Air Fryer Prime Rib is the perfect holiday dinner! You’ll enjoy juicy, tender meat and an impressive dish that impresses guests and family. An air fryer can turn your juicy and tender beef ribs into a delicious Christmas tradition.
This easy recipe requires just a few ingredients that make a fabulous horseradish crust on the prime rib roast. Everyone will love this restaurant quality, melt-in-your-mouth, tender beef.
I love making prime rib for my family on special occasions like Christmas Eve. And cooking it in the air fryer is a great way to make it without spending hours in the kitchen.
Learn how to cook prime rib in the air fryer and take the hassle out of cooking a holiday meal!
Looking for more holiday dinner ideas you can make in the air fryer? Try Air Fryer Ham, Air Fryer Turkey, or Air Fryer Corned Beef.
🥩Key Ingredients
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Prime rib roast – Make sure your roast will fit in the air fryer basket. I recommend boneless because a bone-in prime rib will be challenging to cook in an air fryer.
- Butter
- Worcestershire sauce
- Horseradish
- Chives
- Garlic
- Salt
- Black Pepper
🔪How to Make Prime Rib in Air Fryer
- Season – Smear butter all over the outside of the prime rib. This will give it a nice crispy crust. Then pour on the Worcestershire sauce and add the horseradish, chives, garlic, salt, and pepper. The roast should be well coated in seasoning.
- Air Fry – Put the meat in the air fryer basket. Start cooking it at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes to sear the outside. Then reduce the air fryer temperature to 315 degrees F and cook for another 50 minutes.
- Check temperature – Use an instant-read thermometer to test the prime rib. Put it in the center of the thickest part of the meat. The prime rib is done when it reaches 130 F – 135 F internally. Read more about determining doneness below.
- Rest – Let the prime rib roast rest on a cutting board for 10-20 minutes. Don’t skip this! Resting lets the juices reabsorb so that the meat is tender and juicy.
🌡️When is the Prime Rib Roast Done?
Prime rib is best served rare, medium rare, or medium. You want a temperature between 130 F – 140 F for the best flavor. So it is essential to use a meat thermometer for this recipe!
With one, you will know when it is done and will not risk serving underdone or overdone meat. Prime rib is expensive, so don’t mess up a $50 piece of meat because you don’t want to spend a few dollars on a thermometer!
Additionally, the meat will continue to increase in temperature by 5-10 degrees while it rests. So pull the meat at a temperature about 5 degrees less than your final desired temperature.
🍴Serving Ideas for Prime Rib
This mouthwatering dish is perfect for serving on a special occasion, from Christmas dinner to New Year’s to an anniversary dinner. It looks and tastes fantastic! Garnish it with fresh rosemary or thyme for a beautiful presentation that will amaze your dinner guests.
Serve it with your favorite side dishes. I almost always make mashed potatoes with prime rib or add tasty sides like green beans, asparagus, or sautéed mushrooms. Add some horseradish sauce for even more horseradish flavor.
💭How to Store and Reheat
Any leftover meat will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days. You can reheat it by putting it back in the air fryer at 375 degrees F for 5-10 minutes. If you are reheating just a slice, use the shorter time.
🥣Alternatives to a Horseradish Crust
You might not be as big a horseradish fan as I am! No worries, you can easily leave it off. You do want a crusty, seared exterior, though, and here are some other alternatives.
- For a simple seasoning, use the butter with salt and pepper and skip all the extra additions.
- Brush the roast with olive oil and add spices like salt, pepper, garlic powder, or fresh garlic.
- Season the roast with one of your favorite spice blends. Italian seasoning or Montreal Steak seasoning are delicious on prime rib.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Make sure your prime rib roast fits in the air fryer basket. A boneless roast will be your best option.
- Always use a meat thermometer to verify the internal temperature.
- Take the roast out when it is about 5 degrees below your desired final temperature.
- Let the prime rib rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing for juicy and delicious meat.
📝FAQ
Yes. Put the prime rib slices in the air fryer and heat them at 375 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.
A beef roast will take about an hour to cook in the air fryer, although the exact time will depend on the thickness.
Prime rib tastes best when it is rare to medium, corresponding to temperatures between 130 -140 degrees F.
No, they are cut from the same part of the cow, but they are different. Prime rib is much larger than a ribeye steak.
Love beef? Try my recipes for Air Fryer Steak, Air Fryer Steak Bites, or Air Fryer Mongolian Beef.
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Air Fryer Prime Rib Recipe
Ingredients
- 5-6 pound prime rib roast
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup prepared horseradish
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives
- 2 tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
- First, verify that your roast fits in the air fryer. Trim it a little if necessary.5-6 pound prime rib roast
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 5 minutes and prepare the roast while it preheats.
- Pat the roast dry with a paper towel. Put the roast in a shallow pan and smear the butter all over the outside of the raw meat. Pour the Worcestershire sauce on top.3 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- Rub the horseradish all over the top and sides. Then add chives and crushed garlic. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper.1/3 cup prepared horseradish, 2 tablespoons fresh chives, 2 tablespoon garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons black pepper
- Put the prepared prime rib into the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes to sear the outside of the meat.
- Lower the cooking temperature to 315 degrees F. Continue air frying for another 45-50 minutes.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the roast. It is done when it reaches 132 – 135 degrees F internally.
- If it has yet to reach your desired temperature, continue cooking. Air fry it for additional 5-8 minutes and then check again.
- Take the meat out of the air fryer. Let it rest for 10-20 minutes before slicing it and serving.
Notes
- Make sure your prime rib roast fits in the air fryer basket. A boneless roast will be your best option.
- Always use a meat thermometer to verify the internal temperature.
- Take the roast out when it is about 5 degrees below your desired final temperature.
- Let the prime rib rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing for juicy and delicious meat.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
