Air Fryer Prime Rib is made with simple ingredients and cooks in less than 1 1/2 hours. It’s always juicy, tender, and mouthwateringly good!

sliced prime rib in air fryer
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Prime Rib In The Air Fryer

Are you looking for a delicious and impressive dish to make for your next holiday gathering? This droolworthy dish is sure to impress your guests and please even picky tastebuds! Plus, it’s easy to prepare using your air fryer. So, why not give it a try? You won’t be disappointed!

There is nothing wrong with traditional roasted prime rib recipes. But this air fryer prime rib roast recipe has quickly become one of my favorites. With an air fryer, you can make restaurant-quality prime rib at home in just minutes.

This revolutionary cooking device uses hot air to cook food quickly and evenly, resulting in a juicy dish that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Ready to try it for yourself? Follow our simple guide to create the perfect prime rib.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Prime Rib Roast Recipe

  • Only 9 ingredients
  • Impressive
  • Flavorful
  • Simple directions
  • Family approved
  • Enough to feed 8 people
  • Reheating prime rib in the air fryer is easy!

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Air Fryer Prime Rib

Every year, I make Prime Rib for Christmas or New Year’s Eve dinner. It is a great dish that is easy to cook and requires little effort. If you are hosting this year, give it a try!

If you are not familiar with Prime Rib, it’s a rather expensive cut of meat. Since I didn’t want anyone to waste their money by cooking a prime rib in the air fryer that comes out tough and disappointing, I turned my attention to making the PERFECT AIR FRYER RECIPE FOR PRIME RIB!

What Is Prime Rib?

Prime rib is a cut of beef that comes from the primal rib section. It can be served whole on the bone or as individual ribs on the bone. The meat may also be presented in large slices with the fat trimmed off.

Prime rib usually refers to beef that has been roasted at high temperatures for several hours, resulting in an exceptionally tender and juicy piece of meat. Various spices are often used during cooking to add flavor and enhance coloration. Commonly browning agents like garlic, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper are added to achieve this effect.

One thing that you should know about prime rib is that it will continue to cook once removed from heat; allow it to rest before slicing into it so that juices rest in the middle.

Why Prime Rib is Classic for Occasions

The holidays are coming, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a beautifully carved prime rib. Prime rib is the perfect dish for any occasion, from Christmas dinner to a wedding reception. The best part about it is that you don’t have to do much prep work – buy a package of meat and leave it in the refrigerator until you’re ready!

Then, make this air fryer prime rib roast recipe! So easy and delicious!

Ingredients Needed For This Prime Rib Air Fryer Recipe

ingredients to make air fryer prime rib
  • Prime Rib
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Garlic Powder
  • Crushed Garlic
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme

How To Make Air Fryer Prime Rib

slab of prime rib

Step 1: Season the prime rib

Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F, air fryer setting. Remove the prime rib from the packaging. Rub the prime rib with the olive oil generously. Then, sprinkle the top and sides with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Cover it with crushed garlic.  Finally, add the rosemary and thyme all over the meat. 

seasoned prime rib

Step 2: Air fry prime rib

Place the prime rib in the air fryer basket. Air fry meat for about 20 minutes at 390 degrees F, air fryer setting. Then turn the air fryer temperature down to 325 degrees. Continue cooking for about 55 minutes. 

freshly cooked prime rib

Step 3: Rest

Use a meat thermometer to temp it and judge the doneness of the inside.  You want the temperature to reach about 135 degrees internally for a medium rib roast.

If the temperature inside is too low, continue cooking for an additional ten minutes and check again. Once you’ve reached your desired doneness, remove it from the air fryer and allow it to rest for about 20 minutes before slicing!

Air Fryer Prime Rib

Air Fryer Prime Rib Roast Recipe Notes:

  • Size of Prime Rib: I can make this air fryer prime rib roast recipe with about an 8 pound roast. Make sure to consider how big your air fryer is when you buy your meat ( and what size piece of meat it will hold). You can always cut the meat down a little or ask the butcher for a specific size. 
  • Preparing The Prime Rib: When you remove the prime rib from the packaging, you may find that it’s been tied with strings. Simply remove those before cooking the meat in the air fryer.
  • Internal Temperature: Most prime ribs are cooked medium to medium-rare. This would mean your thermometer should read somewhere between 115-135 degrees, depending on how much “pink” or “red” you like!
  • Let your Meat Rest: Allow the meat to stand for about twenty minutes before slicing it. This helps ensure that the juices stay in the meat, which helps to give you a moist and tender piece of beef and prevents dryness. 
  • Cutting Your Prime Rib: As with most cuts of meat – always slice against the grain!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use A Boneless Roast?

A boneless roast is another cut that you can use in place of a prime rib for roasting in the air fryer!

The cooking time will vary based on the weight and size of your boneless roast, but they cook up perfectly in the air fryer!

How Well Done Should I Cook Prime Rib?

This prime rib air fryer recipe is perfect for the holidays. But what’s the best way to cook it so that it’s juicy and flavorful? Should you go rare, medium-rare, or well done?

The ideal temperature for prime rib is medium-rare. You will still get the fantastic crispy edges, but the center will be medium rare.

Air Fryer Prime Rib

Determining the Doneness of Prime Rib

This guide will show you the signs that your prime rib is ready to serve:

  • For a rare roast: 115°F.
  • Medium rare: 120°F.
  • For medium: 130°F.

What Should I Serve with Prime Rib?

There are many different options, but here are some of our favorites: Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Air Fryer Macaroni and Cheese, Air Fryer Green Beans, and even Air Fryer Pull-Apart Rolls!

Storage

If you find yourself with leftover prime rib, be sure to store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating Prime Rib In Air Fryer

Place the prime rib in the air fryer basket. Reheat prime rib in air fryer at 375 degrees for 5-10 minutes or until it’s hot. Keep in mind that every air fryer is a little bit different so you may need to warm it longer.

More Air Fryer Recipes:

Air Fryer Prime Rib

Air Fryer Prime Rib

4.37 from 50 votes
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Description

Air Fryer Prime Rib — Are you looking for a delicious and impressive dish to make for your next holiday gathering? Look no further than air fryer prime rib! This mouth-watering dish is sure to impress your guests. Plus, it's easy to prepare using your air fryer. So why not give it a try? You won't be disappointed!

Ingredients 

  • 6 pounds prime rib
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoke paprika, 1
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup crushed garlic
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, diced

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F, air fryer setting.
  • Remove the prime rib from the packaging.
  • Rub the prime rib with the olive oil generously.
  • Then sprinkle the top and sides with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
  • Cover it with the crushed garlic.

Finally, add the the Rosemary and Thyme all over the meat.

  •   Place prime rib in your air fryer basket.
  • Air fry meat for about 20 minutes at 390 degrees. Then turn the air fryer temperature down to 325 degrees. Continue cooking for about 55 minutes.
  • Use a meat thermometer to temp it and judge the doneness of the inside.
  • For a medium rib roast you want the temperature to reach about 135 degrees internally.
  • If the temperature inside is too low, continue cooking for an additional ten minutes and check again. Once you’ve reached your desired doneness remove it from the air fryer and allow it to rest for about 20 minutes before slicing!
  • Plate, serve, and enjoy!

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Notes

Recipe Notes:
My air fryer will fit up to about an 8 lb rib roast. Make sure to take into account how big your air fryer is when you buy your meat ( and what size piece of meat it will hold). You can always cut the meat down a little as well or ask the butcher for a specific size. 
When you remove the prime rib from the packaging if it’s tied with any strings you can take those off. You can see lines on the meat where this piece in the picture had strings from the store but it’s not necessary for cooking it in the air fryer, it’s better to remove them.
Most prime ribs are cooked medium to medium-rare. This would mean your thermometer should read somewhere in between 115-135 degrees depending on how much “pink” or “red” you like!
Allow the meat to stand for about twenty minutes before slicing it. This helps ensure that the juices stay in the meat more and don’t just immediately leave after cutting. This helps give you a nice moist and tender piece of meat and prevents dryness. 
As with any meat – always cut against the grain!
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 1072kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 47gFat: 96gSaturated Fat: 39gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 43gCholesterol: 206mgSodium: 516mgPotassium: 793mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 182IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 5mg

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Air Fryer Prime Rib