Slow Roasted Prime Rib Roast Recipe

Our Slow Roasted Prime Rib Roast recipe is a MUST-MAKE holiday favorite! It will melt in your mouth and is sure to become a holiday favorite at your house.

Only 4 ingredients and is so easy to prepare! You will “Wow” your guests with this melt-in-your-mouth easy rib roast recipe. This is the easiest boneless roast recipe you will ever make and the best way to cook prime rib!

Why is this the best prime rib recipe?

Our reverse sear rib roast is slow roasted to perfection to seal in all the juices that make a beef roast extra delicious. A reverse sear method ensures a crisp crust on the outside for maximum flavor. When a slow roast rib of beef is reverse seared, it guarantees the juiciest beef ever!

You are going to want to make our slow-roasted beef recipe more than just for  Christmas dinner after you try our recipe. You’ll want to find every excuse to make it!

We happen to think that this is the best holiday recipe in the world and make it for Christmas dinner year after year!

What is prime rib?

This cut of beef is the most tender and succulent piece of meat you will taste. If cooked properly, it literally melts in your mouth!

It is a cut of beef from the primal rib section of the cow. While the entire rib section is comprised of ribs 6 through 12, a Standing Rib Roast may contain anywhere from two to seven ribs depending on the number of servings you need.

A standing roast is most often roasted “standing” on the rib bones so the meat does not touch the pan.

However, a slow roast rib is easier to serve when it is boneless. You don’t have to carve around the bones. If you choose to go boneless, you will need a roasting pan with a rack.

What is the difference between Prime Rib and Ribeye Steaks?

The standing rib roast is a roast with more muscle and fat. Ribeye is a steak cut from the prime roast.

The cooking method for each cut is different. When cooking a rib roast, you roast a ribeye roast recipe on a rack in the oven which takes much longer than a ribeye steak.

A ribeye steak is much quicker, you can either pan sear in a skillet on the stove-top or cook on the grill.

Slow Roasted Prime Rib Recipe Ingredients

You need only four ingredients to slow-roast beef! We use simply salt, pepper, and olive oil. The important part is having the perfect cut of beef to roast to make this recipe.

• 8 lb. Certified Angus Beef® brand Boneless Rib Roast
• 1 Tbsp. Kosher salt
• 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
• 2 tsp. black pepper freshly ground

How to Buy a Perfect Holiday Roast

It’s all about the marbling! Trust us on this, the perfect beef roast will have lots of marbling, or white flecks, throughout the beef. 

What is marbling on meat?

The word marbling refers to white flecks and streaks of fat within the lean sections of beef. The term “marbling” came about because the streaks of fat resemble a marble pattern. It is also called intramuscular fat. Marbling adds so much flavor to beef and is is one of the main criteria for judging the quality of cuts of beef.

I always look for quality when I look for a beef roast near me. For maximum flavor and tenderness, be sure to use Certified Angus Beef® brand. Find a retailer near you or order online.

Many times during the holidays I find there are rib roasts on sale near me. I love purchasing Certified Angus Beef® brand because it guarantees we are purchasing the best quality beef with lots of marbling!

How much holiday rib per person?

A good estimate on how much beef you will need is 1/2 pound per person when the roast is part of a holiday buffet, or 3/4 pound per person if it’s the main course. 

If you downloaded the Roast Perfect App, just add the number of guests and the app will do all the work for you. 

How to Season Prime Rib

Before you cook your boneless rib roast recipe, you’ll want to season it ahead of time and let it absorb the flavor of your seasoning.

Best Prime Rib Seasoning (it’s so simple)

1. Salt the roast the day before and refrigerate overnight.
2. When ready to cook, rub the roast all over with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1-2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
3. That’s it! That is all you need to make the perfect holiday roast with simple yet delicious seasoning!

Garlic Butter Sauce

If you want to elevate your holiday roast, you are going to want to try our Garlic Butter Recipe. Our garlic herb butter sauce adds so much flavor to a simple roast.

How to Make Prime Rib

Slow-roasting flips the traditional method on its head!

Traditionally, roasting is done at the beginning, at a high temperature for about 15 minutes to develop the crust on the outside. It is then cooked at 325°F for another hour or so to reach the desired degree of doneness.

This method tends to have more moisture loss during the initial blast of high heat.

Why is roasting low and slow best?

Low and slow cooking will lock in all the juices for maximum flavor and tenderness. Plus, slow roasting delivers more even cooking from the center out.

When you roast low and slow in the oven, you’ll notice there will be a very small amount of juice that accumulates in the bottom of the roasting pan. All of the drippings remain in the roast, resulting in a roast that is more tender and juicy than any other method of cooking.

Once the it is slow roasted to the desired degree of doneness, put it in a high heat oven for about 15 minutes before serving to achieve a beautifully crisp, browned crust on the outside which adds tons of flavor!

This truly is our favorite recipe for a holiday roast that everyone will rave about.

How to Cook Prime Rib Roast

It simply comes down to how many people you are serving and the desired doneness for your roast.

1. Use the FREE Roast Perfect App from Certified Angus Beef® brand to select the perfect size roast for the number of guests you are serving. Click here to download the Roast Perfect App for free.
2. Salt the roast the day before you plan on cooking it and refrigerate overnight, uncovered.
3. When ready to roast, preheat the oven to 200°F.
4. Rub the roast all over with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1-2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper.
5. Place the roast on rack in a roasting pan.
6. Place roasting pan in the preheated oven until the center of the roast reads 120°F for medium-rare; about 4 hours, but time will vary depending on the size of the roast.
7. Remove roast from oven and tent with foil to rest for at least 20 minutes.
8. Turn oven temp up to 500°F.
9. Once the oven reaches 500°F, remove the foil and put the roast back in the oven.
10. Cook until browned and crisp on the outside. About 10-15 minutes.
11. Transfer roast to a cutting board and rest the roast at least 15 minutes

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Prime Rib Cooking Time

It is always best to use a meat thermometer to make sure your roast beef is done perfectly to your liking. 

Prime Rib Temperatures

Cooking Time Per Pound Chart

• Rare: 120-125°F – Bright red interior 
• Medium Rare: 130-135°F – Pink on the outer crust with a deeper red center
• Medium: 135-140°F – Mauve/light pink colored interior
• Well-done: 145°F+ – Brown, no pink

Tips for cooking the Perfect Holiday Roast

• The night before, cut, unwrap the beef and set it in the refrigerator. Keep it uncovered on the ​sheet pan with a rack. This allows the surface moisture to evaporate and will guarantee a beautiful brown crust when you sear it.
• Three hours before roasting, take the beef out and place it on a sheet pan (to catch any juices) and keep at room temperature. This step is key to an evenly roasted roast beef recipe.
• Rest for 15-20 before slicing. This will help keep in all the juices for the juiciest and moistest roast.
• We love serving it rare and then using au jus gravy to finish cooking the meat. Perfection!

How to Cut a Prime Rib

Place your roast on a wooden meat cutting board with juice groove and choose the sharpest slicing knife you own. Look at the direction on the grain of the beef and slice against the grain.

It is truly a personal preference if you slice thick or thin slices. Both work and it depends on if you want a steak like an experience or more of a roast beef eating experience.

Prime Rib Leftovers

It is just as delicious the next day and we love reinventing leftovers. One of the best recipes you can make using leftovers is Creamy Penne Pasta with Sliced Prime Rib.

It’s like an amped-up Fettuccine Alfredo with steak. The combination of flavors is incredible!

Roast beef sandwiches are absolutely amazing on their own. But we love elevating them by making a cheese sauce to drizzle on top and adding sauteéd mushrooms and onions. 

And our absolute favorite is making a beef and remoulade sauce sandwich. You haven’t lived until you try this leftover sandwich!

Reheating Prime Rib

I prefer to cook the meat to medium-rare so it can easily be reheated without drying out. Once you cut your beef into approximately equal slices, you can reheat by placing the meat in a microwave-safe dish.

Add a bit of leftover au jus or beef stock. Cover your dish with a paper towel and microwave on high for about one minute.

Continue to heat in 30-second increments until your roast reaches an internal temp of about 160 to 165º F.

You can also reheat your beef on the stovetop. Just add the sliced roast into a small pot with either leftover au jus or beef stock. Heat for approximately 5 minutes and serve.

Side Dishes for Prime Rib

This is the ultimate Christmas dinner, especially when you pair it with these delicious side dishes for roast beef.

• Au Gratin Potatoes
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Artichoke Salad
• Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
• Yorkshire pudding

The Best Roast Beef Dinner Ideas

• Beef Chuck Roast Recipe
• Instant Pot Pot Roast
• Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
• Dutch Oven Pot Roast
• Slow Cooker Chuck Roast

Favorite Holiday Roast Recipes

• Boneless Roast
• Standing Rib Roast Recipe
• Instant Pot Prime Rib
• Whole Beef Tenderloin