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Close-up of a perfectly cooked Small Prime Rib Roast, showing a medium-rare pink center and a dark, seasoned crust.

Small Prime Rib Roast (Serves 4–6) — Big Flavor, Fast

This recipe delivers a delicious prime rib roast for a small group with big flavor and minimal time commitment. Perfect for busy home cooks.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting Time 2 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 1757
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Roast
  • 1 bone-in prime rib roast 4 pound, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
  • to taste kosher salt

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Small bowl
  • Plate

Method
 

  1. Place the prime rib roast on a plate and let it come to room temperature for 2 to 4 hours. For best results, aim for 6 hours if time allows.
  2. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
  3. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, black pepper, and herbes de Provence. Mix until well combined.
  4. Spread this butter mixture evenly over the entire roast. Season generously with kosher salt.
  5. Place the 4-pound roast in the preheated oven and cook for 20 minutes. If your roast has a different weight, multiply its exact weight in pounds by 5 minutes to determine the cooking time.
  6. Turn off the oven. Do not open the oven door. Leave the roast inside the oven for 2 hours. The trapped heat will finish cooking the meat.
  7. Remove the roast from the oven. Slice and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 1757kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 73gFat: 161gSaturated Fat: 70gCholesterol: 362mgSodium: 343mgPotassium: 1189mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 8mg

Notes

This recipe is designed for busy cooks who want impressive results without a long cooking time. The resting period in the turned-off oven is key to achieving a perfectly cooked roast.

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