Prime Rib {Perfect EVERY Time!}

Prime Rib is NO FAIL with our simple recipe. I look forward to this meal every year, it’s my favorite!

Prime Rib is my mother’s specialty and I love it. This recipe will get you the PERFECT result every single time.

My Prime Rib Roast recipe is super easy! And while it sits in the oven you can make up some great side dishes, like mashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts. And don’t forget, holiday or not, a great roast deserves a great dessert, like caramel cheesecake.

Prime Rib

Prime Rib Recipe Ingredients

• Rib Roast – Mine was 6.5 pound standing rib roast, bone-in.  You can use this cooking method for bone-in or de-boned, but we prefer a bone-in roast.
• Butter – I love a really salty roast so we use salted butter, but if you prefer less intensely salty meat you can use unsalted because we add salt in other places as well.
• Garlic – I prefer to use fresh garlic for this recipe, but in a pinch jarred, dried, or even powdered will work.  Just make sure to check the conversion.
• Onion powder – Unlike the garlic, I find dried onion powder work best.
• Beef bouillon – You can use a crushed bouillon cube or bouillon paste for this.
• Kosher salt – A good course salt works best in this recipe.
• Paprika – Sweet or smoked paprika would be delicious in this recipe depending on what type of flavor you’re going for – we used sweet in the pictured recipe.
• Ground black pepper – Freshly ground is preferred, but regular ground pepper will work fine in a pinch.
• Fresh chopped parsley – I like to garnish our finished prime rib with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color.

How do you make Prime Rib?

⭐ First, place your roast rib side down (fat side up) on a foil lined roasting pan. Remove any strings.

⭐ Next, mix together the butter and spices. Rub the spiced butter in a thick layer all over the roast.

⭐ Then, for a roast that is rare in the center and slightly pink toward the outside, roast your prime rib uncovered according to weight.

⭐ Finally, then turn the oven off and leave the roast for two hours. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN.

What is a Prime Rib Roast?

A Prime Rib Roast is sometimes called a Standing Rib Roast or a Beef Bone-in Roast; it is from the back upper rib portion of the steer and may contain anywhere from 2 to 9 ribs. Here are some answers to your most frequently asked questions!

Is Prime Rib and Ribeye the same?

Prime Rib and Ribeye are not the same. Although both cuts come from the same part of the animal, the steak must be sliced before cooking to be considered a ribeye.

At the grocery store a prime rib roast will often be called a Standing Rib Roast or a Beef Bone-in Roast. If you have difficulty locating the roast, just ask the butcher to point it out.

How much does a 3 Rib Prime Rib weigh?

A 3 rib prime rib will usually weigh 6-7 pounds. You can buy a standing rib roast, or prime rib, in different bone quantities, depending on how many people you are serving.

What is the Best Cut?

The best cut of a prime rib (also referred to as a standing rib roast) is the chuck end if you prefer more fatty meat or the loin end if you prefer a leaner steak.  A standing rib roast is typically comprised of  seven ribs and comes from the back of the upper rib section of the animal.

For this recipe I typically use a three rib roast, which can be cut either from the chuck end or the loin end of the rib section.

Ribs 6 through 9, which come from closer to the cow’s shoulder (the chuck) are referred variously as the “chuck end,” “blade end,” or “second cut.” This part of the roast has separate musculature, and more large hunks of fat. Some folks prefer this end for that reason.

If you prefer leaner, more tender beef, then go for ribs 10 through 12, taken from further back and known as the “loin end,” “small end,” or “first cut.” This cut has a larger central eye of meat, and less fat.

How much should I buy?

You should purchase about a pound of meat per person when choosing the size of your roast. If you are purchasing a bone-in rib roast, you may want to go slightly above 1 pound per person.

Preparing Prime Rib

This dish is surprisingly easy to make, and makes your dinner a special occasion, here are our tips for how to cook yours perfectly. 

Cooking Time (How Long Do You Cook a Prime Rib Roast Per Pound)

This method for calculating prime rib cooking time is my absolute favorite.  It has never failed me and it is so incredibly simple.

For a roast that is rare in the center and slightly pink toward the outside, roast your meat uncovered at 500 degrees for 5 minutes per pound of meat, plus 5 more minutes. Add time as desired for a more well cooked roast.

This method will give you beautifully rare sliced in the middle and more medium toward the ends.  It also creates the most amazing decadent crust on the outside of your roast.

How Long Can I Keep a Prime Rib in Fridge Before Cooking It

It can typically be kept in the refrigerator for 3 – 5 days before cooking. This is true for raw roasts, steaks, and chops (beef, veal, lamb, and pork).

Should You Cover Prime Rib When Cooking

You should not cover the meat when cooking.  If you cover the meat it will create steam and prevent the crust from forming on the outside of the meat.

What Temperature Should a Prime Rib Be Cooked To

The final prime rib temperature for rare meat is 120-125°F, medium rare is 130-135°F, and well done is 140-145°F.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Prime Rib raw?

Prime Rib is not served raw. Because it is best served rare to medium rare, some people think it’s raw as the meat stays a pink color when cooked properly.

Can I give Prime Rib bones to my dog?

You should not give the Prime Rib bones to your dog (sorry, pooch!) as rib bones are more likely to split, which can lead to choking or worse.

Why do you serve horseradish with Prime Rib?

You serve horseradish with Prime Rib because it is thought that the horseradish tempers the rich fattiness of the meat, and, according to culinary tradition, may stimulate gastric juices for better digestion.

How much does Prime Rib cost?

The cost of prime rib varies throughout the season, but you will get your best deals after major holidays like Christmas and New Years.

Check with your butcher the day after any big holiday for *amazing* savings. I got my roast for half-off! Freeze it and you are good to go. The uncooked meat will stay good in an upright freezer for up to 6 months and in a deep freezer for up to a year.

Prime Rib Tricks and Tips

Prime Rib looks and tastes so amazing! It looks like you’ve spent hours and tons of money to make it happen, but check out these tips!

What can I substitute for the spices?

Instead of the individual spices for prime rib, if you’re in a pinch just grab a packet of onion soup mix!  Use it with the butter in place of the spices – it’s delicious!

Do I Need a Roasting Rack for My Prime Rib

You do not need a roasting rack for your prime rib.  If you use a bone-in roast, the bones will act as a natural rack.  If you use a de-boned roast, you can use a roasting rack, but it isn’t strictly necessary.  Cooking the roast in the juices at the bottom of the pan will add flavor.

What Do I Do With The Cooking Juices from Prime Rib

With this recipe, most of the drippings will be butter, so if you’re looking for an au jus, you’ll want to use our au jus recipe that is made without drippings.  That said, do NOT discard the drippings!

What is left in the bottom of the pan might look terrible at first glance, but it’s actually an amazingly flavorful beef butter just waiting for a little love. Strain it twice – once with a regular wire strainer, and once with a fine mesh strainer and then use it as a dipping sauce for the beef, or over potatoes, or other vegetables!

Why Does My Prime Rib Look Burned

If you use this cooking method, your prime rib will look like it came out of a blast furnace when you first take it out of the oven.  THIS IS OKAY!!!

If it’s too blacked for your liking, use a spoon or fork to gently scrape off the most burned bits.  Just make sure not to remove the full layer of crust as it is what makes this recipe next level.

Why is Prime Rib So Good

Prime rib is so good because it is an incredibly well marbled and tender cut of meat.  The muscles this cut aren’t used much by the animal and this yields an super tender steak. The high ratio of fat to meat also keeps the steak very juicy.

Is Prime Rib Easy to Make

Prime rib is incredibly easy to make.  The prep time for this meal is ten minutes or less and once it’s in the oven, you barely have to think about it.

Especially with our cooking method, there is no constant monitoring or watching the meat. Go ahead and have a glass of wine, you’ve got this!

How Do You carve a Prime Rib?

🟢 First, let it rest for 10 – 15 minutes so that the juices settle. Assuming you’re right handed, hold the roast so the bones are poking up on the left side. Hold onto those bones and slide your carving knife down along the inside rack of the bones.

🟢 Then, lay the roast flat and pull the bones up and left (like a hinge), then cut below the bones to remove them. This will leave you with a nice piece of bone free meat!

🟢 Next, cut some thin, even slices for your guests, leaving the fat on, as some folks like that creamy, fatty goodness.

🟢 Finally, don’t cut what you don’t need! Leaving the rest of the roast intact will keep it moist.

Storage Tips

How long can I keep a Prime Rib in the refrigerator?

A Prime Rib can be kept in the refrigerator before cooking for 3 to 5 days. After cooking, the meat will be good for 3 to 4 days stored in containers in the fridge.

Can I Freeze a Prime Rib?

You can freeze a Prime Rib uncooked for 6-12 months and still keep good quality. If you’re picking yours up at a butcher, ask them to cryovac or freezer-pack the roast, as the key to good freezing is getting as much air out of the package as possible.

Reheating Tips

The key to reheating is to keep it from drying out, here are a few suggestions for how to reheat your steak.

How do you reheat Prime Rib in the oven?

You can reheat Prime Rib in the oven, but to maintain that beautiful pink color, you will need to go low and slow.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Put the leftovers in a pan and cover with a foil after adding a little of the meat juices (or beef stock if you are sopped up all those yummy juices the day before).

Cook for 20 – 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of your leftovers.

How do you reheat Prime Rib in the microwave?

You can reheat  in the microwave, but it will probably lose it’s pink color and some tenderness.

Reheat on high for 30 seconds, then check the temperature; repeat in 30 second intervals until it’s where you want it. (FYI–FDA says aim for 160 degrees F).

Serving Suggestions

A special meal, even if it’s just Thursday night, deserves some delicious sides. Here’s some links to some of my favorites!

• Roasted Asparagus
• Baked Potato Soup
• Crispy skin baked potatoes
• Au Jus

What to Make with the Leftovers

• Steak Sandwich
• Steak Sliders
• Steak Salad
• Ground Beef Stroganoff

More Beef Recipes

Beef is a standard in our house, but not so often that it becomes old hat. When I do serve beef, I like to make it the centerpiece. Check out these links and see if you love them as much as I do!

• Beef Stew
• Vegetable Beef Soup
• Best grilled flank steak
• Roast Beef Sandwich
• Balsamic Pot Roast
• Shredded Italian Beef
• Meatloaf Recipe

More Holiday Main Dish Ideas

• Crock Pot Ham
• Rack of Pork
• Roast Turkey

Suggested Tools

• Santuko knife – My favorite knife for cutting vegetables!  This knife is the perfect size and shape, handles great, and is super reasonably priced.  Also, I just love that it’s fun and colorful!
• Knife sharpener – Let me tell you about this knife sharpener!  I won it at a conference almost ten years ago, and I still use it several times a week.  It’s one of my go-to housewarming gifts and everyone I know just loves it.
• End grain cutting board – This is my absolute favorite cutting board and the one that I get the most compliments on.  And p.s. I have a lot of cutting boards.  It really is absolutely stunning, and knows how to take a beating.  We use it every single day