Smoked Prime Rib

Are you ready to impress your guests? If you are, then you need to make this delicious Smoked Prime Rib recipe! It’s a perfectly seasoned and smoked piece of beef. It’s the perfect addition to any holiday dinner and the smoker is the best way to cook prime rib.

If you love a great cut of beef and want to WOW your guests, a prime rib roast is the best choice. A perfectly cooked smoked prime rib is a showstopper at any meal! Slow smoking infuses the meat with the most amazing flavor and I’m here to tell you a little secret…

It’s a lot easier than you think!

No way you can smoke a prime rib roast, right?!! Yes way! This is a set and step away kind meal which makes it easy for you to get your side dishes together. I’m thinking about baked potatoes on the grill, paired with some bacon wrapped grilled asparagus and dinner rolls. Seriously does a meal get any better than that? Then you can sit back, sip a beverage or two and simply enjoy the evening. It’s the best way to cook prime rib!

A bone-in roast is a great option but I prefer using a boneless prime rib, then seasoning the outside and smoking it so it has a delicious flavor and crust from our delicious prime rib rub! Add a little horseradish sauce on the side and you’re good to go!

What is Prime Rib Roast?

Prime Rib, also referred to as Standing Rib Roast, is a cut of beef from the primal rib. It’s one of the primal cuts of beef. The “Prime” refers to the fact that this comes from the primal cut not the grade of meat it is.

An entire rib section has ribs 6 to 12 ribs, but a prime rib roast may contain anywhere from two to seven ribs.

It has a lot of marbled, tender muscle and can weight up to 30 pounds.

why you’ll love this recipe

• Lots of herbs and spices impart the best flavor on this large cut of meat during it’s cook time.
• Smoking this beautiful piece of beef takes just under 4 hours, leaving you lots of time to prepare sides and have a drink with your guests.
• All you need is your roast and spices, that’s it! It is so simple to have a restaurant quality prime rib roast at home.

Ingredients for Smoked Prime Rib

• Prime rib roast – A 5-pound, boneless roast is used in this recipe.
• Spices – Ground black pepper, garlic powder, dried rosemary, onion powder, brown sugar, Kosher salt, dried thyme leaves.

How to Smoke Prime Rib Roast

1. Remove the roast from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature.This will take about an hour for a piece of beef this size. Trim away excess fat from the top of the roast. Tie back prime rib if this is not already done with butchers twine.
2. Combine the seasoning in a bowl, stir to combine. Apply the prime rib rub all over the prime rib. You can do this while it is sitting out to come to room temperature.
3. Preheat your electric pellet grill to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Place the roast right on the grill grates of the smoker, fat side up and smoke until the internal temperature indicates your desired doneness.
5. Remove the roast from the smoker and tent with foil. Allow to rest at least 15 minutes before slicing.

what is the secret to tender prime rib?

The secret to tender smoked prime rib roast every time is to cook it at a low temperature like we do in this recipe. It is also super important that you allow the roast to rest after smoking to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the roast.

What cut of meat is the prime rib?

It is cut from the upper rib section of the steer. The entire cut contains 7 rib bones and is perfectly marbled and tender. The entire cut can weigh up to 30 pounds.

It is labeled “prime” because it refers to the fact it comes from a whole primal muscle, not the grade of meat. Typically when you hear the word “prime” it’s the highest grade of meat available.

When choosing your your grade of beef the grade makes a huge difference. The prime grade has additional marbling which gives it more flavor, tenderness and moisture from that rendering of fat. If your budget allows it, we recommend getting the prime grade, but if not grab the choice cut and you’ll still get amazing results!

are prime rib and ribeye the same?

No, they are not the same – the ribeye doesn’t have the surrounding fat and isn’t quite as flavorful a cut of meat. Don’t get me wrong, the ribeye makes a fine steak, but it’s not the same as a prime rib roast.

What temperature do you smoke prime rib at?

Preheat your electric smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit for a perfectly cooked prime rib.

How many minutes per pound do you smoke a prime rib?

About 30 minutes per pound for medium rare. Rely on your meat thermometer for checking the temperature. If you desire a doneness of medium then bump up your time to 40 minutes per pound at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

when is a prime rib ready to eat?

Here’s a quick overview of the correct internal temperature range:

• Rare: 120-125 degrees Fahrenheit
• Medium Rare: 130-135 degrees Fahrenheit
• Medium: 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit
• Well Done: 145 degrees Fahreneit or higher

Remember you will want to pull the prime rib from your smoker when it reaches an internal temperature 5 degrees less than your desired ending temperature. This is because it will continue to cook as it rests, bringing it up to your desired temperature.

How Much Prime Rib should i Serve Per Person?

You’ll want to plan about a pound per person. This is because you’ll have some loss when you trim the fat and cook the prime rib. If you have a lot of kids in your group you could plan about 3/4 pound per person since their appetites are smaller.

What would chips should I use to Smoke Prime Rib?

You’ll definitely want to use a mild flavor of wood chip when smoking this cut of meat. We prefer using an apple wood chip to give it a mild, slightly sweet smoke flavor without overpowering it. Some other mild wood options include a cherry flavor, oak or pecan.

Stronger flavored wood chips that I don’t recommend are hickory and mesquite.

Do I need to let the Prime Rib Rest after smoking?

It is essential to let your Prime Rib rest for at least 15 minutes after removing it from your smoker. This allows the juices to redistribute into the meat and make it tender and juicy just like you want it.

How to store leftover Prime Rib

Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. It will be best the next day. Keep it intact for storage rather than slicing it for best results. If there’s any leftover au jus, drizzle it over the top of the prime rib in the container.

Freezer: Prime rib can be placed in a freezer safe container and frozen for up to three months. When ready to use thaw in the refrigerator overnight or 24 hours.

How to reheat Leftover Prime Rib

You’ll want to make sure to reheat this very slowly for best results.

Place leftover prime rib in a pan with a little beef broth or au jus and cover it with aluminum foil.

Reheat in a preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit per USDA guidelines for reheated meat.

You do not need to let it rest before serving.

This is the perfect meal to serve at holidays and is a very common dinner option for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter! Due to the fact that’s an expensive cut of meat a lot of people save this indulgence for the holiday season.

Finish off Your Holidays Meals!

• If you love deviled eggs, this twist using your smoker is amazing!
• No holiday meal is complete without Cheesy Potatoes and making them on the smoker makes them even better.
• Mix it up with Smoked Mac and Cheese which the kids will love.
• Start the meal with BBQ Smoked Meatballs. They are perfectly sweet and tangy.