Air Fryer Prime Rib is a mouth-watering tender meat cooked perfectly for an easy dinner idea.
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I love using my air fryer for those decadent and delicious Sunday dinners and this air fryer prime rib roast recipe does not disappoint.
It’s filled with all the juicy prime rib flavors you know and love – plus it’s insanely easy to put together!
You can make this recipe with or without a rotisserie, but I cooked this in my Ninja Foodi using the air crisp option.
Wondering what that means? Well, it works the same as my Cosori Air Fryer, it’s just a different brand and looks a little different!
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- What exactly is a prime rib cut of meat is compared to other cuts of meats (that you can also cook in the air fryer!)
- How to make prime rib in the air fryer
- What the best temperature to cook prime rib to is
- How long to cook prime rib in the air fryer
- How to reheat prime rib in the air fryer (including the full prime rib and pre-cooked rib slices)
What is Prime Rib?
Prime rib is a high-quality beef cut from primal rib. It’s often also called standing rib roast or prime rib roast.
It is a bone-in cut of beef that can contain up to 7 ribs unless referred to as a rib-eye roast. Then it’s boneless!
Prime rib has great marbling for a ton of flavor and turns out juicy and tender when cooked in the air fryer.
Are Ribeye Steak and Prime Rib the Same?
No, while they both come from the same primal rib section, they are cut and prepared differently. Prime rib is much larger than ribeye as well.
Looking to make Ribeye Steak in the Air Fryer? Follow these directions here!
How to Make Air Fryer Prime Rib
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees.
STEP TWO: Rub the prime rib with olive oil generously, then sprinkle it with salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
STEP THREE: Cover the prime rib with crushed garlic then the rosemary and thyme. I recommend using fresh rosemary and thyme for the best flavoring, but you can use dried as well.
STEP FOUR: Gently place the prime rib in the air fryer and cook for 20 minutes. This helps get that nice sear on the outside while allowing the inside to start cooking.
STEP FIVE: Leaving the prime rib steak in the air fryer, turn the temperature down to 315 degrees and continue to cook for about 55 minutes.
Always use an Instant-Read Thermometer to check for the internal temperature and pull it out at your desired doneness (temperatures are listed below).
If the prime rib roast needs more time to cook, give it another 5 to 10 minutes, then check with a thermometer again.
STEP SIX: Let the prime rib sit for 20 to 30 minutes, then slice and enjoy!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Prime Rib
- Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Brown Sugar Acorn Squash
- Baby Potatoes in the Air Fryer
You can also check out these other air fryer vegetables to try too!
How Long to Cook Prime Rib in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Prime Rib will take about 75 minutes to cook in total. I like to get a sear on the outside and then let it cook slowly in the middle to get that nice tender taste.
This air fryer prime rib roast recipe uses a 6lb cut of meat, so if you’re using a smaller cut, you should check the temperature after about 35 minutes.
I’ve cooked them as little as 2lbs and as big as 8lbs and they turn out fantastic!
What is the Best Temperature to Cook Prime Rib?
Prime Rib is best cooked to medium-rare at 130 to 135 degrees. It keeps a nice tender and juicy texture with the perfect flavors.
I recommend using an Instant-Read Thermometer to pull out the prime rib as soon as it hits the temperature you would like.
- Rare: 120 degrees
- Medium Rare: 130 degrees
- Medium: 140 degrees
- Medium Well: 150 degrees
- Well Done: 160 degrees
Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Prime Rib
- Let the prime rib set at room temperature for about an hour before cooking. This will allow it to warm up before cooking as you really shouldn’t cook the prime rib from cold. I like to add the seasonings and let it sit at room temperature to get the flavors to really stick.
- Pull the prime rib out of the air fryer when it’s 5-10 degrees lower than your desired doneness. It will continue to cook while it rests
- Let the cooked prime rib rest for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing to keep as many juices in as possible. I use this time to swap out the silicone liners or parchment rounds and cook a side dish in the air fryer!
Can I Cook Frozen Prime Rib in the Air Fryer?
Prime rib is such a tender and expensive cut of meat, I recommend thawing the prime rib roast first to get maximum flavor.
I do not recommend cooking prime rib from frozen in the air fryer for that reason.
How to Reheat Prime Rib in the Air Fryer
Since this is a larger cut of meat, I like to reheat it by cooking it slowly. This way the outside won’t overcook and become tough before the inside heats back up.
To reheat the full prime rib back up:
- Preheat your air fryer to 270 degrees.
- Lay the prime rib in the air fryer and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until warmed.
I recommend using an Instant-Read Thermometer to check the inside before pulling it out of the air fryer.
To reheat pre-cooked prime rib slices:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Place the prime rib slices in the air fryer in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes. Use a parchment paper round or silicone liner if the prime rib is sauced.
Other Recipes You Will Love:
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Air Fryer Steak
- Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs
- Air Fryer Bone-in Chicken Breasts
- Instant Pot Sirloin Tip Roast
- Air Fryer Country-Style Ribs
- Air Fryer Short Ribs
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Air Fryer Prime Rib
Ingredients
- 6 pound Prime Rib
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup minced garlic about 10 cloves
- One sprig fresh rosemary chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary)
- One sprig fresh thyme chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees.
- Rub the prime rib with olive oil generously, then sprinkle it with salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Cover the prime rib with crushed garlic then the rosemary and thyme. I
recommend using fresh rosemary and thyme for the best flavoring, but you
can use dried as well. - Gently place the prime rib in the air fryer and cook for 20 minutes.
- Leaving the prime rib steak in the air fryer, turn the temperature down
to 315 degrees and continue to cook for about 55 additional minutes until Instant-Read Thermometer reaches desired doneness — 130 degrees for medium-rare.* - Let the prime rib sit for 20 to 30 minutes, then slice and enjoy!
Notes
How to Reheat Prime Rib in the Air Fryer:
To Reheat Full Prime Prime Rib:
- Preheat your air fryer to 270 degrees.
- Lay the prime rib in the air fryer and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until warmed.
To Reheat Pre-Cooked Prime Rib Slices:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Place the prime rib slices in the air fryer in a single layer and cook for
about 2 minutes. Use a parchment paper or silicone liner if the prime
rib is sauced.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
I am a new Ninja air fryer user. Am a little intimidated by it all. When do I use the crisper plate? Do use it only when I want to fry items? If I am cooking a roast or brussels sprouts, do I just put it in the basket? The directions that came with the fryer are not clear. I have a Ninja DZ201 two basket.
Thank you for your help.
Hi Elizabeth, great question! I like to use the crisper plate whenever I air fry anything to let the air circulate underneath. You wouldn’t need it for things like are in pans, like cake, etc.
Are temperatures in degrees F or C
Temperatures are all in F.
This there a certain setting on the air fryer your use?
I use the air crisp or air fryer function on any recipes listed as air fryer on my site.
How would you adjust the temp and/or cooking time for a smaller roast like 3lbs?
Hi Steph, I personally use a Dot alarm to keep an eye on the temperature while it cooks in the air fryer. If you can’t get one of those, keep the same cooking temperature, check the temperature at half the time, and add more time as needed.