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

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!

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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 133 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

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.

How many hours does it take to cook a prime rib? ›

Cook until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the prime rib registers 130 degrees F for medium rare, 35 to 45 minutes of cooking time per pound. An 8-pound roast will take about 5 1/2 to 6 hours.

Is it better to cook prime rib 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.

Should you rub a prime rib the night before? ›

Putting a dry rub on too early increases the likelihood of it being washed off or knocked loose before you get the beef cooked. Aside from seasoning mixes designed to go on up to one day before cooking for brining purposes, you'll only want the dry rub on the Prime Rib in time for the start of cooking.

What cut of meat do restaurants use for prime rib? ›

Call it rib roast, standing rib roast, prime roast, or Grandma's Easter specialty, the magnificent delicacy that is prime rib is delicious no matter what label you apply. This cut comes from the cow's primal rib section. This primal is located behind the animal's shoulder but in front of the lower back/butt region.

Do you cover prime rib when you cook it? ›

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 sear prime rib before roasting? ›

Searing is an important part of roasting a prime rib. Searing the roast first will kill the surface bacteria, which is a nice touch, especially when you are roasting at lower temperatures.

How long do you let prime rib sit out before cooking? ›

Pull the rib roast out of the fridge and let temper on the counter for three hours. USDA guidelines requires food not be held above 33°F (1°C) for more than 4 hours. A three-hour rest on the counter is well within time constraints.

Do you cook prime rib bones up or down? ›

Cook the Rib

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the roast fat side up, bone side down, in a large roasting pan. Cook for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. This allows the heat to sear the roast, trapping the juicy flavors inside while the rest of the meat cooks.

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.

Is there a difference between prime rib and prime rib roast? ›

Commonly found at steakhouses, rib roasts and prime rib are two of the most luxurious and expensive cuts of beef. Both rib roast and prime rib come from the ribs of the cow, but one difference is that the whole rack of ribs makes up a standing rib roast, while only the ribs near the loin are cut and sold as prime rib.

How do restaurants get their meat so tender? ›

Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate). If you find the meat has a spongy texture aside from being very tender, then very likely the restaurant put baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate) in the marinade. The sodium in baking soda chemically reacts with the meat and make the meat very tender and soft.

How does House of prime rib cook their prime rib? ›

Once the salt is in place, the meat is put into the oven for around two and a half hours at a medium temperature. The salt helps trap the heat to better cook the prime rib. “It conducts the heat and seals it,” says Betz. When the time is up, the team takes it out of the oven, and it rests for another couple of hours.

What is the most tender cut of prime rib? ›

What's the Best Cut of Prime Rib? The first cut (sometimes labeled the small end or the loin end) comes from the hind of the standing rib roast near the loin. It's more expensive and generally regarded as the best cut because it has less connective tissue than the second cut and therefore is more tender.

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