Grilled Prime Rib Roast

Last Updated on December 31, 2023 by What’s Smoking

When it comes to indulgence and culinary excellence, few dishes can rival the succulent tenderness of a perfectly grilled prime rib roast. Whether you’re celebrating the Christmas or New Year’s holiday with friends and family or simply craving a mouthwatering feast, this classic cut of beef never fails to impress. The combination of rich marbling, charred exterior, and melt-in-your-mouth texture makes it an absolute showstopper on any dining table. In this article, we will delve into the art of grilling prime rib roast – from selecting the perfect cut to expertly seasoning and achieving that coveted medium-rare perfection. Get ready to elevate your grilling game and delight your taste buds with this extraordinary dish!

Introduction To Prime Rib

Prime rib is a mouthwatering cut of beef that is highly regarded for its tenderness, rich flavor, and marbling. Served as a centerpiece during festive occasions or enjoyed at upscale steakhouses, prime rib has become synonymous with indulgence and exquisite dining experiences.

Prime rib refers to a bone-in or boneless section of beef sourced from the primal rib area of the animal and not necessarily the quality of the cut. One of prime rib’s defining characteristics is its generous marbling which contributes to both tenderness and flavor.

The choice between bone-in or boneless prime rib depends on personal preference and ease of carving. A standing Rib Roast is often used interchangeably with prime rib, standing rib roast typically consists of at least two or more ribs left intact.

When planning out your meal, here is a guideline to take into consideration how big of a roast you may want. This guide assume no sides being served so you can scale this back if you will be serving sides.

Now that we have covered some of the basics of a prime rib roast let’s start cooking it.

Grilled Rib Roast Prep

Here are the steps to cooking a rib roast. There are not a lot of steps, nor a ton of ingredients. When it comes to flavoring, we are simply looking to compliment this already flavorful cut of beef.

As we get started, take the rib roast out of the regfrigator, allow to come up to room temperature. If you are short on time, anywhere from 60 minutes works but upwards to 3 hours is desirable.

While it is out we are going to season it, with a rub. I like keeping the prime ribs simple, as this cut of meat is already infused with so much flavor, we do not need to add much to it.

For the rub, we are going to go with a basic SPG rub, either store bought or homemade. If you are making your own, you will want equal parts salt, garlic powder and black pepper. I prefer to use Kinder’s SPG rub, you can find it on Amazon and at Costco.

Once that is done, gently cover with some plastic wrap and let it work its way up to room temperature.

While we wait to for the roast to come up to room temperature, we can get the grill up and running. Regardless of whether you are using charcoal or gas grill, we are going to want to get our grill up and running for a temperature of 275° degrees and we are going to cook with this indirect heat, so ensure you have the ability for two zone cooking.

Grilling A Rib Roast

As I mentioned above, we are going to start off with some low indirect cooking and finishing with a high heat reverse sear. Our process and temperatures will be the same if you are doing a charcoal grilled prime rib roast or a grilled prime rib roast on gas grill.

When using a gas grill, I like to place it in some kind of small tray or pan to capture some butter we will use to baste later in the process. If it is on a charcoal grill, I will always have a pan under the grate catching any drippings or baste. You will not get a lot dripping from this, so most of what you will catch is the butter.

When the grill is up to 275°, place the rib roast on the grill. It is going to be important to know where your IT is at on the roast. You will want to closely track the IT, I used my ThermoPro TP20 for this cook. While cooking there will not be much you need to worry about. The only thing you will want to keep an eye on is possibly needing to rotate the roast. I would suggest rotating about half way through so you ensure you are getting some even cooking on each side.

Ideally rib roasts are best, when done medium rare to medium but with that being said, everyone has their own way they prefer beef done. When grilling a prime rib roast here is a quick break down on IT’s:

• Rare: 120-130°F
• Medium Rare: 130-135°F
• Medium: 135-145°F
• Well: 145-155°F
• Well Done: 155-165°F

Once the prime rib gets to 110°, we are going to baste it with some melted butter and while doing that, crank up the heat to about 500°. On a gas grill this will be easier to crank up the heat. On a charcoal its possible but may be a harder transition. If that is the case, you can get the oven going and reverse sear in there. You will not be sacrificing any flavor as a result.

After basting and searing, we are going to let it go to an IT of 125°. As soon as it hits 125° we are going to pull. I like going for a higher medium rare, closer to 135° but adjust accordingly based on how you prefer your steak done.

When it hits 125°, pull, wrap with some foil and we are going to let the prime rib rest for about 15-20 minutes to give those juices some time to settle down before slicing. During the rest period if will add those few additional degrees of temperature bringing it close to that 130° number. After the rest period you are ready to slice and serve.

As you are planning out the timing of your cook, figure about 20 minutes per pound for the grilled prime rib roast. I always try to start early. If you finish early, after your rest period keep the roast wrapped in the foil, wrap in some towels and place in a cooler. That will hold for at least 2-3 hours.

Concluding Grilled Prime Rib Roast

Grilled prime rib roast is a mouthwatering and impressive centerpiece for any special occasion or holiday meal. Its rich flavor, tender texture, and smoky char from the grill create a truly unforgettable dining experience. With proper seasoning and cooking techniques, this decadent cut of meat can be transformed into a culinary masterpiece that will leave your guests in awe. So fire up the grill, gather your loved ones, and indulge in the succulent perfection of a grilled prime rib roast – it’s guaranteed to satisfy even the most discerning palates.

Thanks for being here and checking out this Grilled Prime Rib Roast recipe. I hope you enjoy it! We always appreciate comments, 5 star recipe rating and social media shares. As always, keep that smoke rolling!

Looking for some other great holiday recipes? Here are some ideas we know you will enjoy!

• Grilled Turkey Recipe
• Honey Glazed Ham On The Grill
• Smoked Prime Rib
• Smoked Rack Of Lamb
• Christmas Smoked Pork Loin Roast
• Peach Glazed Double Smoked Ham