Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce

When planning a menu for special occasions, it can be hard to decide what to serve. Showstopping beef entrees are a great place to start when you’re trying to impress, and few things are as impressive as prime rib. This flavorful, juicy and tender cut of beef is usually reserved for restaurants, but it’s actually pretty easy to make at home—especially when cooked as a rib roast in the oven. Our recipe for prime rib with horseradish sauce is great for holidays, dinner parties and more.

What is horseradish?

Horseradish is a cruciferous root vegetable from the same family as mustard, wasabi, broccoli and cabbage. It has no noticeable odor from the outside, but it becomes intense once the root is cut open. It’s known for its volatile, pungent, spicy character, although that spiciness is short-lived when compared to the effects of the capsaicin that is found in hot chili peppers.

Ingredients for Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce

• Beef rib roast: Prime rib is a cut of beef from the cow’s rib section. When it contains the bones, it’s also called a standing rib roast. This prime rib with horseradish sauce recipe calls for a 4- to 6-pound bone-in rib roast and feeds about eight people.
• Olive oil: Olive oil adds a rich layer of flavor to prime rib and helps the coarse pepper to stick to the meat. We recommend using plain olive oil, not extra virgin olive oil. Regular olive oil stands up better to heat, while extra virgin olive oil is better for drizzling and dipping.
• Ground pepper: The prime rib is seasoned with a layer of coarsely ground black pepper to give it a spicy, textured crust.
• Horseradish sauce: We make our creamy horseradish sauce with sour cream, prepared horseradish, coarsely ground pepper and funky Worcestershire sauce.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the beef rib roast

Preheat your oven to 450°F. Brush the roast with oil and rub it with pepper. Place the roast, fat side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.

Step 2: Bake at high heat

Bake the roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes

Step 3: Reduce the heat and continue to bake

Reduce the heat to 325°. Bake for 2 hours and 45 minutes or until the meat reaches the desired doneness, basting the roast with pan drippings every 30 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: The secret to perfectly cooked meat lies in using the best meat thermometer to measure the roast’s internal temperature. For medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; for medium, 140°; for medium-well, 145°.

Step 4: Let the meat rest

Let the roast stand for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing it.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t skip the resting step! It allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in tender and juicy slices of prime rib.

Step 5: Make the horseradish sauce

While the meat rests, make the sauce. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, horseradish, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Serve the horseradish sauce with the prime rib.

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce Variations

• Add a spice rub: Spice rubs and herb blends are the easiest way to transform a prime rib’s flavor profile. You can use a store-bought spice rub or try one of our homemade steak seasoning blends. Alternatively, use a blend of fresh herbs, as in our herb-crusted prime rib recipe.
• Switch up the sauce: If you’d rather not have your prime rib roast with horseradish sauce, try a fresh and herby chimichurri sauce instead. Or say oui to a French tarragon-flavored quick bearnaise sauce. Of course, you can always keep it simple and serve prime rib with one of these flavored butter recipes.

How to Store Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce

Leftover prime rib should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For extended storage, tightly wrap the prime rib in storage wrap and transfer it to an airtight freezer container. The horseradish sauce should be stored in a separate airtight container.

How long does prime rib with horseradish sauce last?

Leftover prime rib will last up to four days in the fridge, or up to three months in the freezer. Horseradish sauce will also keep for up to four days in the refrigerator. The sauce should not be frozen, as sour cream will become grainy when defrosted.

How do you reheat prime rib?

Reheat sliced prime rib in a covered skillet on the stovetop until heated through. Add a little water or broth to keep the meat moist.

Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce Tips

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

How do you cut a bone-in beef rib roast?

The first step to carving a bone-in beef rib roast is to remove the bones from the meat. Slice between the meat and the bone, carefully gliding a sharp knife along the curve of the bones to detach them from the rest of the roast. To serve the meat, slice the roast like you’d cut a steak: against the grain to the desired thickness. For an impressive visual, you can keep the bones attached and serve the ribs by cutting between each individual bone.

What other spices can you rub on a beef rib roast?

You can use almost any spice rub to flavor a beef rib roast. Some tasty options include fresh or dried herbs, kosher salt and garlic or onion powder. Add the desired spices to the coarse pepper and rub them onto the rib roast before baking.

What can you serve with prime rib and horseradish sauce?

Your options are nearly endless when it comes to side dishes to serve with rib roast and horseradish sauce. Classic options include mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus and Parmesan creamed spinach. Or for quick and easy side dishes that can work with almost any meal, try no-fuss rolls or garlic-roasted Brussels sprouts.

How else can you use prime rib and horseradish sauce?

You can use leftover prime rib in any recipes that use leftover steak. Slice the rib roast and serve it on a ciabatta bun slathered with horseradish sauce. Or use the leftover meat to make delicious Italian steak sandwiches. For a spicy spin, try making steak tacos with Sriracha aioli and fresh salsa.