Prime Rib is a special cut of meat that is the highlight of many holiday meals. Prepared properly, you will be asked to make this Butter and Garlic Crusted Prime Rib year after year, so be prepared😉. For another mouth-watering beef recipe, try my Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin.
Prime Rib
Prime Rib, also known as Standing Rib Roast, is a tender cut of meat that is very flavorful and often served during the holidays. It is more expensive than other cuts of meat, so that is why it is sometimes saved for a special day of the year. You can get prime rib bone-in or boneless. I ended up using a boneless cut of meat for this recipe.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Meat: When you ask for prime rib at the store, it is actually a rib roast. Prime rib, also known as standing rib roast or ribeye roast, is the marbled portion from the cow’s rib section. If you are getting bone-in rib roast, ask the butcher to cut the bones off and tie them back on. In my case, the bones were already out, so I did not have the option to have them tied on. Don’t be confused by a prime-rated cut of beef; that is simply the USDA’s grading of the quality of meat. But, you could certainly choose a prime-grade prime rib!
Herbs: I used fresh rosemary and fresh thyme. However, you could also use dried herbs. If using dried rosemary and dried thyme, you will only need about 2 teaspoons of each to replace the fresh herbs.
Oven-Roasted Prime Rib
There are plenty of experts out there letting you know exactly what to do (and what not to do) when cooking prime rib. I think people get picky because it is an expensive cut of meat, and usually it is being served to a lot of guests! This recipe is not very complicated; you will also have gravy to go with the prime rib once it’s cooked. (If you want some horseradish to go with the prime rib, I have a recipe for that on my Beef Tenderloin Baguettes recipe.)
In this recipe, you are cooking the meat at a high temperature (500°F) for just 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, turn off the oven, but keep the roast in there to cook for another couple of hours. Yes, it will continue to cook with the oven off, but you have to make sure to keep the oven door closed! I’ve had many questions about this, but it will cook the roast to your desired doneness.
Internal Temperatures
Always trust your meat thermometer when checking if your prime rib is cooked to your liking. Since you are not opening the oven door, be sure to use a meat thermometer that has an external wire probe that allows you to see the temperature of the meat throughout the cooking process. These numbers I am giving you are just a guide…you should be checking the temperature regularly so the prime rib won’t be overcooked.
Rare = 120°F to 125°F (bright red center)
Medium Rare = 130°F to 135°F (very pink center, but starting to brown towards the outer edge)
Medium = 140°F to 145°F (pink center with a brown edge)
Medium Well = 150°F to 155°F (no pink)
Well Done = 160°F and higher
PRO TIP: After you take the prime rib out of the oven (once it’s at your desired doneness), cover it loosely with aluminum foil for about 15-20 minutes before cutting into it. This will keep the juices in, but remember that the internal temperature will go up about 5 degrees while resting. In addition, begin checking the temperature of the meat about 1 hour into cooking.
How Much Prime Rib will I Need?
Generally, you should estimate about one pound of prime rib per person, especially if you are not serving any other main course. I set this recipe as 1/2 pound of prime rib per person. That is plenty if it is part of a large meal with many sides and other goodies. Serve it with Skins on Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Carrots.
How to Cut
If the bones have already been removed, as in this recipe, it’s pretty simple to slice prime rib. It is up to you if you decide to trim the fat. I don’t bother with that since some people actually prefer eating the fat. If your guests don’t want the fat, they can easily cut it off their piece. Anyway, when slicing the roast, try not to ‘saw’ through the meat. Just a few clean slices should do it, and you will have beautiful slices of prime rib to serve! Oh, and don’t cut all the pieces at once. Leaving part of the roast intact will keep it warm longer.
Can I Make this in a Smoker?
Yes! Using a smoker is a low and slow way to cook prime rib. Generally, the recommended temperature to smoke meat is 225°F. Once the smoker has been preheated, place the prime rib on the grate (bone-side down if you kept the bones). With the lid closed, cook for 35-40 minutes per pound. Use a meat thermometer to check for your desired doneness.
Dinner Ideas
Prime Rib
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 5 pounds boneless ribeye roast, trimmed
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 7 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups (480 g) beef stock
Instructions
- Place the roast in a roasting pan.
- Coat the prime rib with salt, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. Make sure the roast is at room temperature before transferring it to the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 500°F.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and pepper.
- Spread the butter mixture evenly over the ribeye roast.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Turn off the oven heat, but leave the ribeye roast in the oven for 2 hours. Be sure to leave the oven door shut so that no heat can escape. I recommend beginning to check the internal temperature after about an hour. (Use a meat thermometer that has an external wire probe that allows you to see the temperature of the meat throughout the cooking process.)
- Remove the roast from the oven. Transfer it to a carving board, covering it loosely with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes before cutting into it, and pour the pan drippings into a medium saucepan to make the gravy.
- To make the gravy, heat the drippings over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and beef stock until thickened.
- Remove from the heat and strain out any clumps.
- Slice the prime rib and serve with gravy.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
I have a 21 pound piece of prime rib will this method work for me
I like to sear mine in a cast iron pan first. then season and roast @200 deg @40 min/lb.or till desired temp is reached.
No smokey house!
I tried this method last year and the roast was great-however not as hot temperature wise as I would have liked. I really like food that is meant to be hot, to be hot when I serve and eat it. How do I prevent it from getting too lukewarm?
I have had a similar problem particularly if the roast is a large one. I follow the recipe for the first part but instead of turning the oven all the way off, I turn it down to 225F and use an indwelling meat thermometer and roast till the center is the desired temperature.. I usually leave room for carry over cooking while the meat rests.
Thanks for this recipe our prime rib turned out perfect.
I used the closed oven method. Cook 5 minutes per pound at 500 • degrees then turn the oven off and keep door closed. Electric oven. I inserted a digital probe and removed from oven at 125• meat temperature
Came out perfect after resting.
I want to try this recipe as a romantic dinner, so will it make any difference if I leave the garlic off since it tends to give gas and bad breath. If it is serving as a tenderizer on this roast can’t I just use meat tenderizer instead? All opinions are welcomed.
Thanking in advance.
If you are both having the garlic it won’t make a diffeence, will it?
The math is 5 minutes per pound at 500. Then 2hrs with door closed.
Do not open. It will be perfect medium rare. No need to check temp. Stick to the formula. It’s foolproof. Done it many times at various weights.
Always works, even with a little 3lb roast beef.
I love this method! 5 minutes a pound at high heat then the shut down makes for the most awesome herb encrusted prime rib. I’ve cooked several with this method and with great success.
I used this recipe last year for Christmas dinner. Cooking at 500° with all the butter smoked up my house so badly we had to open doors and windows! Never doing that again.
Our house too! Was pretty bad!!! But how else can u do it where it doesn’t? Not as much butter???😳😢🥹
Same!! My house smelled for weeks!! Just coat the roast with the seasoning mixture without using any butter, there is enough fat layer on the roast to tenderize the meat.
I’ve made this with slightly different cooking method. It turns out perfectly every time! The hour at 200* might help ease the minds of people who don’t trust turning the oven off completely for 2 hours!
Keep meat at room temp for 6 hrs.
Preheat oven to 500*
Once meat is in the oven DO NOT OPEN OVEN
1 stick unsalted butter room temp
1 Tbl. ground pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp rosemary
1/4 tsp basil
1 tsp minced garlic
Blend all together
Frost top and sides of rib with herb/butter mix the sprinkle with kosher salt – use twice as much as you think you should
Cook prime rib in glass ware – 500* 5 times the exact weight (for instance 6 lbs. x 5 = 30 min. = 1 min for opening oven)
Reduce heat to 200* for 1 hour
Shut oven off for 1 hour.
This is for med rare
NEVER, EVER OPEN OVEN TILL DONE
Between all the salt and the beef stock, the gravy turned out way too salty. I would definitely ease up on the salt next time. Plus having a brand new oven, I opted for one of the comments that lowered the temperature to 325* instead of turning it off completely. It was still a little on the rare side, even though the inner temp said 140*. I ended up popping the meat in the oven a few more minutes after slicing, just to bring it up a few more degrees. Overall, very good!
When making gravy like this I always half and half. 1/2 drippings and half milk. Then heat and add flour.
Followed the recipe to the T. Worked out perfectly. 6.5 lb bone in roast. At the 2 hour mark it finally hit 225. I inserted a probe prior to placing the roast in the oven, yes it is a newer gas oven, only a year old. Definitely going to be a hit.
Nowhere does it say to cook covered, or uncovered. I would think thatvis a significant detail.
If it was covered it would specify. 🙂
Yes Brian, follow her thread.
Try the Reverse Sear Method – there are many great instructions online. Basically roast at 250 until 5 degrees less than desired result, let rest for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours, THEN roast at 500 for about 5 minutes to crust the outside. I have cooked several prime ribs and this is the best method for me.
Hi I want to use my Traeger grill instead of oven what temperatures should smoke on and about how long
What kind of pan do you put the meat in to cook?
What if you want to cook baked potatoes alongside the roast? This method will not allow the potatoes to cook completely.
I have Been using this method for years. Leave the roast out to get to room temperature takes a couple of hours very important! NEVER. salt meatas it drawes moisture out of it. Coom theroast uncovered 5 minuets to the pound(round up). At 500 degrees and DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN For 2 hours. Use a probe thermometer with a digital out of the oven reader …. no need to rest the roast as it’s been resting for 2 hours
If you really want delicious prime rib I reccomed dry aging it In your refrigerator for 5-7 days Google for instructions very easy!
i tried using this method but the butter belted off the roast during the 500 degree time. Lots of smoke came tiring out of the oven and my smoke alarms went crazy. The butter was dripping into the pan than goodness. I just waited for the smoke to stop and roasted at 325.
Thank you for this recipe. Prime Rib is not my favorite because of fat and red. But now, with this recipe and lots of great tips I will be trying it.