Slow Cooker Prime Rib Recipe - Oh Sweet Basil (2024)

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One more prime rib recipe! We’ve done prime rib in every possible way, so we are rounding out our collection with this slow cooker prime rib! We couldn’t leave out the trusty slow cooker!

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We’ve roasted prime rib, smoked prime rib, and cooked prime rib in the Instant Pot so all we are missing is the slow cooker. You’ve asked and we are answering! Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner or just a nice Sunday dinner, prime rib in the slow cooker is a great option!

Slow Cooker Prime Rib Recipe - Oh Sweet Basil (1)

I am a huge fan of making dinner in the slow cooker. Some days just call for a crock pot meal. I especially like them for Sunday dinner. I can throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning, and then dinner is ready at meal time. So easy!

Now you can have this decadent main dish with the convenience and ease of the slow cooker! There’s not much to it, so let’s jump into this prime rib recipe

How to Buy the Right Prime Rib?

I’m going to go against almost everything I believe and tell you to get a boneless prime rib for this recipe. We found it works way better in a slow cooker to not have the bones on the roast. Go figure! No bone-in for this recipe!

You will want to talk to your butcher and ask for a prime rib roast with an untrimmed fat cap (ideally ½ inch thick). We prefer the flavor and texture of prime-grade beef, but choice grade will work as well, just ask the butcher which he has. Choice grade will be cheaper.

Slow Cooker Prime Rib Recipe - Oh Sweet Basil (2)

How to Make Prime Rib in the Slow Cooker?

Making a prime rib in a slow cooker is about as easy as it gets. It just takes a little prep on the roast itself, and then the slow cooker does all the rest.

Start by cutting slits into the fat pad on the top of the meat. Cut at a diagonal and then cut slits in the opposite direction so that a diamond patter is formed. You can watch the beginning of the video for our absolute best prime rib for a demonstration of this step.

Rub salt and pepper all over the meat and down in the slits you just cut. Place the roast in a baking dish and let it sit in the refrigerator uncovered for 12-24 hours. This allows the prime rib to get nice and dry so that beautiful crust forms on the outside when it cooks.

After the roast has rested in the refrigerator, pull it out and let it sit on the counter for an hour to take the chill off. Heat a skillet over medium high heat and sear all sides of the meat until golden brown.

Thoroughly mix together the butter, rosemary and garlic. Place the browned roast in the crockpot fat side up and rub the butter mixture all over the top of the roast. Cook the prime rib on low for 3-5 hours depending on how done you want the roast to be. We like ours medium (140 degrees) which takes about 3.5-4 hours (Rare – 130 degrees, medium rare – 135 degrees).

When the roast has reached the temperature you desire, pull it out of the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board with foil draped over it. Allow it to rest for 20 minutes and up to 1 hour before cutting slices to serve. A prime rib recipe at it’s easiest! Serve with horseradish sauce for even more flavor!

Slow Cooker Prime Rib Recipe - Oh Sweet Basil (3)

What Do You Eat with Slow Cooker Prime Rib?

You’ve made a perfect prime rib in the slow cooker, so what should you eat with it? The options are endless. You could go with a side of potatoes, rice, bread, vegetables…anything really. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Steakhouse Smashed Potatoes
  • Cheesy Gruyere Sweet Potato Stacks
  • Potato Rolls
  • Green Beans and Potatoes
  • Herb and Garlic Roasted Potatoes
  • Green Beans with Bacon
  • Herbed Focaccia Bread

What Cut Of Meat Is Prime Rib?

Prime rib is also known as Standing Rib Roast. A prime rib is a cut of beef from the primal rib, one of the nine cuts of beef. While the entire rib section comprises ribs six through twelve, a standing rib roast may contain anywhere from two to seven ribs, just depending on what you buy and how much roast you want.

What Is The Perfect Temperature To Cook Prime Rib?

This is always a hot topic when it comes to prime rib. People tend to lose their minds about how pink the prime rib is. The truth is, prime rib is best cooked to medium or lower so it’s going to be a little pink. Anything above medium is going to get tough and chewy. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and this is what you will be looking for…

  • Rare: 120-129°F
  • Medium rare: 130-134°F
  • Medium: 135-144°F
  • Medium well: 145-154°F
  • Well: 155-164°F
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How Much Prime Rib Per Person?

Prime rib is best enjoyed with a crowd! It is a decadent dish that usually involves guests around the dinner table. You can plan on 1lb of prime rib per person. If you purchase a 6-8lb roast, you can plan on serving 6-8 people, and if you are serving little kids, it will go a little farther.

Do you Eat The Fat On Prime Rib?

If the prime rib has been cooked properly, the fat on the prime rib will be rendered, will melt in your mouth, taste heavenly, and will only augment the flavor each bite. One of the reasons that prime rib is so tender and juicy is the moisture from the fat content, so it shouldn’t be completely omitted.

How Do You Reheat Prime Rib?

The best way to reheat prime rib is in the oven. Preheat your oven to 250F, and add the sliced prime rib to a baking dish and with a few tablespoons of beef broth. Cover the dish with foil making sure it is sealed completely and let it warm up for about 10 minutes.

How Long Will Prime Rib Keep?

It is pretty rare for us to have leftover prime rib, but if we do, I like to eat it the next day. If you can’t do it then, it will be okay for 5-7 days in the refrigerator or up to a month in the freezer.

Don’t let a prime rib intimidate you! If you go with this slow cooker prime rib recipe, you’re sure to have a perfectly cooked prime rib for any occasion!

More Slow Cooker Main Dishes:

  • Chicken Carnitas
  • Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
  • Shredded Sweet Pork
  • Chicken and Rice
  • Shredded Mexican Chicken
  • French Dip
  • Asian Sticky Ribs
  • Pot Roast

Slow Cooker Prime Rib

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3.78 from 134 votes

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 1 day d

Cook Time: 5 hours hrs

Total Time: 1 day d 5 hours hrs

Description

Now you can have this decadent main dish with the convenience and ease of the slow cooker!

Ingredients

  • 6-8 Pound Prime Rib, boneless
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Kosher Salt
  • 2 teaspoons Black Pepper, cracked
  • 1/3 Cup Butter, softened
  • 1 Tablespoons Rosemary, fresh, chopped
  • 8 Cloves Garlic, minced

Instructions

  • Cut just into the fat pad on top of the meat at a diagonal and then turn the opposite direction and cut again to make a diamond pattern.

    6-8 Pound Prime Rib

  • Rub the salt and pepper all over the meat and place in the fridge for 12-24 hours.

    1-2 Tablespoons Kosher Salt, 2 teaspoons Black Pepper

  • Remove from the fridge and set on the counter for 1 hour.

  • Heat a skillet over medium high heat and brown each side of the meat.

  • Remove to a slow cooker fat side up.

  • Mix the butter, rosemary and garlic and then rub all over the top of the meat.

    1 Tablespoons Rosemary, 1/3 Cup Butter, 8 Cloves Garlic

  • Cook on low for 3-5 hours or until desire temperature is reached. We like medium at 140 degrees, about 3.5 to 4 hours.

  • Allow to rest with a little foil draped over the top for 20 minutes to 1 hour before slicing.

Notes

Prime rib will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator or can be frozen for 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 1lbCalories: 1452kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 62gFat: 131gSaturated Fat: 57gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 55gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 301mgSodium: 1447mgPotassium: 1033mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 330IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 7mg

Author: Sweet Basil

Course: 100 + BEST Easy Beef Recipes for Dinner, Main Course

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Slow Cooker Prime Rib Recipe - Oh Sweet Basil (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender prime rib? ›

Let it REST, As with most meat, you want to let it rest after cooking to allow the juices to settle in the meat, making it juicier and more tender. If you cut into your roast without letting it rest, the juices will rush out then the meat will be chewy.

How do you get the best flavor on prime rib? ›

Make your Prime Rib rub: In a small bowl, stir together: 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 Tbsp black pepper, 1 tsp minced rosemary, 1/2 tsp minced thyme leaves, chopped garlic, and 3 Tbsp olive oil. Lightly pat the roast dry with a paper towel then rub all over top and sides with garlic rub.

How do restaurants make prime rib so tender? ›

How do restaurants make prime rib so tender? The secret to restaurant-style prime rib is cooking the meat super slow at low temperatures. I recommend cooking prime rib at no higher than 200 degrees F. This cooks the meat very slowly, turning the fat into butter and rendering the proteins juicy and soft.

What is the trick to cooking prime rib? ›

It's no secret that roasts need to cook slow and slow, but for that killer crust on a prime rib the secret is to hit it with a lot of heat first. Like our other prime rib recipes, this rosemary-rubbed prime rib cooks at 450F for 20 minutes before cooking for another 60 to 90 minutes at 350F.

Is it better to use olive oil or butter on prime rib? ›

If you are searing a roast with butter before or after cooking it, it is more likely to burn due to its low smoke point. Instead, David Rose recommends home cooks use olive oil or grapeseed oil to lessen any chance of the roast charring.

Do I cover prime rib when cooking? ›

Do you cover prime rib roast when cooking? You can cover rib roast when cooking after searing it to help it retain some of its moisture, but it's not necessary. For the best results, leave the roast uncovered until you remove it from the oven or grill and place it at room temperature for resting.

Should I put water in the bottom of my prime rib roast? ›

Place the roast fat side up in a shallow baking pan; then add some basting liquid to the bottom of the pan. I like to use red wine on the bottom of my pan to give the juices even more of a robust flavor, but water or beef stock will work just as well.

Should you salt prime rib the night before? ›

For best results, salt your prime rib on all surfaces with kosher salt at least 45 minutes before you start cooking it, and preferably the day before, leaving it in the fridge uncovered overnight. Initially, the salt will draw out some moisture and end up dissolving in it.

Is prime rib better cooked slow or fast? ›

Cooked low and slow in the oven and finished with a blast of heat for the juiciest, most flavorful, evenly cooked prime rib roast. Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site.

Why is my prime rib always tough? ›

Overcooking the Prime Rib

That's why prime rib is so expensive: it's a huge piece of extremely good beef. Therefore, it's important not to cook it beyond medium-rare. Going past that temperature means the roast will no longer be tender.

Why is prime rib so expensive? ›

Prime rib is comparatively expensive because it's a highly desirable, highly delectable cut of meat that's known for being very juicy, flavorful, and tender. It's also a case of supply and demand — prime rib roasts are much more limited in number, while individually cut ribeye steaks are more plentiful.

What is the most important thing to do before roasting a prime rib roast? ›

Remove the beef roast from the refrigerator 3 hours before you start to cook it. Sprinkle it with salt all over and let it sit, loosely wrapped in butcher paper. Roasts should be brought close to room temperature before they go into the oven to ensure more even cooking.

How long should I let my prime rib sit out before cooking? ›

Let it sit on the counter for 2 to 3 hours before smoking; this will help it cook more evenly.

What to do if your prime rib is done too early? ›

Wrap it well in foil and put it back into the oven at the lowest possible temperature which I believe is 175F. That will reduce further cooking as much as possible while keeping the roast warm and out of the temperature danger zone.

What does soaking prime rib in milk do? ›

It's milk.

A steak that marinates in an acidic or enzymatic liquid too long, such as citrus juice or cola, becomes tough or mushy. But the acid in milk is so mild that you can soak beef in it long enough to tenderize it effectively, without damaging the proteins on the surface.

Why do you salt prime rib before cooking? ›

The salt helps trap the heat to better cook the prime rib. “It conducts the heat and seals it,” says Betz.

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