international blockbusters The Barbecue Bible, How to Grill and the New York Times bestselling Planet Barbecue and Project Smoke (Workman Publishing).

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