Standing Rib Roast
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Apr 15, 2025 
How about a juicy flavorful Prime Rib au Jus with a crusty exterior and pink center for your holiday feast? This foolproof Standing Rib Roast recipe is a show-stopper every time you make it!
Make Any Meal Feel Like a Special Occassion!
Christmas dinner is truly a celebration in our home. It’s a recipe or meal concept we don’t have very often throughout the year, so we put a lot of careful thought into the menu.
Something that takes care in preparation… Something that makes all who partake feel special.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Standing Prime Rib Roast is one of our favorite such recipes! It’s a perfect elegant centerpiece on a holiday table for Christmas or any special gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Standing Rib Roast Recipe
- Incredible Flavor – The crispy exterior of the meat is bold and salty, with an herb and whole grain mustard crust. The interior stays pink and juicy with a rich beefy flavor!
- Surprisingly Easy – While it’s not a super fast dish to make you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how few and simple the recipe steps are!
- Sure to Impress – Everyone knows that prime rib is guaranteed to make guests happy with a luxurious meal!
Go ahead and put this recipe on your must-make list for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter, graduations, anniversaries… If there are people getting together for a festive dinner, rib roast is always a perfect entree!
Ingredients and Tips
- Standing Rib Roast – Look for one that is 5-6 pounds for roughly 8-10 servings.
- Whole Grain Mustard – The super grainy kind.
- Bacon Grease – This makes the meat ultra flavorful and moist. But you can leave it out and substitute with olive oil or melted unsalted butter , if you prefer.
- Aromatics – Fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme, plus minced garlic.
- Kosher salt and pepper – Always a must-have when you’re working with beef to bring out the deepest savory flavors.
Tips for How To Cook Standing Rib Roast
The reason I consider this method “fool-proof” is that I leave an oven-safe instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the roast as it’s cooking. Once the internal temperature reaches 125 degrees F, remove it from the oven and allow the beef roast to rest so the juices redistribute.
Using a leave-in meat thermometer eliminates the chance of over-cooking this Standing Rib Roast Recipe. Perfection every single time! If you use an oven thermometer, you cannot mess this up.
It also helps to place the standing rib roast in a hot oven so the exterior starts to form a crust, but then lower the heat so it cooks slowly and evenly for a perfect pink every time.
Find the full Standing Rib Roast recipe with detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Storage Notes
- Storing Leftovers – When you are ready to pack up this recipe, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then place it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. You can keep it in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Freezing – Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and bring to room temperature before cutting and serving.
- Reheating – You can reheat prime rib leftovers in a 250 degree F oven. Wrap it in foil and heat until just warm… You don’t want to cook it further. The time depends on the size of the piece of meat left, anywhere from 10-20 minutes.
If you’re trying to reheat a frozen roast, then the first step would be to thaw it out in the fridge for 8+ hours. When it is fully thawed and ready to reheat, preheat the oven to 250 degrees F and place the meat on a baking pan with some au jus. Cover it with foil and place in the oven for about 10 minutes or until it feels warm.
What to Serve with Prime Rib au Jus
Pair thick slices of meaty, savory and juicy prime rib with any of your favorite elevated or casual side dishes! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Brussels with Bacon and Beer Recipe
- Epic Seafood Stuffing
- Roasted Squash with Blue Cheese Pear Streusel Recipe
- Classic Homemade Caesar Salad Recipe
- The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe
- Spicy Mesquite Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe
- And/or Savory Orzo Stuffing Recipe
And add a side of horseradish sauce, garlic butter sauce, and mustard sauce!
Frequently Asked Questions
Standing Rib Roast is essentially a large cut of bone-in ribeye steak or prime rib, so the fat is marbled throughout, creating an ultra-luxurious taste and texture.
Standing Rib and Prime Rib are essentially the same cut of beef. However, a standing rib roast is trimmed so that it can be cooked with the bones facing upward for a dramatic effect.
We start with a super hot oven at 450 to create that beautiful crust on the outside of the roast. Then we drop the temperature down to 350 to finish the cooking process.
Stand the meat with the bone up when roasting.
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Standing Rib Roast Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 5-6 pounds standing rib roast
- 2 1/2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon bacon grease
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Salt and cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and remove the upper rack to make space in the oven. Line a rimmed baking dish with foil or parchment paper and place the standing rib roast on it. If your roast is not trimmed, carefully cut the excess fat off the top to expose the rib bones. Look for the natural separation between the meat and the fat and cut along the separation. Clean the rib bones with a paring knife.
- Stand the roast with the rib point up. Combine the mustard, bacon grease, thyme, garlic, 1 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper in a small bowl. Mix well, then rub over the surface of the standing rib roast. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the center of the roast, pushing the tip in until it’s directly in the middle.
- Place the roast in the oven and roast for 20 minutes. Then lower the heat to 350 degrees F and continue roasting until the interior temperature reaches 125 degrees F. Remove from the oven and allow the roast to rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Storing Leftovers – When you are ready to pack up this recipe, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then place it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. You can keep it in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Freezing – Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and bring to room temperature before cutting and serving.
- Reheating – You can reheat prime rib leftovers in a 250 degree F oven. Wrap it in foil and heat until just warm… You don’t want to cook it further. The time depends on the size of the piece of meat left, anywhere from 10-20 minutes.
I am going to be cooking for you and ltDan and kids please tell Lt Dan don’t forget the cocktail sauce and ice .
I’d love to try this! About how long should I expect to cook after I lower the temp? (I know to wait for 125 degrees, but I’d like to plan my timing). Thanks!
Such a stunning main course for dinner — great for the holidays too! Thanks for the recipe!
This makes such an elegant and impressive holiday meal! So delicious and it’s always a hit with my crowd!