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Traeger Prime Rib

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This Traeger prime rib is seasoned with delicious herbs, smoked, and roasted to perfection. The perfect easy recipe for the meat lovers in your life.

slice of traeger prime rib

Slow roasted prime rib can be made with either a bone-in or boneless cut of prime rib roast. Crust it with classic herbs like black pepper, Hawaiian salt, garlic powder, and rosemary and roast it to perfection. This easy smoked prime rib recipe will be sure to please.

If you’ve ever had prime rib, then you know how delectable, tender, and juicy the meat can be. It can seem intimidating, but let me tell you this recipe makes the whole process super easy.

traeger prime rib with a rub

The secret to the smoky flavor in this rib roast is achieved with a Traeger grill. Traeger is known for its wood pellet grills. Hardwood pellets fuel the fire and pack in an incredible amount of flavor.

Here in Hawai’i we like to use kiawe, which is a type of mesquite, for grilling. Traeger carries mesquite wood pellets and is what I would recommend for this smoked prime rib recipe.

Ways to make a prime rib

There are two common ways to cook a prime rib: seared and reverse seared.

Seared prime rib is made by cooking the beef at a high heat for a short period initially, then turning the temperature down and cooking it low and slow until the desired temperature is reached.

Reverse sear is the opposite, cooking the prime rib low and slow and then increasing the heat at the very end to sear the outside.

Both ways create a delicious seared and crusted layer externally and a tender and juicy interior.

I find using the searing method can often cause the outer ring of the prime rib to be cooked to a further temperature than the center and can sometimes create an undesirable grayish ring.

Reverse searing creates a more even cook throughout and they way I enjoy making my prime ribs.

traeger prime rib on a cooking pan

Temperature and cook times

Prime rib cook time will largely depend on the internal doneness you want to achieve.

  • For medium-rare 125-130F
  • For medium 135-140F
  • For medium well 145-150F

Of note, remember the meat will continue cooking when removed from the grill. Remove meat at 5-10 degrees lower than your desired temperature to prevent over cooking.

Using a meat thermometer is essential in this recipe.

Cook time will vary depending on the temperature of your grill.

Grill at 250F

  • About 25 minutes per pound of meat for medium rare
  • About 30 minutes per pound for medium
  • About 35 minutes per pound for medium-well

Grill at 325F

  • About 20 minutes per pound of meat for medium rare
  • About 25 minutes per pound for medium
  • About 30 minutes per pound for medium-well

Grill at 350F

  • About 15 minutes per pound of meat for medium rare
  • About 20 minutes per pound for medium
  • About 25 minutes per pound for medium-well
thermometer checking traeger prime rib temperature

Ingredients for Traeger prime rib

(Full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post)

For the prime rib

  • Rib eye roast. As mentioned earlier, use either bone-in or boneless here.
  • Fresh ground black pepper. Freshly ground pepper gives a pop of flavor and can pack on the heat. Adjust based on your desired heat level.
  • Hawaiian salt. These are larger, more coarse crystals compared to classic table salt.
  • Garlic powder. Using the ried and finely ground garlic allows the prime rib to be evenly seasoned.
  • Rosemary. A classic flavor used in making prime ribs.
traeger prime rib ingredients

For the au jus

  • Red wine. Choose a wine you would drink, or opt for a cooking wine.
  • Flour. This will help thicken the sauce slightly.
  • Worcestershire sauce. Say that three times fast.
  • Beef stock. Beef broth can be used here as well. Broth tends to be slightly thinner than stock. You can add a little more flour to thicken to the consistency you like.
traeger prime rib rub

How to make a Traeger prime rib

  1. Rest the prime rib. Remove roast from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature before cooking.
  2. Make the rub. Combine pepper, salt, garlic powder, and rosemary in a small bowl. Mix until well combined.
  3. Season the meat. Generously season the meat with the rub.
  4. Cook the meat. Place meat in a roasting pan fat side up. Cook in a preheated grill at 250F until an internal temperature of 120F.
  5. Allow time to rest. Remove the meat from the grill and set under a foil tent for 15-20 minutes.
  6. Sear meat. Increase grill temperature to 450F. Place prime rib back on the grill and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until an internal temperature of 125F for medium rare. Remembering that the temperature will rise after removing it from the grill.
  7. Allow time to rest again.
  8. Make the au jus. Pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a pan. Add red wine and reduce until about half or you no longer small the alcohol in the wine.Sprinkle in the flour and add the Worcestershire sauce and ¼ cup of beef stock. Whisk until well combined. Pour remaining beef stock and whisk until smooth. Simmer for 3-5 minutes. Serve with prime rib.
  9. Carve and serve

***No smoker grill? Not to worry. This recipe can also be made in an oven using the same recipe as above. You can use liquid smoke to give it that added smoky flavor if you’d like.

tenting traeger prime rib with foil

Tips for the best smoked prime rib

  • Begin cooking the meat from room temperature. This allows a more even cook.
  • Use a meat thermometer. I suggest getting a probe type one that allows the thermometer to stay in the meat while cooking. This ensures you get the perfect temperature of meat every time.
  • Don’t over cook. Remember the meat will continue cooking when removed from the heat. Be sure to pull the meat off the heat 5-10 below your desired cook time to prevent over cooking.
  • Let it rest. This allows the juices to settle and redistribute throughout the meat.
close up slice of traeger prime rib

FAQs

  • What temperature do you smoke a prime rib?
  • I prefer to cook the prime rib at a low and slow temperature of 250F. The warmer the grill the quicker the cook time will be.
  • What’s the best wood to smoke a prime rib?
  • I personally prefer kiawe or mesquite. You can also use hickory and applewood.
  • Why is prime rib so expensive?
  • Prime rib is a better cut of meat and therefore comes at a greater price.
  • What’s another name for prime rib?
  • Prime rib roast and standing rib roast can be used interchangeably when describing prime rib.
  • Perfect sides to go with smoked prime rib

    slice of traeger prime rib

    Smoked Prime Rib

    Relle Lum
    This Traeger prime rib is seasoned with delicious herbs, smoked, and roasted to perfection. The perfect easy recipe for the meat lovers in your life.
    4.73 from 11 votes
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
    Additional Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 2 hours 55 minutes
    Course Beef
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 853 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the prime rib

    • 4 pound rib eye roast bone in or boneless
    • cup fresh ground black pepper
    • cup Hawaiian salt
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon rosemary

    For the au jus

    • ¼ cup red wine
    • 1 tablespoon flour
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 ¼ cup beef stock

    Instructions
     

    • For the prime rib: Remove roast from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature before cooking.
    • Preheat Traeger to 250F.
    • To a small bowl add pepper, salt, garlic powder, and rosemary. Mix until well combined.
    • Generously coat the roast with the seasoning.
    • Place roast on a roasting pan fat side up. Place in the Traeger and cook until an internal temperature of 120F.
    • Remove from the grill, tent with foil, and allow to rest for 15-20min.
    • Increase grill temperature to 450F. Once the grill has reached the correct temperature, place roast back in the grill and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until an internal temperature of 130F for medium rare.
    • Remove from the grill and allow to rest before slicing.
    • For the au jus: Pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a pan. Add red wine and reduce until about half or you no longer small the alcohol in the wine.
    • Sprinkle in the flour and add the Worcestershire sauce and ¼ cup of beef stock. Whisk until well combined.
    • Pour remaining beef stock and whisk until smooth. Simmer for 3-5 minutes. Serve with prime rib.

    Notes

  • Begin cooking the meat from room temperature. This allows a more even cook.
  • Use a meat thermometer. I suggest getting a probe type one that allows the thermometer to stay in the meat while cooking. This ensures you get the perfect temperature of meat every time.
  • Don’t over cook. Remember the meat will continue cooking when removed from the heat. Be sure to pull the meat off the heat 5-10 below your desired cook time to prevent over cooking.
  • Let it rest. This allows the juices to settle and redistribute throughout the meat.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 853kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 77gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 31gCholesterol: 236mgSodium: 2568mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g
    Keyword beef, beef recipe, grilling, keeping it relle, prime rib, smoked prime rib, smoker grill, traeger prime rib, trager
    Did you make this recipe?Share a photo and tag @keeping.it.relle on Instagram so I can see all your delicious creations and Let me know how it was!

    © Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!

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    By on December 24th, 2021

    About Relle

    Aloha, my name is Relle and welcome to my little home on the internet where I like to share all my favorite Hawaiian recipes (and local ones too).

    I am a wife, mom of two, and nurse practitioner here in the beautiful state of Hawai’i. I was born and raised in Hawai’i and I am of native Hawaiian descent. In my spare time I love to cook and bake and I have compiled many of my favorite recipes here for you to enjoy.

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    4 thoughts on “Traeger Prime Rib”

    1. 5 stars
      Beautifully cooked Prime Rib recipe with easy to follow directions. I have never thought of cooking the Prime Rib in the Traeger before, it will free up space in my oven!

      Reply

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