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Prime Rib
December 16, 2020
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Perfect for Christmas, this Prime Rib recipe couldn’t be easier. Slathered with butter, garlic and herbs and baked to perfection. All you need is a thermometer for perfect prime rib every time. So so delicious with Funeral Potatoes and Buttery Corn Casserole.
But First, What is Prime Rib?
Prime Rib is generally known as a special and expensive cut of beef that is prepared and roasted for special occasions and holidays.
Prime Rib is known for its beautiful exterior and rich, tender meat. Traditionally it is cooked rare or medium rare.
What Cut of Meat is Prime Rib?
Prime Rib is a Standing Rib Roast. When you’re at the grocery store, ask your butcher for a standing rib roast: a big roast with bones (ribs) and fat layer still attached.
When you buy rib-eye steaks, this is where they are coming from, just with the ribs and fat layer removed.
This cut is usually more expensive because it has a big “eye” of meat in its center (technically the rib-eye) and is well marbled. Also, because of it’s location in the cow, it isn’t a highly used muscle, leaving it extremely tender.
Despite the price, it is so worth it for the holidays.
How to Cook a Prime Rib Roast
After spending $50+ on a beautiful roast, the last thing you want to do with a Prime Rib is mess up the cooking. Lucky for you, I’ve got you covered! Here are the easiest directions ever for baking this big beautiful standing rib roast. As long as you have a thermometer, you can totally cook this like a pro.
Step 1: Bring Roast to Room Temperature
Remove standing rib roast from refrigerator and bring to room temperature, 2-3 hours. This will help relax the roast and keep it tender.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Step 2: Spread with Butter and Herbs
Chop garlic, rosemary and thyme together until finely minced. Stir together with olive oil and butter to create a paste.
Sprinkle salt and pepper all over roast. (You may need more or less salt and pepper, depending how large your roast is.)
Spread garlic and herb butter all over roast in a thin, even layer.
Step 3: Roast to Desired Doneness
Bake 15 minutes at 450 degrees. Then reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F and cook 15-20 minutes per pound for medium rare. Use a thermometer to check for desired doneness. This is my favorite thermometer that I use and love.
Remove from oven, cover prime rib with foil gently for 30 minutes to rest.
Carve off the bone and serve.
Prime Rib Doneness | Internal Temperatures
- Rare: 130 degrees F (pull when thermometer reaches 125)
- Medium Rare: 140 degrees F (pull when thermometer reaches 135)
- Medium: 150 degrees F (pull when thermometer reaches 145)
- Medium Well: 160 degrees F (pull when thermometer reaches 155)
- Well Done: 170 degrees F (pull when thermometer reaches 165)
How Long to Cook Prime Rib
The cooking times will vary based on the temperature you’re cooking your prime rib to. Most experts will say cut of meat is too nice to cook to well done. Most people cook theirs to rare or medium-rare. I prefer all my Prime Rib Roasts and beef steaks to be cooked to medium, but it’s all personal preference.
What About the Gravy?
Depending on personal preference, you can serve your Prime Rib with or without gravy! Prime Rib is certainly tender and flavorful enough to not require gravy, but certainly makes a delicious addition. Here’s how to make a quick gravy:
- Remove the fat from the drippings by pouring into a fat separator cup. I own this one and it works perfectly. Add enough beef consomme to equal 1 1/2 cups. If you have enough drippings, no need to add the beef consomme. Don’t have enough beef drippings? Make up the difference using beef consomme.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter into a medium saucepan. Alternately, you can use the skimmed beef fat drippings, or a combination of the two.
- Sprinkle over 2 tablespoons all purpose flour. Whisk to create a paste and cook 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in the beef drippings. Bring to simmer to thicken, then turn off. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Serve hot with prime rib.
How much Prime Rib Per Person? | Planning for a Crowd
Since your standing rib roast comes with big rib bones, you will use these as a guide for meal planning. Account for 1 rib bone for every two people.
If you’re serving younger children (under 10), you can account 1 rib bone for every three children. If your family happens to be big meat eaters, plan for 1 rib per person (but expect that to be a generous portion.)
What to Serve with Prime Rib
- Vegetables – Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Oven Roasted Asparagus go perfectly with this recipe. Another classic are Maple Glazed Carrots.
- Potatoes – I love a creamy potato casserole like these Scalloped Potatoes best with Prime Rib, though Buttery Mashed Potatoes are a classic choice!
- Rolls – Homemade Crescent Rolls are easy and my Mom’s Potato Rolls are so good!
More Meaty Main Dishes!
Consider making this prime rib recipe this Christmas, you won’t be sorry!
The printable recipe card is down below, enjoy 🙂
Prime Rib
Perfect for Christmas, this Prime Rib recipe couldn't come sooner. With step-by-step instructions you can't go wrong this Holiday season!
Ingredients
- 6 pound standing rib roast
- 3 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary stems removed, about 1 tablespoon chopped
- 10 sprigs fresh thyme leaves about 1 tablespoon chopped
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter very soft
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt or 1 tablespoon table salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Remove standing rib roast from refrigerator and bring to room temperature, 2-3 hours.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Chop garlic, rosemary and thyme together until finely minced.
- Stir garlic and herbs together with olive oil and butter to create a paste.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper all over roast. (You may need more or less salt and pepper, depending how large your roast is.)
- Spread garlic and herb butter all over roast in a thin, even layer.
- Bake 15 minutes at 450 degrees. Then reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F and cook 15-20 minutes per pound for medium rare. Use a thermometer to check for desired doneness.
- Remove from oven, cover prime rib with foil gently for 30 minutes to rest.
- Carve off the bone and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 1131kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 103g | Saturated Fat: 42g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 1946mg | Potassium: 774mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 234IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 5mg
Will the bones pull out easily?
No, they won’t come out easily (because most prime rib is only cooked to medium-medium rare). With a sharp knife, you can make quick work cutting around the bones.
Can you cook this in electric toaster, any modifications if using electric roaster?
Love your recipes, this is the way we usually cook our prime rib but this year we didn’t fix one. Thank you for all your recipes.
I made this on Saturday night. I followed your instructions to the letter. We enjoyed the best medium rare prime rib in my life. I have never dared to cook one as the cost was overwhelming if I screwed it up. My husband was amazed how easy it was. This is definitely a winning recipe. Thanks for sharing
Hi Lauren,
Love your web sight. This recipe looks delicious, however I could not find a standing rib roast, I was able to buy a boneless beef rib roast, can I still use this recipe?
Thank you,
Leslie
I am so confused. You say to buy one with the bones IN, but none of your pictures have the bones sticking out. So it looks like you bought a boneless one. Can you clarify? I don’t want to mess this up!!!
No, there were definitely bones in my roast. In the first photo, you don’t see any bones because I removed them before carving. In the second picture, you can see to the left of the roast that its curved…this is the side where the bones were.
You typically cut the bones out after its done cooking
This is way too rare. How long would you cook it for well done and crispy burnt pieces on the outside of the meat?
Looks so yummy! One year my mom actually gave me a rib roast as part of my Christmas gift. Her only stipulation was that I invite her over when I cooked it. I did and it was delicious.
Cannot wait to try this for Christmas Eve!