My Christmas prime rib dinner menu includes the best prime rib roast recipes and side dishes for a fantastic meal. From the main course to dinner rolls, salads, and side dishes, this list of Christmas favorites has everything you need! This Christmas will be one for the books.
For the main course, choose any of my tried and tested prime rib recipes. You can find more serving suggestions on my prime rib side dish and Christmas side dish pages!
Jump to:
- 1. Christmas Prime Rib
- 2. Wedge Salad
- 3. Dauphinoise Potatoes
- 4. Green Beans Almondine
- 5. Cheesy Baked Asparagus
- 6. Candied Carrots
- 7. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
- 8. Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
- 9. Prime Rib Red Wine Au Jus
- 10. Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- 11. Oat Rolls
- 12. Butternut Squash Risotto
- 13. Creamed Kale
- 14. Instant Pot Artichokes
- 15. Apple Cranberry Pie
- 💭 Tips For The Best Christmas Prime Rib Dinner
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Christmas Prime Rib Dinner Menu: 15+ Showstopping Recipes For The Best Holiday Dinner!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
Prime rib has been a holiday tradition with my family for as long as I can remember. The ultra-tender, succulent texture, and rich beefy flavor made Christmas dinner feel like an extra special occasion!
Below is my favorite Christmas prime rib roast recipe and a few alternate options with equally tender and flavorful results. After that, there are dinner rolls, salads, and side dishes, so you can mix and match to build your perfect Christmas menu!
Whether you're a pro at hosting Christmas dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Christmas a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday prime rib early, too!
1. Christmas Prime Rib
This succulent main course features a perfectly roasted prime rib coated with horseradish and seasoned to perfection with my prime rib dry rub. The result is a tender, juicy, and oh-so-flavorful roast that makes a show-stopping centerpiece for your Christmas dinner table!
If you would prefer to fire up the grill for Christmas, grilled prime rib and smoked prime rib are also excellent options. That flame-kissed smokey flavor can't be beat!
2. Wedge Salad
Wedge salads are a classic combination of iceberg lettuce wedges drizzled with creamy blue cheese dressing. Each wedge is topped with crispy bacon bits, cherry tomatoes, chives, and more blue cheese crumbles!
If you prefer smaller salads or plan to make a big bowl of salad for guests to self-serve, try a green garden salad or Caesar salad. Homemade dressing is the way to go!
3. Dauphinoise Potatoes
These thinly sliced potatoes are baked to golden perfection in a creamy, garlicky gratin sauce. This decadent potato side dish complements the prime rib beautifully, adding a rich and savory element to your Christmas dinner spread!
4. Green Beans Almondine
Green beans always pair wonderfully with beef, and the addition of crunchy slivered almonds elevates them to Christmas side dish status! It's a classic French recipe worthy of any restaurant table, yet surprisingly easy to make and adds a pop of color to your plate!
5. Cheesy Baked Asparagus
Asparagus spears are coated in a creamy, cheesy sauce and baked until golden and bubbly. This elevates the classic vegetable into a rich, flavorful side that pairs wonderfully with succulent prime rib!
6. Candied Carrots
With just five ingredients, you can turn sliced carrots into tender, sweet, and utterly snackable bites of candied goodness! It's a quick 30-minute recipe that always comes with rave reviews from kids and adults alike!
7. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Creamy mashed sweet potatoes topped with a generous layer of melted marshmallows that turn golden brown in the oven. The result is a heavenly side dish that will add a touch of nostalgia and warmth to your Christmas prime rib dinner!
8. Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
Enhance your Christmas prime rib dinner by serving this creamy smoked Gouda mac and cheese on the side. The rich and smoky Gouda adds a savory component to the plate that will perfectly complement the flavor of your roast!
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
9. Prime Rib Red Wine Au Jus
A delicious sauce can make a significant impact on the overall meal! With prime rib, using the drippings to create a rich prime rib au jus is one of the best options.
Adding red wine is an easy upgrade that I love to break out on special occasions, giving it an even more luxurious depth of flavor. Creamy horseradish sauce is another condiment classically paired with prime rib roast!
10. Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
For an easy vegetable side dish, try my balsamic roasted brussel sprouts. The sprouts are oven-roasted to perfection with a flavorful balsamic glaze that adds a tangy element everyone will love!
11. Oat Rolls
Complement your holiday feast with some warm and soft oat dinner rolls. These wholesome rolls add a comforting touch to your meal and are perfect for soaking up those decadent prime rib juices!
12. Butternut Squash Risotto
Creamy Arborio rice meets the sweet and nutty notes of butternut squash in this delectable dish for a sophisticated seasonal side dish. The velvety texture and rich flavors make this risotto a standout addition to your holiday dinner spread!
13. Creamed Kale
Enjoy kale like never before by simmering it until tender in an ultra-creamy cheese sauce. Creamed spinach would be a great alternative with the same velvety-rich flavor!
14. Instant Pot Artichokes
Using an Instant Pot streamlines the artichoke preparation process, ensuring tender and flavorful results. The tender leaves are best dipped in a side of drawn butter and can be served as an appetizer or side dish!
15. Apple Cranberry Pie
Round off your prime rib Christmas feast by indulging in a delectable apple cranberry pie. Enjoy the classic flavors of tart cranberries and sweet apple pie filling in a flaky pie crust for the perfect end to a perfect dinner!
💭 Tips For The Best Christmas Prime Rib Dinner
For the best prime rib, follow my guidelines on how long to keep prime rib in the freezer and how long you can keep it thawed in the fridge. Here are some more of my top tips and tricks for making the most outstanding prime rib dinner:
- Choose a quality roast: Start with a high-quality prime rib roast. Look for well-marbled meat and follow my guide to choosing the best prime rib roast!
- Bring the meat to room temp: Take the prime rib out of the refrigerator a few hours before cooking to bring it to room temperature. This helps it cook more evenly.
- Season generously: Season your prime rib liberally with my prime rib rub, salt, pepper, or any other herbs or spices you like. Garlic, thyme, and rosemary are classic choices!
- Use a meat thermometer: A good-quality meat thermometer is the most accurate way to ensure your prime rib is perfectly cooked. For medium rare (my preference), your roast should be about 135°F (57°C) at the thickest part. Follow my guide to prime rib cooking temperatures for other levels of doneness.
- Rest: Let your prime rib roast rest under a sheet of foil for at least 20-30 minutes after cooking and before slicing. This is one of the most important steps for a juicier and flavorful roast!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
📖 Recipe Card
Christmas Prime Rib Dinner Menu: 15+ Showstopping Recipes For The Best Holiday Dinner!
Ingredients
Boneless Prime Rib Roast
- 5 lb prime rib (boneless roast or standing rib roast)
- 2 tablespoon horseradish (for coating the roast)
Prime Rib Rub
- 1 ½ tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon coarse ground pepper (freshly ground is best)
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Preparation
- First, rinse your prime rib roast under cool running water, then pat it dry using paper towels. Slice off any excess fat or silver skin if desired. If possible, set your roast out 1-2 hours before cooking to come to room temperature.
- (optional) Use butcher twine to tie your roast. For boneless prime rib, space the twine out every 1.5 inches down the length of the roast.
Prime Rib Rub
- In a small bowl, combine all of the dry rub ingredients (salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground sage, dried rosemary and dried thyme) and set it aside.
- Put your roast on a baking sheet or in a baking dish coat it with the 2 tablespoons of horseradish all over. Season it generously with the dry rub on all sides. Massage the seasoning into the meat and roll the edges of the roast in any excess that has fallen off.
Roasting The Prime Rib
- Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C).
- Transfer the prepared roast to a roasting pan (fat-side-up for boneless roasts or bone-side-down for a standing rib roast). Place in the oven and roast for about 3 hours and 45 minutes, or roughly 45 minutes per pound.
- Once your roast has an internal temperature of 120-125°F (49-52°C) for RARE, 125-129°F (52-54°C) for MEDIUM RARE, 130-139°F (54-59°C) for MEDIUM, or 140-145°F (60-63°C) for MEDIUM DONE, take it out of the oven and loosely tent a piece of foil over the top. Let it rest for 20-30 minutes before slicing and serving.
(Optional) Reverse Sear
- If you would like to reverse sear your roast, take it out of the oven 10°F (5.5°C) shy of your ideal internal temperature. Transfer it to a cutting board and cover it with aluminum foil as you bring up the temperature of the oven to 500°F (260°C).
- Once the oven comes to temperature, return the roast for 5-10 minutes or until it reaches your desired internal temperature. *This will happen quickly so keep a close eye on it.
- Remove the seared prime rib from the oven and tent a piece of foil loosely over the top. Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If you don't have or don't like horseradish, you can try making this Christmas prime rib roast using a horseradish substitute.
- Always check the internal temperature of your meat in the thickest part. It is good practice to check a few other areas toward the center to confirm doneness.
- Remember, the internal temperature for your roast will continue to increase 5-7°F (3-4°C) after being removed from the oven, also known as 'carryover cooking'. Plan for this by removing the roast just shy of your ideal temperature.
- To store: Allow the Christmas prime rib roast to cool, then place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: Wrap the roast in plastic wrap and place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 months and thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. Check out my post 'how long can you keep prime rib in the freezer' for more information.
- To reheat: Place the roast in a baking dish with up to ¼ cup of beef broth (depending on how much meat there is) and bake at 300°F (150°C) until it reaches your desired internal temperature.
Nutrition
Originally published November 25, 2023
Comments
No Comments