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My recipe for Smoked Prime Rib recipe is a show-stopping centerpiece with incredible flavor from a simple rub and just a few hours of smoking! After a quick sear, this perfectly tender roast has the most beautiful crust. Smoking prime rib is easier than you think!
Jump to:
- Smoked Prime Rib Recipe
- Smoking a Prime Rib Ingredients
- How to Smoke Prime Rib
- Prime Rib Smoker Recipes Tips
- What is Prime Rib?
- How Long to Smoke a Prime Rib Roast
- What Temp to Cook Prime Rib on Smoker
- Smoke Prime Rib Temps
- How to Make Au Jus
- How to Store and Freeze Prime Rib
- Smoked Prime Rib FAQs
- Best Prime Rib Recipes
- Smoked Beef Recipes
- 📌 Pin it for later!
- 📋 Recipe
- 💬 Reviews
Smoked Prime Rib Recipe
I love prime rib recipes. There is nothing like a juicy, tasty rib roast with a gorgeous sear. I have made this beautiful cut of beef in just about every way you can think of, especially for the holidays. I have to say, a smoked rib eye roast may be my favorite way to make it! The tenderness is this rib roast will blow you away.
The flavor you get from smoking a rib roast is unlike any other, and oh, how tender and juicy it is! It’s just plain irresistible. Give it a try and I know you will want to find every excuse to smoke prime rib from now on.
Smoking a Prime Rib Ingredients
- Boneless Prime Rib
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Full recipe Prime Rib Rub, including step-by-step instructions on how to make the best prime rib seasoning.
How to Smoke Prime Rib
- Preheat your Traeger or smoker to 285°F. Sprinkle your prime rib with the herb prime rib rub. Be sure to cover every inch of the prime rib with the seasonings.
- Let your standing rib roast sit on the counter and come to room temperature. This will take around 30 minutes.
- Place on the smoker and cook for about 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 130°F on an instant read meat thermometer.
- Heat a cast iron skillet to high heat and sear each side of the cooked prime rib for about one minute.
- Allow the prime rib to rest off of the heat on a cutting board for about 10 minutes. Slice against the grain and enjoy!
This prime rib butter rub is also a great option!
Prime Rib Smoker Recipes Tips
- Pellet smokers like this Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker are perfect for smoked beef recipes.
- Always slice against the grain with a sharp knife for best results.
- The longer the rub is on your prime rib the better. In other words, you can put the rub on the night before and it will be even better.
- Heat-resistant gloves are a must when handling this recipe, especially during the searing stage.
- Using a cast iron grill pan is best if you want those gorgeous sear markings.
- You can add a bit of oil to your searing pan if you prefer. However, I don’t use oil. This is simply a preference.
- Always make friends with your local butcher and have him choose a prime grade prime rib roast with lots of marbling.
- You can trim any excess fat if needed.
- If you want to elevate your prime rib, added a tad of herbed butter right before serving.
What is Prime Rib?
Prime Rib is a cut of beef from the beef rib primal cut, prepared as a roast either bone-in or boneless. This beautiful cut of beef is juicy and tender, with rich flavor and plenty of marbling. It is very similar to a ribeye steak, just a larger cut.
How Long to Smoke a Prime Rib Roast
Smoke a 5-pound rib roast for about 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 130°F. You will have to increase the time for larger cuts, so the best way to measure the time is to use a meat thermometer.
What Temp to Cook Prime Rib on Smoker
Smoke prime rib at a temperature of 285°F for a beautiful outside crust, tender middle, and plenty of flavors in just 3 hours.
Smoke Prime Rib Temps
Doneness | Temperature | Appearance |
---|---|---|
Rare | 120-125°F | Bright reddish-pink throughout |
Medium-rare | 130-135°F | Pink throughout |
Medium | 140-145°F | Slightly pink at the center |
Medium-well | 150-155°F | Mostly brown throughout, with some pink |
Well-done | 150-155°F | Brown throughout |
For best results, always use a meat thermometer, and for more information, see our prime rib temperature chart.
How to Make Au Jus
- Place the roasting pan from cooking prime rib on the stove over low heat after removing the roast from the pan. If you prefer, you can also use a separate pan to cook the beef au jus.
- Whisk Worcestershire Sauce and Red Wine into the dish along with drippings from the beef. If using the original roasting pan, scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan for extra flavor. A wooden spoon works best for this.
- Add Beef Broth or juices from the prime rib. Bring to a simmer. Serve hot with sliced prime rib, and enjoy!
- You can refer to by step-by-step on how to make the perfect au jus for prime rib.
How to Store and Freeze Prime Rib
- Cool Down: Let the cooked prime rib sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes after cooking.
- Wrap It Up: Use aluminum foil or plastic wrap to tightly cover the leftover prime rib. Seal it well or store it in an airtight container.
- Put It in the Fridge: Place the wrapped prime rib in the coldest part of your refrigerator, usually towards the back.
- Use Within 3-4 Days: Try to eat the leftovers within 3-4 days to enjoy the best taste and quality.
- Reheat Carefully: If you want to warm it up, do so in a low oven (about 250°F or 120°C) with foil covering to keep it from drying out.
- Freezing: If you can't eat it within a few days, you can store it in the freezer for future use. Wrap it well and label it with the date. Frozen prime rib can be kept for a few months.
- Thaw Slowly: When you're ready to use frozen prime rib, put it in the fridge to thaw slowly over 24-48 hours.
Check out my leftover prime rib recipes. My favorite is this mac and cheese with prime rib, just substitute the brisket for prime rib. It is the best leftover recipe and my family looks forward to it all year!
Smoked Prime Rib FAQs
Prime rib is from the same primal rib section as ribeye, but refers to the entire roast, while ribeye refers to a section of the roast cut into steaks.
½ pound per person.
My recipe serves 5-6 people.
Best Prime Rib Recipes
Serve with Horseradish Sauce for Prime Rib as well as my best Side Dishes for Prime Rib!
Smoked Beef Recipes
- Smoked Chuck Roast
- Smoked Tomahawk Steak
- Smoked Burgers
- Smoked Beef Brisket
- See all of our Best Smoked Beef Recipes and Roast Beef Cuts!
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Easy Smoked Prime Rib
Equipment
- Heat Resistant Gloves
- Cast Iron Grill Skillet
Ingredients
- 5- Pound Boneless Prime Rib
Our prime rib rub
- 2 Tablespoons Coarse Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Black Pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 285 degrees fahrenheit. Mix together ingredients for prime rib rub, then sprinkle your prime rib with the rub. Be sure to cover every inch of the prime rib with the seasonings.
- Let your prime rib sit outside the fridge and come to room temperature. This will take around 30 minutes.
- Place on the smoker and cook for about 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees.
- Heat a cast iron skillet to high heat and sear each side of the cooked prime rib for about one minute.
- Allow the prime rib to rest off of the heat for about 10 minutes. Slice against the grain and enjoy!
Notes
- Always slice against the grain for best results.
- The longer the rub is on your prime rib the better. In other words, you can put the rub on the night before and it will be even better.
- Heat resistant gloves are a must when handling this recipe, especially during the searing stage.
- Using a cast iron grill pan is the best, if you want those gorgeous sear markings.
- You can add a bit of oil in your searing pan, if desired. However, I don’t use oil. This is simply a preference.
Nutrition
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Rosa R says
Hi, can I use a bone-in prime rib? And how long should I cook it in the smoker? This looks delicious and would love to make it next weekend.
Em Beitel says
Hi Rosa! Yes, absolutely, you can use bone-in. Go with the same cook time as boneless. I'm excited for you to try it - please let me know what you think!
Rick D says
Love smoked Prime Rib. I go 235 for 4 hours as I find the lower temp keeps it juicier. Just my humble opinion
I added your sear step this last time and it was great. Short time investment for a big flavor gain.
Em Beitel says
Thanks very much, Rick! We're glad you enjoyed it!
Bev says
5-star recipe here. This came out so delicious. I cooked at 300 degrees because my smoker doesn't do 285 degrees. So I planned to smoke for less time, which ended up being like 2 1/2 hours. The searing was the icing on the cake for this prime rib, loved the marks it left. Thanks for this super duper easy delicious recipe.
Em Beitel says
That is so awesome, Bev! Thank you so much for your comment - we are very happy you enjoyed it!