Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Garlic Butter Prime Rib is the star of any holiday meal. It is juicy, tender, and full of flavor. It’s an easy-to-make beef dinner that everyone will love. Learn how to make this garlic herb rib roast for your next holiday.

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Table of Contents

What’s in this Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe?

This recipe starts with a 4-pound piece of beef that is then coated in garlic herb butter. The butter keeps the meat moist and infuses it with flavor.

  • Prime Rib: You’ll want a boneless beef prime rib, also known as a standing rib roast. Make sure to let it come to room temperature so that it cooks evenly.
  • Unsalted Butter: Helps the spices stick and adds a rich, buttery flavor to the roast.
  • Garlic: Adds an earthy flavor and a pungent aroma.
  • Olive Oil: Helps the spices stick to the roast and helps prevent them from burning in the oven.
  • Spices: A combination of salt, pepper, dried thyme, and rosemary adds a mouthwatering herbal flavor.

Pro Tip: Make sure your butter is softened before mixing your herbs and spices. You want it to be soft but not melted.

Variations on Perfect Prime Rib

You can customize the herbs and spices in this recipe. Feel free to use your favorite herbs or spices on the prime rib. I like Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence. Check out my ultimate list of cooking herbs for more inspiration!

Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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What is prime rib?

Also known as a standing rib roast, it is a cut of beef from the primal rib that is roasted and served with au jus. It refers to the entire rib roast, rather than individual cut steaks.

Is prime rib the same as ribeye?

Ribeye is cut from the rib roast. To be considered a ribeye, the steak must be cut before the roast has been cooked.

How much prime rib per person?

The rule is to have 1 pound per person. If you have a 4-pound prime rib roast, it will serve 4 people.

How long do you cook prime rib?

That depends on how you like your meat. For medium rare, I recommend 30-35 minutes per pound!

How do I know when prime rib is cooked through?

You can check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature should be between 120°F and 135°F at the center.

What is the best way to carve this roast?

It’s simple! Remove any excess fat and then slice against the grain into slices.

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How to Store and Reheat

Place any leftover rib roast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place the roast in an oven-safe pan covered with foil, add some leftover au jus or beef stock, and roast in a 300°F oven for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Slice the roast and place the slices between parchment paper. Put slices in a Ziplock bag and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

I love to serve this roast with holiday classics, like green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes, asparagus almondine, or brown sugar glazed carrots.

Use leftovers to make beef stroganoff, French dip sandwiches, cottage pie, beef tacos, or open faced roast beef sandwiches. Yum!

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Recipe

Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe

4.58 from 126 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 2 hours hours

Total: 6 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

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Serves4 people

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Make an impressive main dish for Christmas or any other holiday with this garlic herb prime rib. It is an easy to make dinner that everyone will love.

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Ingredients

  • 4 pounds boneless prime rib roast (aka: standing rib roast)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter room temperature (½ stick)
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place rib roast in a roasting pan and bring to room temperature, about 4 hours.

    4 pounds boneless prime rib roast

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  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.

  • Place butter, garlic, salt, olive oil, thyme, rosemary, and pepper in a small bowl, then mix until combined.

    ¼ cup unsalted butter, 5 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

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  • Spread butter mixture evenly over the outside of the roast.

    Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

  • Roast the beef for 25 minutes.

  • Reduce the oven temperature to 225°F. Cover the roast with foil and cook for another 1-1½ hours, checking for internal temperature at the 45-minute mark.

  • Remove roast from the oven. See recipe notes for internal temperature guide.

  • Allow the roast to rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

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

    • Taking the prime rib out to raise it to room temperature is an important step. You will need to take it out at least 4 hours before adding the butter and baking it.
    • Make sure your butter is softened before mixing your herbs and spices. You want it to be soft but not melted.
    • You can customize the herbs and spices in this recipe. Feel free to use your favorite herbs or spices on the prime rib.
    • Temperature guidelines:
      • Rare: 120°F. Remove at 115°F internal temp.
      • Medium Rare: 125°F. Remove at 118°F internal temp.
      • Medium: 130°F. Remove at 123°F internal temp.
      • Medium Well: 135°F. Remove at 127°F internal temp.
    • If using a larger or smaller prime rib, follow these cooking guidelines:
      • Rare: 25-30 minutes per pound.
      • Medium Rare: 30-35 minutes per pound.
      • Medium: 35-40 minutes per pound.
      • Medium Well: 40-45 minutes per pound.
    • Oven temperature can vary; always check your prime rib on the earlier side of the recommended cook time!
    • You will need a sharp knife to cut the prime rib. Be careful when cutting it, but make sure your knife is sharp enough to go against the grain of the meat.

    Storage:Store leftover prime rib in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition Information

    Serving: 1pound Calories: 1480kcal (74%) Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) Protein: 62g (124%) Fat: 134g (206%) Saturated Fat: 58g (363%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g Monounsaturated Fat: 57g Trans Fat: 0.5g Cholesterol: 305mg (102%) Sodium: 1949mg (85%) Potassium: 1030mg (29%) Fiber: 0.3g (1%) Sugar: 0.1g Vitamin A: 368IU (7%) Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 53mg (5%) Iron: 7mg (39%)

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

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    Garlic Butter Prime Rib Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

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    More Beef Roast Recipes We Love

    • Prime Rib Roast
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    FAQs

    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.

    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.

    What is the trick to cooking prime rib? ›

    It's no secret that roasts need to cook slow and slow, but for that killer crust on a prime rib the secret is to hit it with a lot of heat first. Like our other prime rib recipes, this rosemary-rubbed prime rib cooks at 450F for 20 minutes before cooking for another 60 to 90 minutes at 350F.

    Should I sear my prime rib before baking? ›

    Searing is an important part of roasting a prime rib. Searing the roast first will kill the surface bacteria, which is a nice touch, especially when you are roasting at lower temperatures.

    Should I cover a prime rib while cooking? ›

    Do you cover prime rib roast when cooking? You can cover rib roast when cooking after searing it to help it retain some of its moisture, but it's not necessary. For the best results, leave the roast uncovered until you remove it from the oven or grill and place it at room temperature for resting.

    Should I season prime rib the night before? ›

    Rule #7: Season Well, and Season in Advance

    For best results, salt your prime rib on all surfaces with kosher salt at least 45 minutes before you start cooking it, and preferably the day before, leaving it in the fridge uncovered overnight. Initially, the salt will draw out some moisture and end up dissolving in it.

    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.

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

    Let it sit on the counter for 4 hours before cooking. Bringing the roast to room temperature is especially important here because a cold roast will take much longer to cook. Step three: Cook it low and slow. Set the oven to 225 degrees F and put the roast in the oven.

    What's the best temperature to cook a prime rib? ›

    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 best temperature to cook a prime rib roast? ›

    Roast in oven: Place roasting pan in hot 450°F oven for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 115 to 120°F for medium rare (125 to 130°F after resting), or 125 to 130°F for medium (135 to 140°F after resting).

    How do you get the best flavor on prime rib? ›

    The Best Prime Rib Seasoning Rub

    Combine 6 finely chopped garlic cloves, 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 Tbsp black pepper, 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves, 1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves, and 3 Tbsp light olive oil. It's even better if you let it sit for 5 minutes for the flavors to meld.

    How to cook prime rib Bobby Flay? ›

    Make small slits all over the prime rib and fill each slit with a slice of the garlic. Season liberally with the salt and coarse pepper, place on a rack set inside a roasting pan and roast for about 2 hours until medium-rare, or until a thermometer inserted into the center of the meat registers 135 degrees F.

    What is Paula Deen seasoning? ›

    The ingredients listed in order are: "sea salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, granulated onion, ground cumin, and other spices". I have used the recipe listed on this site and included equal amounts of garlic powder and onion powder.

    Is it better to cook steak with butter or olive oil? ›

    Much to our surprise steak cooked with olive oil brought out the natural flavors of meat and helped maintain a desirable texture much better than butter.

    Is it better to cook steak in butter or olive oil? ›

    WHICH IS BEST FOR COOKING STEAK: BUTTER OR OIL? Unlike butter, many oils have higher smoke points, making them the better option for cooking steak. Furthermore, there are some oils e.g. olive oil or grape seed oil that are healthier alternatives to butter. However, don't expect oil to taste better than butter.

    Is it better to sear with butter or oil? ›

    Go for oil, it has a higher smoke point. You need a hot skillet to properly sear a steak, hot enough that a pat of butter will begin to burn before it melts completely. You don't want to sear your steak in burnt butter. So reach for some oil when searing steaks.

    Is it better to cook meat in butter or olive oil? ›

    Olive oil is ideal for sauteing and roasting both meat and vegetables due to its high smoke point. It is also a great addition to homemade marinades, dressings and other condiments. Olive oil can also be used in baking in any recipe that calls for melted butter or another kind of oil (such as canola oil).

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