Prime Rib Roast Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Prime Rib Roast Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This Prime Rib Roast recipe lets the flavor of high-quality beef shine through for an impressive main dish. You only need a few ingredients to cook this standing rib roast in the oven, and it will come out so tender and flavorful. Serve it for any holiday or special occasion and impress your dinner guests!

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Table of Contents

What’s in this Standing Rib Roast Recipe

This is the simplest ingredients list you’ll find for a main dish. It’s all about high-quality beef and some seasonings–you don’t need much to make it taste amazing!

  • Prime Rib Roast: When selecting a roast, plan for 1 rib for very 2 people, or a little under 1 pound per person. For the best quality, make sure there is plenty of visible marbling (aka fat)–you want the extra flavor and juiciness it adds.
  • Seasonings: You’ll need salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoky paprika to season the prime rib.
  • Serving Sauce: The brandy sauce in the recipe card is my favorite to serve with this roast, but you can use something else. Horseradish, au jus, Bearnaise, mustard cream sauce, or a creamy mushroom sauce are all good options.

Tips!

When making a recipe like this and you really want to wow, I recommend heading to your local butcher instead of making the typical grocery store run. They’ll have high-grade cuts and can help you select the best option for your meal.

Prime Rib Temperature Chart

Check the chart below to find out what the internal temperature will be for each level of doneness. I recommend cooking your rib roast to medium-rare for juicy, tender, delicate flavor!

  • Rare: 125°F
  • Medium Rare: 130°F
  • Medium: 135°F
  • Well Done: 140F

Note, you should pull the roast out of the oven about 5 degrees before the desired temperature because it will continue to rise as it rests.

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Do you cover prime rib while cooking?

Let it cook in the oven uncovered. You will cover it loosely while it rests, but not while it is cooking.

Is standing rib roast the same as prime rib?

Yes, these are the same cut of meat, so the terms will be used interchangeably.

Should I let prime rib come to room temperature before cooking?

Yes, or close to it. Remove the roast from the fridge and let it sit out at room temperature for an hour before putting it in the oven.

At what temperature do you pull it out of the oven?

Check the internal temperature chart above. You’ll want to pull the roast from the oven about 4-8 degrees before it hits your desired temp because it will continue to rise while it rests.

Is prime rib roast tender?

Yes! It it one of the most tender cuts of beef.

How many hours does it take to cook a prime rib?

Once in the oven, it will take about 3-4 hours to cook, depending on whether you prefer rare, medium rare, or well done beef.

Should I salt prime rib the night before?

Yes! Ideally, you’ll salt up to 48 hours before cooking, but I recommend doing it at least overnight (8 hours). This gives salt time to penetrate the surface of the meat, which will make it much more flavorful.

How many people does this prime rib roast serve?

This 7 pound rib roast will serve up 8-10 people.

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How to Store Leftovers

Let prime rib cool before storing. I recommend only cutting slices as you serve, so you should have most of your roast intact when it comes time to store leftovers. Fully wrap it in plastic wrap, then store in the fridge up to 5 days.

Cut and reheat slices in the oven as you need them. The beef makes for great sandwiches if you aren’t planning for another formal dinner in the following days.

Can you Freeze Prime Rib?

Yes! Tightly wrap it in plastic wrap, then wrap in aluminum foil for an extra layer of protection. If it’s already cut into slices, place them in a freezer-safe bag to store. Otherwise, place the wrapped roast in the freezer as is.

Freeze it up to 3 months, then defrost in the fridge before heating and serving.

What to Serve with Prime Rib Roast

With this roast at the center of the table, you can’t go wrong no matter what sides you choose. I love to serve it with Instant Pot scalloped potatoes or parmesan creamed potatoes and plenty of veggies. I like it with these creamy green beans or Air Fryer roasted vegetables. It will also taste great with these creamy garlic mushrooms, and you can round out the meal with homemade dinner rolls.

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If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Prime Rib Roast Recipe

4.57 from 146 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 3 hours hours

Total: 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

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Serves10

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All you need to make this delicious prime rib roast is a few seasonings. It's the best main dish for any occasion!

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Ingredients

  • 7 lbs Prime Rib Roast 3-4 ribs or 6-7 pounds
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Smoky Paprika
  • Brandy Peppercorn Sauce for serving, see note. (click for recipe)

Instructions

  • The roast is best if prepared 8-48 hours ahead.

  • When ready to cook the roast, heat oven to 200°F.

  • Spray a V-rack (that will fit in a large roasting pan) or a wire rack (that will fit in or across a rimmed baking sheet) with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Leave the twine in place and score (cut slits across) the fat-cap with a sharp knife.

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  • Generously season roast with kosher salt and pepper and place the roast, fat-cap up, on the prepared V-rack or wire rack.

    7 lbs Prime Rib Roast, Kosher salt, Freshly ground black pepper

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  • If time allows, place the prepared roast, uncovered, in the refrigerator overnight or up to 48 hours before roasting. This will allow the salt to penetrate the meat more thoroughly and will improve browning.

  • When ready to cook the roast, remove it from the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking.

  • Sprinkle with more kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder and smoky paprika.

    Garlic powder, Smoky Paprika

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  • Place the roast in the oven and cook until the center of roast registers 115°F. Begin checking the internal temperature at 3 hours and then every 15 minutes, thereafter, until it reaches the desired temperature.

  • Turn off the heat and leave the roast in the oven until it reaches 125°F (rare) on an instant-read thermometer, 130°F (medium-rare), 135°F (medium).

  • Remove roast from the oven and tent loosely with foil. Allow it to rest 15-30 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, set the oven to 500°F.

  • About 10 minutes before serving, remove the foil, sprinkle the roast with freshly ground black pepper and place the roast back in the oven. Cook until it is beautifully browned and a little crisp on the outside.

  • Transfer the roast from the oven, cut the twine holding it together and remove the bones.

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  • Serve immediately Homemade Horseradish Sauce or Brandy Peppercorn Sauce (see note for link)

    Brandy Peppercorn Sauce

  • Enjoy!

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Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

*Note: Carve one slice of roast per guest and leave the rest of the roast intact until needed more servings. This will keep the roast warm and help to retain its flavorful juices.

Serve with Horseradish Sauce or Brandy Peppercorn Sauce.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 946kcal (47%) Protein: 43g (86%) Fat: 84g (129%) Saturated Fat: 35g (219%) Cholesterol: 192mg (64%) Sodium: 141mg (6%) Potassium: 701mg (20%) Calcium: 24mg (2%) Iron: 4.5mg (25%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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More Beef Dinner Recipes We Love

  • Beef Wellington
  • Garlic Butter Prime Rib
  • Slow Cooker Brisket
  • Air Fryer Beef Tenderloin
  • Crockpot Meatloaf
  • Grilled Ribeye
  • Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce
  • Mississippi Roast
  • Beef Burgundy

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Prime Rib Roast Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender prime rib? ›

Let it REST, As with most meat, you want to let it rest after cooking to allow the juices to settle in the meat, making it juicier and more tender. If you cut into your roast without letting it rest, the juices will rush out then the meat will be chewy. Cut meat across the grain.

Is it better to use olive oil or butter on prime rib? ›

Use Olive Oil Instead

If you are searing a roast with butter before or after cooking it, it is more likely to burn due to its low smoke point. Instead, David Rose recommends home cooks use olive oil or grapeseed oil to lessen any chance of the roast charring.

How do restaurants make prime rib so tender? ›

How do restaurants make prime rib so tender? The secret to restaurant-style prime rib is cooking the meat super slow at low temperatures. I recommend cooking prime rib at no higher than 200 degrees F. This cooks the meat very slowly, turning the fat into butter and rendering the proteins juicy and soft.

What is the best temperature to cook a prime rib roast? ›

Brown the roast at 500°F (or as high as your oven will go) for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 325°F to finish roasting: Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Roast in the oven until the thermometer registers 115°F for rare or 120° for medium rare, and 130°F for medium.

What is the most important thing to do before roasting a prime rib roast? ›

A roast is a large cut of meat: it needs more seasoning than you might expect. Season it generously with kosher salt the day before roasting it and let it sit in the fridge uncovered overnight. When you take it out of the fridge before roasting, add pepper and any additional herbs.

What does soaking prime rib in milk do? ›

It's milk. Here's why:

But the acid in milk is so mild that you can soak beef in it long enough to tenderize it effectively, without damaging the proteins on the surface. The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins.

Should I sear my prime rib before baking? ›

In the end, the thicker crust that we got from the final sear was not worth the vast swaths of rosy pink meat that were lost. We recommend a low, slow cook preceded by a good sear. Whatever crust you may get from the final sear is just not worth the risk to the rest of this exquisite cut of meat.

Is prime rib better cooked slow or fast? ›

A low and slow start delivers perfectly evenly cooked medium-rare doneness all the way from edge to center. Blasting the prime rib with heat just before serving gives you a crackling-crisp, browned crust.

Is it better to cook prime rib at 325 or 350? ›

Cooking prime rib per pound can vary based on different factors such as desired doneness, oven temperature, and the specific cut of meat. As a general guideline: - For rare: Cook at 325°F (163°C) for about 15-20 minutes per pound.

Do you cook prime rib up or down? ›

Place the roast fat side up, bone side down, in a large roasting pan. Cook for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. This allows the heat to sear the roast, trapping the juicy flavors inside while the rest of the meat cooks. On average, each pound of rib needs 15 minutes to cook (i.e., a 4 lb.

Why is my prime rib tough? ›

Prime rib is at its best cooked rare or medium rare — it should not be cooked past medium (140°F) or all the fat will melt out of the meat, leaving it tough, dry, and chewy. After the prime rib is cooked, make sure to let it rest for 30 minutes for the meat to reabsorb all the delicious juices before carving.

Why is prime rib so expensive? ›

Prime rib is comparatively expensive because it's a highly desirable, highly delectable cut of meat that's known for being very juicy, flavorful, and tender. It's also a case of supply and demand — prime rib roasts are much more limited in number, while individually cut ribeye steaks are more plentiful.

How long do you let a prime rib rest after cooking? ›

Letting your prime rib sit at room temperature for around 30 minutes before slicing it is called resting it, and resting your prime rib helps ensure it will be as juicy as possible. When you roast a piece of meat in a very hot oven, the juices from the outer regions flee toward the center of the roast.

What's the difference between a rib roast and a prime rib? ›

Commonly found at steakhouses, rib roasts and prime rib are two of the most luxurious and expensive cuts of beef. Both rib roast and prime rib come from the ribs of the cow, but one difference is that the whole rack of ribs makes up a standing rib roast, while only the ribs near the loin are cut and sold as prime rib.

How long to cook a 8 lb prime rib at 325? ›

However, a general rule of thumb is to cook a prime rib roast at a low temperature, around 325°F (163°C), for about 15-20 minutes per pound. Here's a breakdown of the approximate cooking times for different levels of doneness at 325°F (163°C): Rare: 15 minutes per pound. Medium-rare: 17 minutes per pound.

Why is my prime rib always tough? ›

Prime rib is at its best cooked rare or medium rare — it should not be cooked past medium (140°F) or all the fat will melt out of the meat, leaving it tough, dry, and chewy. After the prime rib is cooked, make sure to let it rest for 30 minutes for the meat to reabsorb all the delicious juices before carving.

Why do you salt prime rib before cooking? ›

The salt helps trap the heat to better cook the prime rib. “It conducts the heat and seals it,” says Betz.

How do you keep prime rib from drying out? ›

Storing your prime rib correctly is crucial to your leftovers staying as juicy and tasty as day one. First things first, wrap leftover prime rib tightly in plastic wrap, preferably keeping it intact rather than slicing it. This will help keep as much moisture inside as possible.

Do I cover my prime rib when roasting it? ›

Leaving prime rib roast uncovered while roasting allows the meat to develop a nice brown crust. You should only cover the roast with aluminum foil if it is becoming too brown.

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