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You might be skeptical about cooking prime rib in the air fryer, but get ready to be surprised! Air Fryer Prime Rib is juicy, succulent, and perfectly cooked. Best of all, it’s low effort, uses only 4 ingredients, and takes a fraction of the time most prime rib recipes need!
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Prime Rib in Air Fryer
If you had told me a few years ago I could make a gorgeous, perfectly cooked prime rib roast in under 2 hours using an air fryer, I would not have believed you. It sounds too good to be true when you’re used to cooking prime rib in a traditional oven!
But that’s just it: you can cook prime rib quickly and beautifully while putting in hardly any effort. If you’re intimidated by the idea of overcooking that expensive prime rib roast, then let the air fryer do the work for you, and stop worrying!
All you have to do is season the roast, place it in the air fryer, and check it every now and then with a meat thermometer. It couldn’t be more simple! The outside of the prime rib turns out with a delectable crust, while the inside remains tender and juicy.
Air Fryer Prime Rib Roast Ingredients
- Boneless prime rib roast
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Dried rosemary (fresh may also be used)
- Garlic powder or crushed garlic cloves
This air fryer prime rib roast recipe is for a boneless rib roast. Bone-in roasts are most likely going to be too large to fit in the average air fryer, and the cooking times will vary.
Simple seasoning is best for a prime rib roast. I recommend kosher salt or sea salt flakes, as they give the best flavor. Avoid using fine table salt.
I like to use dried rosemary for how convenient it is, but fresh rosemary is so delicious with sliced prime rib. Give it a try if you prefer fresh herbs!
You can also try other herbs that pair well with standing rib roast, such as thyme.
How to Air Fry Prime Rib
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. As it heats, rest your prime rib roast on a cutting board and pat it dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the roast generously on all sides with salt, pepper, rosemary, and garlic powder. Pat the seasoning down into the meat.
- Spray the air fryer tray with oil. Place the prime rib roast on the tray and air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes to sear the roast and lock in the juices. Then, lower the temperature to 300°F and air fry for 70 minutes. Check the internal temperature every 20 minutes using a meat thermometer.
- As soon as the roast reaches 5 degrees below your desired degree of doneness, pull it from the air fryer and leave it to rest, tented under foil, for 15 minutes before slicing. For medium-rare, this means taking it out of the air fryer at 130°F. See below for more temps.
- After resting, carve and serve. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Rib Roast Tips
- Before cooking prime rib, let it come to room temperature. This ensures the beef cooks evenly all of the way through.
- Before you slice it, let the roast rest for at least 15 minutes. This locks in the juices and also finishes cooking the roast at the final 5 degrees.
- I used an air fryer with a tray. If you have an air fryer basket or a smaller air fryer in general, make sure the roast will fit.
- An instant-read thermometer is the only way to ensure your roast is done accurately.
- Never use a cooking spray like PAM in your air fryer, as these sprays often have additives that break down the non-stick coating. Use a pure oil spray, such as olive oil or avocado oil.
Prime Rib Degrees of Doneness
| Desired Temperature | Degree of Doneness |
|---|---|
| 125°F | Rare |
| 135°F | Medium-rare |
| 145°F | Medium |
| 150°F | Medium-well |
| 160°F | Well-done |
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover prime rib in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Reheat gently for best results. You can also freeze cooked prime rib. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and store for up to 6 months in the freezer.
Sauces for Prime Rib
Prime rib is the perfect cut of beef to serve with a creamy dipping sauce on the side. I love this recipe most with my horseradish sauce when serving for holiday dinners and special occasions, or with alfredo sauce penne pasta for using up leftovers!
Air Fryer Prime Rib FAQ
It’s best to cook prime rib first at a high temperature to sear it, and then at a low temperature over a long period of time to slowly cook it. In the case of air fryer prime rib, the roast cooks for under 2 hours at a temperature of 300°F. Cooking it at a higher temperature runs the risk of drying out the beef.
Uncooked prime rib lasts about 3-5 days in the refrigerator when stored properly at a temperature of under 40°F. Store it tightly wrapped in plastic in a dish to prevent it from dripping. See my guide on Dry Aged Prime Rib for more info and in-depth tips.
For a roast of this size, you should only need to leave it out for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before it reaches room temperature.
Prime Rib Recipes
- Slow Roasted Prime Rib
- Sous Vide Prime Rib
- Boneless Prime Rib Roast
- Standing Rib Roast
- Grilled Prime Rib
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📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Prime Rib
Ingredients
- 3 pound boneless prime rib do not use bone-in
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt or sea salt flakes
- ½ Tablespoon pepper freshly cracked black pepper is best
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 3 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
- ½ Tablespoon garlic powder or fresh crushed garlic cloves to taste
See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. As it heats, rest your prime rib roast on a cutting board and pat it dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the roast generously on all sides with salt, pepper, rosemary, and garlic powder. Pat the seasoning down into the meat.3 pound boneless prime rib, 1 Tablespoon kosher salt, ½ Tablespoon pepper, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, ½ Tablespoon garlic powder
- Spray the air fryer tray with oil. Place the prime rib roast on the tray and air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes to sear the roast and lock in the juices. Then, lower the temperature to 300°F and air fry for 70 minutes. Check the internal temperature every 20 minutes using a meat thermometer.
- As soon as the roast reaches 5 degrees below your desired degree of doneness, pull it from the air fryer and leave it to rest for 15 minutes before slicing. For medium-rare, this means taking it out of the air fryer at 130°F. See below for more temps.
- After resting, carve and serve. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Before cooking prime rib, let it come to room temperature. This ensures the beef cooks evenly all of the way through.
- Before you slice it, let the roast rest at least 15 minutes. This locks in the juices and also finishes cooking the roast the final 5 degrees.
- I used an air fryer with a tray. If you have an air fryer basket, or a smaller air fryer in general, make sure the roast will fit.
- An instant-read thermometer is the only way to ensure your roast is done accurately.
- Never use a cooking spray like PAM in your air fryer, as these sprays often have additives that break down the non-stick coating. Use a pure oil spray, such as olive oil or avocado oil.
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