Herb Crusted Prime Rib

This Herb-Crusted Prime Rib is a show-stopping main course perfect for special occasions. The prime rib is coated in a flavorful, buttery herb crust and then slow-roasted to perfection, resulting in amazingly tender and juicy slices of beef.

The buttery garlic and herb crust on this standing rib roast makes it perfect for Christmas dinner. It is also an excellent option for Easter, Thanksgiving, and other holiday gatherings. Plus, this dish is so delicious and easy enough to make that it can even be the star of a dinner party or special event.

Are you looking for more main courses to make for the holiday season? Try making a ham with this Brown Sugar Pineapple Glaze, use this Cajun Turkey Brine, or try something different like this Apple Feta Stuffed Pork Tenderloin.

Table of Contents

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

Straightforward Recipe: Making the perfect prime rib can be intimidating. But this recipe will give you consistently good results every time.
Simple Ingredients: These ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store, and you may even have most of them on hand already, which can save you some money!
Restauarnt-Quality: With this recipe, you will have a restaurant-quality meal at home at a fraction of the cost! Nowadays, we can all use a little extra money in our budgets.

Temperatures For Prime Rib

When it comes to cooking prime rib, everyone has a different opinion of the doneness. My family prefers medium rare to rare. However, no matter which temperature your family prefers, use this chart to find the juicy prime rib to suit your needs.

Rare: 120 – 125 degrees F with a red center.
Medium Rare: 130 – 135 degrees F with a deep pink center.
Medium: 135 – 140 degrees F with a pink center.
Medium Well: 140 – 145 degrees F with a light pink center.
Well Done: 150+ degrees F with no pink.

Recipe Ingredients

Prime rib with ingredients: salt, pepper, oil, herbs, butter, and garlic.

Ingredient Notes:

Bone-in Prime Rib Roast: You can use a boneless roast; however, I’ve found that bone-in gives the most tender results.
Unsalted Butter
Avocado Oil: You can also use olive oil or any high-temperature oil.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic works best.
Fresh Herbs: You will need rosemary, thyme, and parsley
Salt
Black Pepper

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions and Additions

Dried Herbs: While fresh herbs give your roast the best flavor, you can use a couple of teaspoons of dried herbs to make your rub instead.
Dairy-free: You can use your favorite dairy-free butter or extra oil if you need a dairy-free option.
Spicy: If your family is a fan of spice, add a dash or two of crushed red pepper flakes to the butter mixture.

How to Make Herb-Crusted Prime Rib (step-by-step directions)

Butter, herbs, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a glass bowl.

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine the butter, oil, garlic, herbs, and seasonings until mixed.

Raw prime rib mixture in a cast iron skillet.

Step 2: Rub the garlic butter mixture liberally over a dry roast and then apply a light layer over the bones and sides.

Roasted seasoned meat in a cast iron skillet.

Step 3: Bake in the oven for 25 minutes; lower the oven time and cook for 10-12 minutes per lb.

Close-up of a seasoned, roasted beef in a black skillet.

Step 4: Once the roast comes out of the oven, tent the pan with aluminum foil and let the roast rest for 20-30 minutes.

Sliced roasted beef on a wooden cutting board.

Step 5: Place the roast on a cutting board and then carve it into 1-inch slices.

Plate with roast beef, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy on a table.

Step 6: Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or herbs before serving with an au jus.

Sliced roast beef on a wooden board with rosemary and garlic.

Recipe Tips

Remember to remove the roast from the oven at 10 degrees below your desired range. The residual heat will continue to cook while the roast rests.
Please don’t rush the resting period; it is essential to allow the juices to move through the beef so that you get juicy slices with every cut.
Do not open the oven door for at least one hour after you reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees.

Storing Tips

Refrigerator: Store leftover prime rib in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Freezer: You can freeze the leftovers in a freezer bag for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Over the years, I’ve found the best way to reheat prime rib is in the oven at 300 degrees F, wrapped in aluminum foil with a small amount of beef broth, for 15- 20 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

No meal is complete without delicious side dishes like these Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream, Green Beans Almondine, or even these Baked Sweet Potatoes. And, if you are anything like me, you can’t have a meal without something sweet at the end or beginning, and this Winter Wonderland Cake makes a great special occasion dessert.

Fork with steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, and green beans on a plate.

Recipe FAQs

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

The most important thing about making this beef roast is allowing the meat to come to room temperature before you place it in the oven so that it doesn’t seize up.

What are some tips and tricks to get a fantastic herb crust on a prime rib?

I’ve found that the best way to achieve a great crust is to press the herbs lightly outside of the roast. So, press your roast before you put it in the oven.

How do I season a prime rib roast?

There are many ways to season a roast; however, my favorite way is to season it with a garlic and herb crust.

What cut of beef is prime rib?

Prime rib is made from a standing ribeye roast, one of the most tender cuts of meat when slow-roasted to perfection.