Easy Prime Rib with Au Jus Recipe and Perfect Creamy Horseradish Sauce

This easy prime rib with au jus recipe and perfect creamy horseradish sauce is perfect for Christmas or the holidays. This recipe is super easy (Really!), and it produces a perfect medium-rare, tender roast that everyone will love. 

Why This Recipe Is So Good!

• It takes just 5 minutes to prep this show stopping main dish!
• The creamy horseradish sauce and rich au jus are the perfect accompaniments.
• It’s perfect for serving a crowd and the leftovers are amazing in sandwiches!
• It’s just so easy and simple, you don’t need to plan hours ahead of time!

How to Make This Recipe

1. Make the horseradish sauce first: simply stir together all the ingredients and let the mixture chill at least an hour, preferably longer.
2. Preheat your oven to 450º and sprinkle all the sides of the pime rib with salt and lots of freshly cracked black pepper. Pat softened butter over the top.
3. Place the prime rib in a roasting pan and place in the oven. After 15 minutes, reduce the heat to 325º F. Insert a meat thermometer into the center of the roast and roast until the internal temperature is 113-115º F for very medium-rare. Don’t worry – the prime rib will continue to cook after you take it out of the oven.
4. Baste the prime rib every 30 minutes with the fat that’s dripped into the pan, and when the roast reaches the desired temperature, remove it and transfer to a cutting board. Let rest 20 minutes while you make the au jus.
5. Place the roasting pan on the stove over medium-low heat. Pour in Worcestershire sauce and red wine; reduce slightly, by about a quarter. Add in the beef broth and simmer until slightly reduced to desired consistency. Tilt the roasting pan and carefully skim off excess fat floating on top.
6. Carve your prime rib and serve with lots of this au jus recipe and creamy horseradish sauce!

How Long do I Cook Prime Rib for Medium-Rare?

This easy prime rib recipe is so tender and perfectly medium-rare, thanks to the use of a meat thermometer. It goes like this: put it in the oven at one temperature, lower the temperature, and when the thermometer beeps, take it out. Simple as it gets, right? I tried a couple of other methods first, before perfecting this easy prime rib recipe, and I can assure you: this is the most tender and all-around best prime rib I’ve had at home. Or maybe… anywhere? Big claim!

So focus less on the time it takes to cook this prime rib and more on the thermometer! You’ll cook the prime rib for 15 minutes at 450º, then reduce heat to 325º F. You’ll cook it until internal temperature is 113-115º F for very medium-rare. The roast will continue cooking after removing from oven when you let it rest 20 minutes while you make the au jus.

Au Jus Sauce for Prime Rib

The au jus to go with this easy prime rib recipe is equally easy: stir in a few things, let it simmer a bit, and voilà: rich and flavorful au jus to serve alongside your roast. I will literally drink a good au jus, and this au jus recipe is super easy, quick, and oh so savory.

You might be used to au jus from the little bottle at the store but it’s so, so much better made at home.

How Do You Make Au Jus at Home?

This au jus recipe is way easier than even making a little packet! To the pan, after you’ve removed the prime rib, add Worcestershire sauce and red wine and reduce slightly, by about 1/4. Add beef broth and continue to simmer until reduced to desired consistency. Carefully tilt the roasting pan and, using a spoon, discard excess fat floating on top. Carve roast and serve with the au jus recipe!

Horseradish Sauce

This homemade horseradish sauce is so much better than store bought ad comes together so quickly.

I let the sauce chill a couple of hours, and it was great, but 24 hours later? It was next level.  I highly recommend letting the sauce chill for 24 hours before serving, but if you can’t swing that, give it at least 1 hour in the fridge. You’ll get it when you taste the stuff!

What Do You Serve With Prime Rib?

Other than the au jus and horseradish, which are a must, you can serve this rib up with a host of potato and vegetable sides. Try it with:

• Creamed Onions
• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
• Baked Potatoes on the Grill
• Roasted Radishes with Garlic Browned Butter

Chef’s Tips

• If you can, make the horseradish the night before for maximum flavor.
• For the best results, use a meat thermometer.
• Baste the prime rib every 30 minutes during cooking for a really tasty roast.
• Let the prime rib roast for 20 minutes before serving.