The air fryer is the perfect appliance to make a show-stopping prime rib roast. Seasoned with a mustard and herb rub, this prime rib will impress all of your guests for any special occasion. With a flavourful mustard-herb crust, this air fryer prime rib roast beef is an easy addition to your holiday table, without having to heat up the oven!
Prime rib is 100%, undoubtedly intimidating. I personally feel like the larger the cut of meat (turkey, I am looking at you), the more accident-prone the meal is.
While a good old fashioned oven is always a surefire way to make prime rib, I have been on this kick where I am making everything in my air fryer (air fryer roast garlic, air fried turkey breast). Honestly, it's been pretty damn good. You get a perfect crust, little mess and clean up, and the air fryer is so much easier to use.
This prime rib is pretty much drool worthy on its own, but it is apparently not socially acceptable to eat a hunk of meat for dinner. So, with that being said, serve it up with some steakhouse red skin mashed potatoes and a caesar salad and you're good to go!
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A Note About Air Fryers
While air fryers are amazing, their power, sizes and cooking times vary greatly at times. This recipe is based on the air fryer that I use in my kitchen. Please note that cooking times may vary based on the specific brand that you use in your kitchen. For this reason, always keep an eye on your food while cooking. You may need to adjust cooking times up or down based on the brand you are using.
Ingredients
- Prime rib roast
- Olive oil
- Dijon mustard
- Fresh or dried thyme
- Onion powder
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
A full list of ingredients with measurements is located on the recipe card, below.
Instructions
START WITH...
Bring the meat to room temperature - Best practice is to bring your cut of meat to room temperature, to get a nice crust while cooking.
Collecting all your ingredients - This will make cooking so much easier. Gather all the spices you will need, and keep them nearby.
Pat the rib roast dry on both sides with a paper towel. This will ensure that the mustard rub sticks, and that the outside will brown evenly. Too much moisture on the exterior will cause the meat to steam.
In a bowl or measuring cup, mix together the ingredients for the mustard rub. Using a silicone pastry brush, spread a liberal coat of the rub on one side of the roast.
Place the roast in the air fryer basket, rub side down. Evenly spread the other side of the roast with another liberal coat of the rub. If using, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the meat.
Air fry at 375°F until a meat thermometer reads between 130-134°F for medium-rare prime rib. Remove from the air fryer, and transfer to a cutting board. Tent with foil, and let rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.
EXPERT TIP
The following is a doneness chart, depending on the size of your prime rib and your desired doneness:
| Rare | 120-129°F | (49-54°C) |
| Medium Rare | 130-134°F | (55-57°C) |
| Medium | 135-144°F | (58-62°C) |
| Medium Well | 145-154°F | (63-67°C) |
| Well Done | 155-164°F | (68-73°C) |
Keep in mind that the temperature of your meat will rise up to 15° while resting!
Variations
- Black pepper crust - Crust the beef heavily with coarse ground black peppercorns, for a spicy twist on prime rib!
- Sliders - Use leftover prime rib to make sliders. Slice thinly, and make sandwiches with mini brioche rolls, horseradish mayonnaise, and crispy onions.
Equipment
This is what I used to make this recipe - Please be mindful that different equipment and cooking utensils may yield varying results. Most of my favourite equipment can be found on my storefront.
- Air fryer
- Meat thermometer
- Mixing bowl
Storage
The prime rib will keep well in the fridge for 2-3 days, in an airtight container. Reheat covered in foil.
You can freeze cooked prime rib for up to six months in the freezer, provided it is stored in an airtight, freezer friendly container. To reheat, defrost the prime rib and heat in the oven or air fryer covered in foil.
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Air Fryer Prime Rib Roast Beef
Ingredients
- 4 lb Prime rib roast bone in
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Thyme fresh or dried
- 1 tablespoon Sea salt
- 1 tablespoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Dry the meat: Pat the rib roast dry on both sides with a paper towel. This will ensure that the mustard rub sticks, and that the outside will brown evenly. Too much moisture on the exterior will cause the meat to steam.4 lb Prime rib roast
- Make the rub: In a bowl or measuring cup, mix together the ingredients for the mustard rub. Using a silicone pastry brush, spread a liberal coat of the rub on one side of the roast.½ cup Dijon mustard, ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil, 3 cloves Garlic, 1 teaspoon Onion powder, 1 tablespoon Thyme, 1 tablespoon Sea salt, 1 tablespoon Black pepper
- Transfer to the air fryer: Place the roast in the air fryer basket, rub side down. Evenly spread the other side of the roast with another liberal coat of the rub. If using, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the meat.
- Cook: Air fry at 375°F until a meat thermometer reads between 130-134°F for medium-rare prime rib. Remove from the air fryer, and transfer to a cutting board. Tent with foil, and let rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.
Equipment
- Meat Thermometer
- Mixing Bowl
Video
Notes
| Rare | 120-129°F | (49-54°C) |
| Medium Rare | 130-134°F | (55-57°C) |
| Medium | 135-144°F | (58-62°C) |
| Medium Well | 145-154°F | (63-67°C) |
| Well Done | 155-164°F | (68-73°C) |
Karen
What are the overall approximate frying times? I cannot figure out what time to put the roast into the air fryer. For example, if I want to eat at 6pm, what time should I begin the cook time for a 6lb? 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.? I don’t have a thermometer that I can stick into the roast. Thank you.
Sunena Anand
Hi Karen! I would first like to apologize for the late response, due to the holidays coming in between. I hope if you were making this over the holidays, it turned out well. If you are still planning on making it, I would say that the cooking time for a 6lb roast would be approximately 1 1/2 hrs, with 15-20 minutes to rest the meat. I hope you had a wonderful holiday! 🙂