Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

I’ve got the BEST Smoked Prime Rib Roast recipe, and it's made on the pellet grill! This is the perfect dish for a holiday feast or any special occasion. Serve up this mouth-watering roast at your next dinner party, and watch as your guests rave about how amazing it tastes! With just a few simple steps, you'll create the most tender, succulent, and juicy prime rib they've ever had!

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
this …

I love prime rib, and I'm so excited to share with you this fantastic recipe! I have worked on this recipe until I believe it is absolutely perfect!

Because prime rib is an expensive cut of meat, I know you don't want to make it and have it not turn out.

So don't worry! This is the ultimate smoked prime rib recipe, and I know you will love it!

And, I've been told that this is perhaps one of my best recipes yet!

The roast is slathered in a flavorful butter mixture, covered in a delicious dry rub, smoked at a low temperature until nearly cooked through, then seared at a high temperature to create a crisp, flavorful bark.

Smoking a prime rib might seem intimidating, but it's actually very easy. With this recipe, you'll be able to smoke an amazingly tender and delicious prime rib right in your own backyard!

Once you've tried smoking a prime rib, you'll never want to go back to cooking it any other way. It's the perfect meal for special occasions like Christmas dinner, or just because you feel like treating yourself.

Serve it with a side of Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Green Bean Casserole, and Ruth's Chris Copycat Sweet Potato Casserole for a show-stopping meal everyone will love!

Jump to:
  • 🐄 What is a prime rib roast?
  • 💨 How to select a prime rib roast?
  • ❤️ Why you will love this recipe
  • 👪 How much prime rib per person?
  • 🥩 Ingredient Notes
  • 📋 Substitutions
  • 🔪 How to make smoked prime rib
  • 🧂 Make the binder and dry rub
  • ♨️ How to smoke a prime rib
  • 🔥 Reverse sear the roast
  • 🔪 How do you carve the roast?
  • 🍽 Equipment
  • 💭 Expert Tips
  • ❓  Recipe FAQs
  • 🥗 What do you eat with it?
  • 🥪 What to do with leftover prime rib?
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 More smoker recipes
  • 📋 Recipe

🐄 What is a prime rib roast?

A prime rib roast, also known as a standing rib roast or ribeye roast, is a cut of meat that is taken from the rib section of the cow. It is usually one of the more expensive cuts of beef. It can be a boneless prime rib roast or a bone-in roast.

This roast is usually cooked with the rib bones attached, which adds flavor to the meat. The meat is also well-marbled, which means that it has a higher fat content than other types of beef. This makes the prime rib roast more tender and juicy.

No matter what you call it, a prime rib roast is a delicious way to enjoy beef. It is juicy and flavorful, and its size makes it perfect for feeding a crowd. This is an impressive roast that is perfect for special occasions. 

The roast can be cooked in many different ways, but I find the best way to cook it is low and slow with herbs and garlic to give it flavor. You can also serve it with a variety of sauces, such as horseradish or au jus.

💨 How to select a prime rib roast?

  • Look for a roast that has good marbling throughout. You should be able to see the marble (streaks of fat) running through the meat.
  • Avoid any roast that has large patches of fat on the outside. You will end up paying more for your roast based on weight and will end up trimming it off.
  • Select a roast that is a deep red color. This indicates that it is fresh and will have good flavor.
  • Ask your butcher for advice if you're unsure which roast to choose. They will be able to help you select the best option based on your needs.

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

  • The finished roast is truly impressive. It is incredibly tender and full of flavor, making it perfect for a special dinner or holiday meal. Every time I make it, my family and friends can't get enough.
  • It is actually incredibly easy to make. While it may take a bit of time to cook, the results are definitely worth it. Simply follow the directions and enjoy a superb meal with your family and friends. You don't have to be a master chef to make an amazing prime rib - anyone can do it!
  • This recipe is just so dang delicious! Like really delicious. There's nothing better than a juicy, tender prime rib served with all the fixings. It's truly a dish fit for a king or queen!

👪 How much prime rib per person?

A one-pound prime rib will serve approximately two people. If you are having a large gathering, it is best to overestimate how much meat you will need and have leftovers, rather than run out of food.

When cooking a prime rib, the general rule of thumb is to allow for about one pound per person. This ensures that everyone gets a satisfying portion and there are plenty of leftovers.

You can talk to your butcher to arrange a bone-in prime rib with 7 bones, which will feed 14 people.

If you are planning on serving a larger crowd, you may want to consider smoking two or three prime ribs.

🥩 Ingredient Notes

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
  • Prime rib roast. I used a five-pound bone-in prime rib roast, with two bones.
  • Prime rib dry rub. I used my homemade Prime Rib Rub recipe, which contains cracked black peppercorns, kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, crushed rosemary, and ground thyme. This rub gives the prime rib a beautiful outer bark that is super flavorful.
  • Butter, chopped garlic, and Worcestershire sauce are mixed together and used as a binder for the dry rub, as well as a basting liquid on the roast. This mixture keeps warm on the smoker so it gets infused with amazing smoke flavor as well.

See the printable recipe card for quantities and a full list of ingredients.

📋 Substitutions

  • Prime rib roast. This recipe is for a bone-in roast. A boneless roast would cook quicker, so you will have to go by the internal temperature of the beef.
  • Dry rub. Feel free to use your favorite dry rub.
  • For the binder, you can substitute the butter with olive oil, mustard, or margarine. You can use garlic paste or garlic powder instead of chopped garlic. I do not recommend omitting the Worcestershire sauce, it adds such amazing flavor.

🔪 How to make smoked prime rib

Prepare the roast: Remove the roast from the refrigerator. Place it on a large baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to carefully trim away any fat that is hanging off. You may trim the fat cap down so it is not too thick, but don't cut it all off. Let the roast sit out at room temperature while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Hint: You can always cut more off, but you can't add it back on if you cut too much.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

🧂 Make the binder and dry rub

Preheat your electric grill to 225 degrees F.

While your electric smoker is heating up, add the butter, chopped garlic cloves, and Worcestershire sauce to a small saucepan. Heat on medium-low heat until the butter is melted. Turn the heat to low, and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes to let the garlic infuse the butter with flavor. Remove from the heat.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

Make the dry rub by mixing together the cracked black pepper, kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, rosemary, and ground thyme.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

Use a basting brush to brush the butter mixture onto the roast, making sure to cover the entire roast.

Sprinkle the dry rub liberally over the entire outside of the roast, covering all sides. Use your hands to push the rub firmly against the meat.

Hint: Pour the dry rub into an empty shaker bottle, and shake it on the roast.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

♨️ How to smoke a prime rib

First, put a wire rack on a large baking sheet, and place the roast on the wire rack.

Place roast on the pellet smoker, and insert a meat thermometer into the middle of the thickest part of the beef. Put the saucepan with the butter mixture on the grill rack beside the roast. Close the lid, and cook the prime rib for one hour.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

Baste the roast with the butter mixture by letting the butter run off the tip of the brush. Drizzle it down all sides. Close the lid and smoke for another hour.

Baste the roast again with the butter mixture. Close the lid, and smoke until the internal temperature of the roast reaches 130 degrees F.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

🔥 Reverse sear the roast

Once the roast reaches 130 degrees F, we want to reverse sear the roast. Remove the roast from the smoker and cover it with aluminum foil. Leave the digital meat thermometer in the roast. You will likely see the temperature continue to climb.

Slide the mobile deflector plate open on your grill and turn the temperature up to 400 degrees F.

Tip: If your grill does not go that high or you do not have a mobile deflector plate, you can either turn up your grill as high as it will go, or do a quick sear in a large pan on the stove or under the broiler in your oven.

Very carefully, remove the roast from the baking sheet and place it directly on the grill grate of your smoker. Let it sit for 15 seconds to 1-minute per side, depending on how charred you would like the outside.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

The temperature will likely come up to 135 degrees F, which is medium rare. I think this is the perfect internal temperature for smoked prime rib as the outside ends will be a bit more cooked.

Here is a chart for what internal temperature to cook your beef to, depending on how you like yours done:

  • Rare is 120 degrees F.
  • Medium rare is 130-135 degrees F.
  • Medium is 135-140 degrees F.
  • Medium well is 145-155 degrees F.
  • Well done is 155 degrees F.

I do not recommend cooking it past medium in the middle, as the outside ends will be medium well if the internal temperature is medium.

Next, remove your roast from the grill, and place it back on a cutting board. Cover it with aluminum foil, making a tent around it, and allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes. This will allow the juices to incorporate back into the meat.

While it is resting, strain the juices from the baking sheet back into the saucepan with the basting mixture. Keep it warm on low heat on the stove.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

🔪 How do you carve the roast?

Carving is best done with a sharp knife and a cutting board.

First, start by slicing along the bone to separate the meat from the bone.

Next, cut the meat against the grain into slices. You can slice the roast as thick or as thin as you like.

Serve it with a drizzle of au jus on each slice if desired.

Serve with your favorite side dishes.

Enjoy!

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

🍽 Equipment

To make this delicious beef roast, you will need a smoker. There are many different models and types of smokers, and they may cook differently.

For this recipe, I have made it on my Pit Boss electric smoker as well as on my Traeger Silverton grill.

I used Traeger Gourmet Blend, which is a combination of hickory, maple, and cherry. I think these are my new favorite!

💭 Expert Tips

  • Don't let the smoker get too hot. The ideal temperature is around 225 degrees F.
  • Ensure the temperature probe is in the center of the meat's thickest part.
  • Ensure your hopper is full of wood pellets before smoking. You do not want to run out halfway through the smoking process.
  • Don't try to rush the cooking process. The key to the best prime rib is low and slow. Plan on 35 minutes per pound, up to 10 pounds.
  • For best results, don't open the lid except to baste the roast.

❓  Recipe FAQs

Do you smoke prime rib fat up or down?

It's best to smoke it fat side up so that the fat can render and drip down onto the meat, basting it as it cooks. This will help to keep the meat moist and flavorful.

What is the best wood for smoking prime rib?

There are a few different types of wood that work well, including cherry, hickory, and maple. Other good options are mesquite, oak, and pecan. Each type of wood will give the meat a slightly different flavor, so it's a matter of personal preference as to which you choose.

How long do you cook prime rib?

When it comes to cooking prime rib, the cook time is usually about 35 minutes per pound, up until about 10 pounds. This time can vary depending on the size of the roast and how hot your grill is. But in general, 35 minutes per pound is a good rule of thumb. My roast was 5 pounds, and it took about 3 hours exactly to cook. If your roast is larger than 10 pounds it will be longer and not thicker, so the cooking time will not increase. Therefore a 10 pound roast would take almost 6 hours, and a 14-pound roast would also take about 6 hours to cook.

When is smoked prime rib done?

It is done when the internal temperature reaches 130-135 degrees Fahrenheit. However, many people prefer to cook their prime rib to a slightly lower temperature, around 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

🥗 What do you eat with it?

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Easy Air Fryer Green Beans Recipe

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Smoked Baked Potatoes on Pellet Grill

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Best Smoked Baked Beans Recipe with Bacon

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Easy Twice-Baked Mashed Potato Recipe

🥪 What to do with leftover prime rib?

There are a few things you can do with leftover prime rib. You can slice it up and reheat it, make a prime rib sandwich, or dice it up and add it to a salad. You can also use it in place of venison in Instant Pot Venison Stew, or use it in my Easy Smoked Chili Recipe.

👩🏻‍🍳 More smoker recipes

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Easy Smoked Pork Butt Recipe

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Smoked Whole Chicken On A Pellet Grill

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Smoked Chuck Roast Recipe

  • Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
    Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

    Best Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill

If you like this post on the Best Smoked Prime Rib Roast Recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and leave a comment below with your thoughts!

📋 Recipe

Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss
Prime rib on pellet grill pit boss

Best Smoked Prime Rib Roast Recipe on Pellet Grill

I’ve got the BEST Smoked Prime Rib Roast recipe, and it's made on the pellet grill! This is the perfect dish for a holiday feast or any special occasion. Serve up this mouth-watering roast at your next dinner party, and watch as your guests rave about how amazing it tastes! With just a few simple steps, you'll create the most tender, succulent, and juicy prime rib they've ever had!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Resting time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 1425kcal

Author: Jeri Walker

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • Pellet smoker

  • Wood pellets

  • Small saucepan

  • Wire rack

  • Baking Sheet

  • Meat Thermometer

Ingredients

  • 5-10 pound prime rib roast bone-in

For the Binder

  • 1 cup butter unsalted
  • 1 tablespoon garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

For the Dry Rub

  • 2 tablespoon whole black peppercorns cracked
  • 2 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon rosemary crushed
  • 1 teaspoon ground thyme

Instructions

  • Preheat: Preheat your electric grill to 225 degrees F.

  • Trim the roast: Remove the roast from the fridge. Trim off any fat that is hanging off. Leave some of the fat cap on. Let it come to room temperature while preparing the rest of the ingredients.

  • Make the binder: Add the butter, garlic cloves, and Worcestershire to a small saucepan. Heat on medium-low until the butter is melted. Simmer for 10 minutes on low to let the garlic infuse the butter with flavor. Remove from heat. Use a basting brush to apply butter mixture onto the roast, making sure to cover all sides.

  • Make the rub: Mix together black pepper, kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, rosemary, and ground thyme. Sprinkle the dry rub liberally over the entire roast, covering all sides. Use your hands to push the rub firmly against the meat.

  • Smoke: Place a wire rack on a baking sheet, and the roast on the rack. Place the roast on the electric smoker, and place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the beef. Place the saucepan with the butter mixture on the grill rack. Close the lid, and smoke for one hour. After one hour, baste the roast with the butter mixture. Let the butter run off the brush and drizzle it on the roast. Smoke for about one more hour, until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F. Remove the roast from the smoker, and cover it loosely with aluminum foil until you are ready to do a quick sear.

  • Reverse Sear: Turn up the temperature on your smoker to 400 degrees F. Sear the roast for 1-2 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F, which is medium rare. The outside ends of the roast will be more well done. If you like your beef more well done, cook until the desired level of doneness is reached. Medium is 135-140 degrees F., medium well is 145-155 degrees F, and well done is 155 degrees F. I do not recommend cooking it past medium well, as the outside ends will be more well done than the middle.

  • Rest: Remove from the grill, and place on a cutting board. Cover with aluminum foil, and allow the roast to rest for 15-20 minutes to allow the juices to reincorporate back into the meat. While it is resting, strain the juices from the baking sheet back into the saucepan with the basting mixture. Keep warm on the stove.

  • Slice and Serve: Cut the roast in slices as thick or as thin as you like. Serve with a drizzle of the butter mixture on each slice. Serve with your favorite side dishes.

  • Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and is meant as a guideline only.*The rub recipe makes enough to coat a 5 to 6-pound roast. If you have a larger roast, double the recipe. If you have a smaller roast, cut the ingredients in half.

How long does it take to smoke a prime rib on a pit boss pellet grill?

It's always a good day when there's Prime Rib. This smoked prime rib recipe is really easy and can be done in about 3 hours.

How long does a prime rib take to smoke at 225?

How Long to Smoke a Prime Rib? Plan 35 minutes per pound at 225 degrees F for smoking a rare roast. 40 minutes per pound at 225 degrees F for smoking a medium roast. Don't forget to allow at least 30 minutes of rest time and another 15 minutes or so for the high heat sear before serving.

How do you cook a prime rib on a pit boss pellet smoker?

Cook in a closed grill, maintaining constant heat, until the thermometer reads 145°F(63°C) for medium-rare for about 50 minutes, or cook until desired doneness.