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Cook up an unforgettable holiday dinner with our easy Boneless Prime Rib recipe! Only 5 minutes of prep and 3 simple ingredients: beef, salt, and pepper. This is the best boneless rib roast that's so simple to make and packed with flavor!
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Best Prime Rib Recipe
When we say this is one of the easiest rib roast recipes you will ever make, we mean it! This recipe is a showstopper and just perfect when served over creamy mashed potatoes or instant pot mashed potatoes.
This boneless rib roast recipe is as delicious as it gets. Using just salt, pepper, and a beautifully marbled cut of beef, we are going to show you how to make the juiciest, most tender rib roast. It's perfect for serving over any holiday meal.
This was my first time making a boneless prime rib and it turned out perfectly. My family was so impressed. Thank you for the step-by-step recipe. I will never make it any other way!
Eva on Pinterest
Boneless Rib Roast Ingredients
- Boneless rib roast
- Sea salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
The key to cooking a beautiful roast is picking a cut of beef with perfect marbling.
Marbling refers to the white lines of fat running through the beef. The better the marbling, the more flavor your roast will have! Look for fine, web-like marbling.
TIP—Remove your roast from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking it and allow it to come to room temperature. This way, it will cook evenly!
How to Season Prime Rib
A rib roast is so flavorful that we like to keep our seasoning simple: just salt and pepper. We recommend using sea salt. The taste and texture of sea salt are so perfect and give it the perfect crust. Our prime rib rub recipe works well, too. I especially love it on grilled prime rib.
If you like, you can also add herbs. Rosemary is a perfect choice. Chop up rosemary and pair it with salt and pepper to season your roast for an extra tasty prime rib recipe.
How to Cook a Prime Rib
- Preheat your oven to 450°F and pat your boneless rib roast dry with paper towels.
Generously season your roast with sea salt and black pepper. Give it a good coating. - Place the roast fat-side up on a pan with a roasting rack. Add it to the oven and cook for 15 minutes at 450°F.
- Reduce the temperature to 325°F and cook for an additional 1 hour and 40 minutes (4 lb. roast).
- Once time is up, move the beef to a cutting board and tent it with foil loosely. Allow it to rest for 15 minutes under the foil.
- After resting, carve the beef against the grain for the best results. Serve, and enjoy!
Prime Rib Recipe Tips
- Use a meat thermometer! This is a must for roast beef recipes to achieve your perfect desired degree of doneness every time.
- Allow your roast to come to room temperature before placing it in the oven. This way, it will cook evenly throughout.
- Use a roasting pan with a rack so air can circulate around the whole roast.
- Let your roast rest! Once it's done roasting, tent your beef with foil and let it sit for 15 minutes before carving.
- Slice against the grain. This is vital! The grain refers to the lines running through the beef. Slice against the grain for the most tender slices.
Boneless Prime Rib Cooking Time
Cooking time will depend on the size of the roast:
- 4 lb. roast: 15 minute sear + 1 hour 40 minutes cook time
- 5 lb. roast: 15 minute sear + 1 hour 45 minutes cook time
- 6 lb. roast: 15 minute sear + 1 hour 50 minutes cook time
Prime Rib Temperature
| 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 to measure the internal temperature. Follow our Prime Rib Temperature Chart.
How Long to Thaw a Boneless Rib Roast
Place your rib roast in a pan in the refrigerator for at least two days before you plan to cook it so it thaws completely. For larger roasts, allow an additional day. Bring it to come to room temperature, then follow the roasting instructions!
How to Make Au Jus for Prime Rib
You can easily make au jus with drippings to use for this recipe. Follow these instructions to make your own au jus: Best Au Jus for Prime Rib.
Prime Rib Recipes FAQs
It will last 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator. For best results, store with au jus or beef gravy drizzled over the top. This will help keep it moist.
Paper towels to pat the roast dry
Baking sheet with a roasting rack
Your oven
Aluminum foil to tent the roast once it's done cooking
Cutting board and knife
Best Way to Reheat a Prime Rib Roast
- Preheat your oven to 250°F.
- Add leftover rib roast to a roasting pan with leftover au jus, beef gravy, or beef stock, and cover with foil.
- Place in the oven for 10 minutes, or until heated through.
Best Prime Rib Sauces
Use the sauces to make an amazing Leftover Prime Rib Recipe!
Best Prime Rib Recipes
- Slow Cooked Prime Rib
- Sous Vide Prime Rib
- Air Fryer Prime Rib
- Instant Pot Prime Rib Roast
- Standing Rib Roast
- Smoked Prime Rib
Try more of my Best Prime Rib Recipes for the holidays! Start off with my tips on The Best Way to Cook Prime Rib and end with the best Prime Rib Side Dishes.
Other holiday favorites - My smoked brisket recipe will have your entire family drooling when you make it. It takes a bit of time on the smoker but boy is it worth it. If you love smoking, you will also love my smoked beef short ribs!
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📋 Recipe
Boneless Prime Rib Roast Recipe
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 4-6 lb. boneless prime rib roast
- 1 Tbsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- OR our prime rib rub
- au jus
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F and pat your boneless rib roast dry with paper towels. Generously season your roast with sea salt and black pepper. Give it a good coating.
- Place the roast fat-side up on a pan with a roasting rack. Add it to the oven and cook for 15 minutes at 450°F. Once 15 minutes is up, reduce the temperature to 325°F and cook for an additional 1 hour and 40 minutes (4 lb. roast).
- Once time is up, move the beef to a cutting board and tent it with foil loosely. Allow it to rest for 15 minutes under the foil. After resting, carve the beef against the grain for best results. Serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Boneless prime rib cooking time:
- 4 lb. roast: 15 minute sear + 1 hour 40 minutes cook time
- 5 lb. roast: 15 minute sear + 1 hour 45 minutes cook time
- 6 lb. roast: 15 minute sear + 1 hour 50 minutes cook time
Tips for cooking a perfect prime rib roast:
- Use a meat thermometer! This is a must for roast beef recipes, and especially for prime rib recipes, to achieve your perfect desired degree of doneness every time.
- Allow your roast to come to room temperature before placing it in the oven. This way, it will cook evenly throughout.
- Use a roasting pan with a rack so air can circulate around the whole roast.
- Let your roast rest! Once it’s done roasting, tent your beef with foil and let it sit for 15 minutes before carving.
- Slice against the grain. This is vital! The grain refers to the lines running through the beef. Slice against the grain for the most tender sliced prime rib.
TROY OUNGST says
I made it. I was concerned and cooked it a bit longer. I wish I had not. It came out as Medium and not Medium Rare. But! it was awesome. I did make a few changes: I rubbed some Butter on it it and added some garlic. The crust was perfect and tasty. Oh, I did shake some Rosemary too.
Em Beitel says
Troy, we're so glad you enjoyed it! Adding garlic butter and rosemary sounds delicious. Thank you for your comment!
Patti says
I followed this recipe making a 10lb boneless prime rib and the results were amazing. Meat was so tender and juicy. Made for a stunning presentation at the dinner table. Thanks for a great recipe !
Em Beitel says
That's awesome, Patti! Thank you so much for your wonderful comment and we're so glad you enjoyed it!
Rosemary says
Made this recipe last weekend, did not use salt and pepper,resorted to my Moms old secret for cooking beef. Smear all exposed meat surfaces with Guldens Spicy mustard,then roast,seals in all the juices. Cooking times were very accurate,result fabulous Prime Rib Roast!!!
Em Beitel says
Wow, Rosemary, that's awesome! Thank you for sharing! Spicy mustard sounds like it makes a delicious rub for this prime rib recipe. We're so glad you enjoyed it!
Kristen says
The best and easiest! I looked for easy. These directions were perfect! And the meat turned out perfectly.
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much, Kristen! We're so glad you enjoyed it!
Patricia Comer says
I've been making Prime Rib for 30 years and your recipe is exactly the way I do it, so I know the one I make today will be tender, delicious, and full of flavor, especially with some homemade horseradish! I hope everyone follows your perfect recipe.
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much, Patricia! That's wonderfully kind of you. Homemade horseradish is an excellent addition - we'll have to try that!
JoJo says
How long should I cook a 2 lb roast?
Em Beitel says
Hi JoJo! We haven't actually attempted anything smaller than a 3 lb. roast, but I do have some recommendations for you. First, it depends on what internal temperature you want for your beef, and you will absolutely need a meat thermometer. Check out our Prime Rib Temperature Chart for the different degrees of doneness and what temperature to look for. For medium rare I would say you want to roast it at about 15 minutes per pound. I would personally roast it for about 30 minutes, then check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to either make sure it's at the temperature you want, or to check how much time it still needs. If you feel it needs more time, I would say leave it in for another 10 minutes before checking it again.
Cheryl says
I need about 10 pounds of meat. If I cooked 2 5# roasts, would I sear them both for 15 minutes, then cook them both for 1 hour and 45 minutes? If one was 6 pounds and one was 4 pounds, could I pull one out 10 minutes early?
Em Beitel says
Hi Cheryl! I can't tell you for sure whether you would pull one of the roasts out 10 minutes early or if this would be accurate for cooking two of them together. For this, I recommend using our temperature chart and a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the roast to make sure the temperature reaches what you're looking for. Regardless, you would want to sear both as instructed in the recipe (the 15 minute sear would not change based on pounds).
Cathy says
This recipe made the best Prime rib I have ever made. I did add a pinch of bay leaf powder with my salt and pepper. Your recipe is perfect!!!!
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much, Cathy! That is so awesome to hear!
CJ says
Made this tonight…my husband and I both absolutely loved it! Simple to make and very elegant ! We have a new Christmas week tradition!
Em Beitel says
So glad you enjoyed it, CJ! This is one of our favorites and we're thrilled you and your husband loved it! Thank you for leaving us a comment!
Vincent Simone says
Thanks.
Worked out perfectly.
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Vincent! We're so glad you enjoyed it!
Linda D Zuckerman says
if you want to serve the prime rib at medium rare, what temperature do you remove it from the oven before covering it with foil to rest? thank you for your anticipated response!linda
Em Beitel says
Hi Linda! If you want to serve it at medium-rare, remove it from the oven at 125°F. We have a prime rib temperature chart that will help out with some more info as well. Thank you for your question and enjoy!
Karen Halemano says
Came out perfect medium rare. Son in law enjoyed it.
Em Beitel says
That's awesome, Karen! Thank you so much for your comment - we're so glad to hear it!