How To Cook A Standing Rib Roast

Whether you’re gathering with loved ones after a holiday apart in 2020 or you’re still sticking it out alone this year, the mouth-watering dishes that usually are eaten each year after all the presents are unwrapped are still sure to be a big part of the holiday—including those that are a part of Christmas dinner.

For some, that might mean turkey or ham, but for others, a prime rib roast is what makes their holiday perfect. Luckily, whether you’re cooking for one or one hundred, there are plenty of helpful recipes out there to make it easy to enjoy your traditional holiday feast. Check out this easy recipe for Prime Rib (via Tastes Better From Scratch).

You will need the following items:

Ingredients:

5 lbs. beef prime rib
Sea salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
8 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup olive oil
Optional: horseradish, for serving

Special Equipment:

Large roasting pan
Digital thermometer

Roast Prep:

Before cooking you need to properly prepare your roast to ensure it cooks properly. Remove from the refrigerator one hour before cooking and season on all sides with salt. Cover it loosely with plastic wrap. It should get close to room temperature before cooking.

Step-By-Step Recipe:

1. Lower/adjust the oven rack to allow the meat to cook in the center of the oven, then preheat to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Mix together 1 ½ teaspoons salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, garlic and olive oil in a bowl and set aside.

3. Pat the roast with paper towels, then spoon the seasoning mixture over it, rubbing it onto all sides. Place a bone-in roast with the bones down, inside the roasting pan. If cooking a boneless roast, place it on a rack inside the pan.

4. Bake at 500 degrees for 15 minutes.

5. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees and continue cooking, allowing an additional 10-12 minutes per pound for rare or 14-15 minutes per pound for medium. If cooking to medium-well, cook until a thermometer reached 150 degrees F.

6. Once the roast is at desired doneness, remove it from the oven and tent it with foil. Allow it to rest for 30 minutes before carving.

7. When ready, carve by slicing against the grain at about ½ inch thickness. Serve with horseradish, if desired.

Oven Cook Times:

Cook time can vary on all kinds of meats depending on size, including rib roast, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service advises the following times for roasts.

4-6 lb. Bone-In roast: 23-25 minutes per pound
4-6 lb. Boneless roast: 28-33 minutes per pound