Air Fryer Prime Rib

Cook a perfect prime rib roast in your air fryer each and every time. Juicy, tender, and cooked to perfection with a tasty horseradish crust!

If you’re looking for a delicious and impressive way to prepare Prime Rib, look no further than this Air Fryer Prime Rib Roast Recipe. The horseradish crust gives the roast a flavourful boost, while the air fryer results in a perfectly tender and juicy texture.

If you love prime rib but hate the hassle of cooking it, this is the perfect recipe for you! This air fryer prime rib roast is easy to make and comes out perfect every time. Plus, the horseradish crust adds a delicious zing to the juicy meat that will keep you coming back for more.

A prime rib roast is sure to impress but it can be tricky to cook perfectly. That’s where your air fryer comes in! This easy prime rib roast recipe takes just minutes to prepare, and the results are mouthwateringly tender and juicy.

Free up your oven for roasting potatoes and veggies and try your hand at a prime rib roast using an air fryer! Cooking your prime rib roast in an air fryer is the perfect method for those who want to enjoy this classic dish without having to heat up the oven.

Don’t have an air fryer? No problem! I have also included fail-proof directions for roasting this prime rib to perfection in the oven. Whether you opt for air fryer or oven, this recipe is easy to follow and results in a delicious, crusty roast that’s perfect for feeding a crowd .

You’ll love the flavor of the roast, and your guests will be impressed with your culinary skills. So why not impress your guests with this show-stopping roast? It’s the best way to impress guests at holiday dinner and other special occasions!

Read on for the best prime rib recipe ever!

What is Prime Rib?

Prime rib, also called a standing rib roast or standing prime rib roast, is the most magnificent cut of beef that is a show-stopper for any special occasion. It takes centre stage during the holiday season, at an anniversary dinner, or any other celebration.

The standing rib roast comes, unsurprisingly, from the primal rib section of a cow. Cows have 13 ribs per side, first five are called the chuck, the middle seven are the standing rib roast, and the very last rib is the loin.

There are two different grades of prime rib, prime grade and choice grade. Prime grade is more expensive, and the highest grade; it has more fat and marbling. Choice is what you are more likely to find at your local grocer, you will likely need to special order prime grade prime rib from your butcher. This recipe works with either grade, don’t feel like you need to go with the very best, either way you are sure to be pleased with the results!

The reason that prime rib is such an expensive cut of meat is that it has a large “eye” of meat that is marbled well with fat, and surrounded by fat-marbled muscle with a thick fat cap on top. These muscles are not heavily used either which results in an extremely juicy, tender, and flavourful roast.

If you are unfamiliar with Prime Rib, it is a rather expensive cut of beef. Since I would hate for anyone to waste their money and ruin such a majestic cut of meat, I am sharing with you the BEST recipe for air fryer prime rib that comes out perfect each and every time!

Why You Will Love this Prime Rib Recipe

• Made in the air fryer to free up your oven!
• Easy prime rib recipe!
• Delicious, flavourful crust.
• Juicy and tender meat.
• Simple to prepare.
• Cooks fast but tastes like it cooked low and slow!
• The crust and initial roasting at high heat seals in the juices.
• Perfect every single time!
• Great alternative to Turkey for Christmas dinner.

How Many People Does Prime Rib Roast Serve?

Before you purchase your roast, you need to consider how many it will need to serve. As the main course for a dinner party, plan on 1 pound of meat per adult (and 1/2 pound per kid), or one rib for every two diners.

A three-bone prime rib should generously serve 6 guests.

How to Choose the Best Prime Rib

Once you know how large of a roast you need it is time to head to your local grocer or butcher. If you find the roasts int he meat case are too far too large, you can ask your butcher to cut it down to the size you need.

While you can buy boneless prime rib, a bone-in roast is the best choice here as long as it will fit in your air fryer.

Look for a roast that is deep red with the most marbling of white fat in the “eye” that you can find. The bone should also appear bright white

For the best quality you should head to a local butcher over a grocery store.

You may also want to ask the butcher to cut the meat off the bones and then tie it back together. This helps slice the prime rib roast once cooked.

Lastly, you will want to keep in mind the size of your air fryer and make sure it will actually fit. (Some prime ribs are taller than others.)

TIP: If your budget doesn’t stretch to Prime Rib, use my Sirloin Tip Roast recipe that makes the most economical roast beef cut take like prime rib! It’s wildly popular with rave reviews for a reason!

How to Cook a Perfect Prime Rib Roast

• Leave the fat on! Fat gives the roast flavour, and helps make it juicy and tender. Your prime rib cost your a pretty dime, and part of that cost was the fat, so leave it on. Your butcher would have already removed any excess fat from the cap already. Leaving the fat on results in a juicy prime rib.
• Take it out of the Fridge. Take your prime rib out of the refrigerator about 2 hours prior to cooking. Starting with a room temperature roast will help ensure that it cooks evenly.
• Thaw out frozen Prime Rib Roast in advance. Don’t try to do this from frozen, it will throw the cooking times off. If you are unsure of how to do this safely, check out how to thaw a prime rib roast from Prepared Cooks.
• Use a thermometer: Sticking an instant-read thermometer into the center of the roast is the only reliable way to ensure a perfect prime rib every time.
• Keep the bone in: Cooking with the bone in adds to the flavour of your roast and helps keep the prime rib tender and juicy. The bones also create a natural roasting rack for the meat.
• Stop cooking early. Remember to remove your prime rib from the air fryer when it is about 5-10 degrees lower than the temperature for the doneness that you desire.
• Let it rest! Loosely tent foil over your meat and let it rest for 20-25 minutes. It will slowly cook as it is resting, and this will ensure your meat turns out nice & juicy! By allowing it to rest the juices are able to fully saturate the meat. If you slice too soon you risk it being on the dryer side as you will lose lots of juice as it leaves the meat.

What Temperature Should Prime Rib be Cooked To?

I am going to say it again, Prime rib is expensive and not something you want to leave to a best guess. Get a digital meat thermometer and carefully check the thickest part of the meat without touching bone as directed! Once it has been overcooked, you can’t go back, so definitely stay on top of measuring the temperature of the meat.

Prime rib is best served medium rare. Here are the temperatures needed according to the degree of doneness for a beef roast for you to reference, I have also included it in the printable recipe card.

• Rare: 120 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit (49 to 51 degrees C)
• Medium Rare: 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit (55 to 57 degrees C) *ideal temperature*
• Medium: 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (60 to 63 degrees C)
• Medium Well: 150 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit (65 to 69 degrees C)
• Well Done: 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees C) **

The biggest mistake people make when roasting beef is not factoring in that a beef roast continues to cook as it rests. The temperature will continue to rise about 5-10 degrees F while resting. So if you pull it out of the oven at 125°F it will rise to 130°F or more once rested which is medium rare. If you pull the beef out of the oven when it is already at the temperature for medium rare, it will be medium after it rests.

**When you cook prime rib, don’t go above medium unless you love ruining expensive cuts of beef. You can generally cut off enough from the ends that are done well enough to serve any guests who dislike pink meat.

Will this Recipe Work on a Larger Prime Rib?

Yes! Just be sure that your air fryer is large enough to hold a larger prime rib. You will need to increase the cooking time by about 15 minutes per pound. Be sure to use your meat thermometer to keep an eye on it.

You can also use this method for smaller prime rib roasts, but you will need to reduce the cooking time. Smaller roasts also tend to not hold their heat as well so you will want to pull smaller roasts out of the air fryer closer to the temperature of the desired doneness.

Can this Prime Rib Recipe be Cooked in the Oven?

Yes, you can definitely cook this prime rib in the oven, although it does take a lot longer. My preferred method is similar to how I cook my sirloin tip roast when cooking it in the oven; starting with a higher temperature and then shutting the oven off. This is the closed oven method.

Follow the recipe as directed, but pre-heat the oven to 500° F/260° C. Place the prime rib on a roasting pan, uncovered.

Roast the prime rib in the oven on the middle rack for 5 minutes per pound. Once that time is up, leave the oven door shut and turn the oven off. Let the prime rib continue to cook for about 2 hours with the oven off.

You will then need to check the doneness of the roast with an instant-read meat thermometer in the thickest part of the roast. If the temperature of the roast stops rising before the roast hits the temperature of the doneness you are looking for, you can turn the oven back on and set the oven temperature to 250° F/120° C and roast until the meat’s internal temperature reaches 5-10 degrees lower than your desired temperature.

The high temperature at the start ensure your crust gets nice and crisp and creates a type of sear, while also allowing for a slow cook at low temperature from the residual heat after you turn the oven off.

Tips & Tricks for Carving Prime Rib Roast

• Always allow the roast to rest for at least 20 minutes before carving. This keeps the roast from drying out.
• You want to use a good carving knife always.
• Always cut against the grain to keep the roast slices tender.
• Use smooth slicing motions, don’t hack at the roast.
• Use a carving fork to help steady the roast for smoother slicing.
• Try to get the roast so it sits as flat as possible on your cutting board.
• Cut only the number of slices needed to help keep leftover portions juicy.
• Nice thick slices hold in juice so avoid slicing thin unless absolutely needed.

How to Make Ahead and Store Air Fryer Roast Beef

I would not make your prime rib ahead of time. It’s best served right after it has finished resting.

If you find yourself with leftover prime rib, be sure to store it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 4-5 days.

When it comes to reheating leftover prime rib, you don’t want to over-cook it. The goal is to heat it just enough without losing that gorgeous pinkness. In order to get it warm again without losing that delicious, tender juiciness, you will want to gently steam the prime rib.

Preheat your oven to 350F. Add the prime rib to a small baking dish with a few tablespoons of broth and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Warm it in the oven about 10 minutes, or until just warmed through.

Prime rib leftovers are also just as tasty served cold.

About the Equipment Needed for Air Fryer Prime Rib

Air Fryer – If you plan to cook beef roasts, whole chickens etc… you want to look for a 6 to 8 quart air fryer or larger.

Digital Meat Thermometer – A meat thermometer is the only accurate way to cook your roast perfectly!

Cutting Board with Grooves – A large cutting board with grooves is the perfect place to rest your beef and then slice it.

Carving Knife – A good carving knife will help you slice your roast easily.

Carving Fork – A carving fork helps to steady your roast while slicing it.

Variations on the Horseradish Crust

If horseradish isn’t your thing, that is fine! Prime rib is so flavourful that you can really tone down on the rub. Try these ideas instead:

• Keep it simple with butter, salt, and pepper. If you go this route you want to be way more generous with the salt.
• Instead of the horseradish, chives and garlic, use just salt, pepper, and an herb of choice – fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, or a combination of dried herbs are great here.
• Keep it simple but throw in your favourite beef rub. Even just a little olive oil and some dry rub will work!
• If you are looking for more of a garlic butter prime rib recipe simply omit the horseradish, chives, and Worcestershire sauce.

About the Ingredients for Air Fryer Prime Rib with Horseradish Crust

Prime Rib – For this recipe we are using a 5-6 lb roast. Consider how big your air fryer is when you buy your meat ( and what size piece of meat it can accommodate). If you can’t find a small enough piece consider cutting the meat down a little as well or asking the butcher for a specific cut.

Butter – Unsalted butter will give you the best control over the about of salt. Make sure the butter is room temperature so it is easy to spread.

Worcestershire sauce – The Worcestershire sauce helps give the crust a deeper flavour. It has an intense umami taste that works really well with prime rib.

Salt & pepper – You can season this roast way more generously, but 2 tsp is the bare minimum I would use.

Horseradish – We are using prepared horseradish to help form a slightly spicy crust. Stick with your favourite horseradish.

Chives – I used dried chives, but you can slice and use fresh chives here too.

Garlic – Fresh garlic is best, but you can also use 2 tablespoons of jarred garlic if that is what you have on hand. I would really recommend using fresh though as jarred garlic usually has a less vibrant flavour.

Best Side Dishes to Serve with Prime Rib Roast

This sirloin tip roast can be served with anything you normally enjoy a roast with! Try one of these amazing side dishes to turn your prime rib roast into a complete meal:

• Melting Potatoes
• Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
• Oven Roasted Vegetables
• Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
• Apple Butternut Squash Casserole

Click here to see even more tasty side dishes to serve with beef roast.

Looking for More Tasty Beef Dinner Recipes?

Cook a perfect sirloin tip roast with this recipe each and every time. Juicy, full of flavour and cooked to perfection, you can’t go wrong with an herb crusted roast like this!

Smoked Tri-Tip is flavourful, juicy, and melt in your mouth tender. Make the best beef tip roast on any type of smoker with this easy recipe!

This easy yet flavourful and tender corned beef brisket is made conveniently in the Instant Pot in no time!

How to Make Horseradish Crusted Air Fryer Prime Rib

Yields: 5-6 Servings | Prep Time: 8 minutes | Cook Time: 65 minutes

Ingredients:

• 5-6 lb Prime Rib Roast
• 3 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature)
• ¼ Cup Worcestershire Sauce
• 2  Tsp Salt
• 2  Tsp Black Pepper
• 1/3 Cup Prepared Horseradish
• 2 Tbsp Chives
• 6 Cloves of Garlic, minced

Directions:

Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees.

Remove the prime rib from the packaging and pat dry with paper towel.

Smear the butter all over the outside of the prime rib. Pour Worcestershire sauce on top.

Sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Rub the horseradish all over top & sides  generously. Add chives and crushed garlic.

Place Prime Rib into air fryer basket or base dish, fat side up, and air fry for about 15 minutes.

Reduce temperature to 315 degrees and continue cooking for another 50 minutes.

For medium-rare, the meat should be pulled out when it reaches 125 degrees F internally. For medium, remove from the air fryer when it hits 132 degrees F.

Use a reliable meat thermometer to determine this! Always stick the thermometer into the inner most part and away from the bone.

If it’s not done enough continue cooking for an additional 8 minutes and then check again.

Remove the meat from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 20-25 minutes.

Slice and Serve. Enjoy!