Ribeye roast is a classic main entree for a special holiday or family meals, but the size of a rib roast is just not made for many smaller households. Learn to cook this delicious meal without eating leftovers for a week.
Introduction
A ribeye roast is a great company meal. But do you want to cook 5-10 pounds of meat if you have a smaller household? That will feed 10-20 people. That is just not friendly for most households.
Let’s make the ribeye roast “friendlier” for smaller households with these easy step by step instructions. Cut down for the smaller household; this recipe will not leave you eating leftovers all week.
I will confess, ribeye roast is just one of the cuts of meat I generally have passed over. They are generally huge and is just the wrong size for our home needs. But it can be “friendlier” for smaller households on special occasions.
I used an Allrecipes.com recipe for inspiration but had some changes. Most significant is the decrease in butter. Due to the initial searing temperature of 500 degrees, that amount of butter is just going to melt off and smoke.
My Rating
A very nice roast with great taste and fork-tender. A nice 5.
🐄Ribeye
There is some confusion about prime rib vs. ribeye. The first point is “prime rib” is more of a marketing term. What we think of as prime rib is generally a rib-in standing rib roast. It does not need to be prime grade, but will usually be choice grade.
I also want to mention that a ribeye is not an "eye of round." Eye of round is from the "round" area in the diagram above near the tail area. It is lean but can use a similar cooking technique.
If you have a rib steak (prime rib steak), then the rib bone is left intact. But in a bone-in ribeye steak, rib bone will be cut through in the interest of consistent thickness. But most ribeye steaks in the US are boneless. If bone-in ribeye steak in the US, it will usually be called a cowboy steak or cowboy ribeye. This is usually cut 2 inches or thicker.
So, in summary, ribeye is not a prime rib, while prime rib does contains the ribeye. A prime rib may not be prime graded, although I think it should be, so ask. Roast with rib may be called “prime rib” or standing rib roast. In the US, things labeled ribeye will almost always be boneless.
Now you are educated or very confused.
⏰🌡️Time and Temperature
After an initial 20 minute searing at 500° oven for 20 minutes, then decrease the temperature of the oven to 325° and continue to roast until desired internal temperature.
For my 2 ½ pound roast, the initial 20 minutes plus an additional 45 minutes for 130°, 55 minutes for 140°, and 60 minutes for 145°.
But when I used a roast slightly over 3 pounds, it added about 30 minutes to the above cooking times. So pay attention.
Never cook by time alone. Always check with a meat thermometer.
🔥Smoking Ovens
Even though I took some steps to decrease the smoking oven issues. Mainly I cut back the butter that was going to melt off and having no chance of adding flavor.
You probably will still have some because you have fat from the meat and butter in a 500° oven. Fat is going to hit hot metal somewhere and smoke.
So you have some choices about if this smokes too much for you:
- You can realize it will probably happen and live with it. Lots of exhaust fans and open windows.
- You can eliminate the butter and use a higher temperature vegetable oil, which still may smoke some but less.
- You can add some water to the pan under the rack, so when the butter melts off, it hits the water (max temp of 212) instead of the 500-degree pan. This is my favorite.
- You can skip the "searing" entirely. It will take a bit longer, but it will be fine.
📖Special Meal Recipes
How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on a Gas Grill
Smaller Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham
How To Roast a Turkey Breast with Gravy
How to Grill a Filet Mignon on a Gas Grill
How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin on a Gas Grill
🖼️Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat oven to 500 degrees and lower a rack so the roast will be in the middle of the oven.
Mix 3 tablespoon of softened butter with 3 cloves of crushed garlic. Poke a 15-20 half inch knife holes into the roast.
Slather the butter/garlic mixture onto the roast, pushing some of the mixture into the holes. Add some salt and pepper to the roast. Prep a roasting pan with a rack and give the rack a heavy coat of PAM. A cake pan is good here. The pan needs some sides to prevent splatter. I suggest using the rack and a bit of water under the rack to cut down the smoke.
Place the fat side up on the rack and into a 500-degree oven for 20 minutes, then decrease the temperature of the oven to 325 degrees and continue to roast until desired internal temperature. For my 2 ½ pound roast, an additional 45 minutes for 130 degrees, 55 minutes for 140, and 60 minutes for 145. But when I used roast slightly over 3 pounds, it added 30 minutes to the cooking time. Never cook by time alone. Always check with a meat thermometer.
Tent lightly with foil and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes before cutting. Remember, the roast may increase a few degrees when tented.
📖Full Recipe
Small Ribeye Roast
Ingredients
- 2-3 pound boneless ribeye roast
- 3 cloves garlic crushed or minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500° and lower a rack so the roast will be in the middle of the oven.
- Mix 3 tablespoon of softened butter with 3 cloves of crushed or minced garlic.
- Poke a 15-20 half inch knife holes into the roast.
- Slather the butter/garlic mixture onto the roast pushing some of the mixture into the holes. Add some salt and pepper to the roast to taste.
- Prep a roasting pan with a rack and give the rack a heavy coat of PAM. A cake or roasting pan is good here. The pan needs some sides to prevent splatter. Add a bit of water under the rack to decrease smoking.
- Place on rack fat side up and into a 500° oven for 20 minutes then decrease the temperature of the oven to 325° and continue to roast until desired internal temperature.
- For my 2 ½ pound roast, an additional 45 minutes for 130°, 55 minutes for 140° and 60 minutes for 145°. But when I used roast slightly over 3 pounds, it added 30 minutes to the cooking time. Never cook by time alone. Always check with a meat thermometer. Your time may vary.
- Tent lightly with foil and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes before cutting. Remember the roast will increase in temperature a few degrees when tented.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- A good estimate of size of the roast is ⅓ to ½ pound per serving.
- Never cook by time alone. Always check with a meat thermometer.
- Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and can be frozen for 3-4 days.
You may have some smoke issues. You have some choices.
- You can just realize it will probably happen and live with it. Lots of exhaust fans and open windows.
- You can eliminate the butter and use a higher temperature vegetable oil which still may smoke some but less.
- You can add some water to the pan under the rack, so when the butter melts off, it hits the water (max temp of 212) instead of the 500-degree pan. This is my favorite.
- You can skip the "searing" entirely. It will take a bit longer but will be fine, it is a great juicy cut of meat.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition
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Editor's Note: Originally published September 17, 2017. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Julie
Sir, I want to thank you so much for your small roast instructions. I always do a large roast, but for some reason I had a 2lb rib roast in my freezer. I knew I couldn't roast it like I normally do and was afraid that I would ruin it. I followed your instructions exactly (using a meat thermometer) and it was perfect. It was served with wilted lettuce from our hydroponic garden and mashed potatoes. Fantastic meal. Thank you for making it such a success. Julie
Vince Delisi
I’ve been cooking for many, many years and always worried about a small roast. I followed this exactly and it was perfect! Better than a $100+ meal at a steakhouse for under 20. Thanks. I will use this from now on. Old dog- new trick.
Ron
OK - sounds good - but fat side is full and 1/2 inch thick ???
Anticipate slicing almost through the fat every one inch and 3 X's on each slice of fat and use as slice marker ?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Ron,
Welcome to the blog.
Cutting the fat is not need but sounds like it might look nice and be a marker as you suggest.
Dan
Renee
Dan
Thank you for the Perfect way to cook a small prime rib!!
I bought a 4.85 lb. ribeye that was still to large for two. I threw it into my freezer for 1.5 hours, took it out and sliced it into two. I seasoned and started it as you described, but it reduced to 250 and baked it until the internal temperature reached 121. The internal temp rose to 127 as it rested. I DID have a digital probe in place so I didn’t keep track of the time. Oh, my gosh it was so good! And I get to do it again in the not-to-distant future! Thank you again!!
Sharon Gardner
1half pound roast, how to cook rib eye?
Helen
Oh my gosh! Took the risk of making a new thing for Christmas dinner, but wow! better than the restaurants! Just me and hubby this year so it wasn't too great a risk, but I would definitely venture out into cooking this for company... even better, no need to go to prime rib Wednesday at a local eatery, when you never know if they will be sold out by the time you get there!
Linda
Perfect recipe. Followed the instructions to the letter and it came out great. I used 3 1/2 lb. roast. My husband could not wait for it, after smelling garlic all afternoon. I did use 2 full cups of water in the baking pan. Since I used a large turkey roaster extra water was not a problem.
Joe
Hi Linda,
How long did you cook the roast after the sear and what temperature did you get?
Thanks
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Joe,
It is discussed in the post above. Here is a shortcut to that area. https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/smaller-rib-eye-roast/#time-and-temperature
Dan
Julie Carnahan
I have a 31/2 lb roast and would also love to know how long you cooked, at what temp. I don't want to waste a $20. on sale cut of meat!! We like it rare. Thanks so much!!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Julie,
Welcome to the blog.
Rare is hard since what you define as rare may not be for others. So you must decide on the final internal temperature you want. You also have the variables of thickness, starting temperature of the meat, and your oven.
A rough guess, if you do the sear, is in the 75-90 minute total time (including the sear time) range for about 130 degrees (you may want lower). BUT you must monitor the internal temperature or you very likely will ruin your roast. Never cook by time alone.
A few other points. Start checking the internal temperature 15-20 minutes before your lowest time and then check frequently after that. And the final internal temp will usually rise a few degrees after removal from the oven and tented.
I know that is not the exact answer you wanted but hope it helps some. So get out the thermometer and be careful. Check the temp early and often.
Dan
Carol DiNardo
I am so pleased to find your blog. I have one question about the rib roast: Do the temperatures listed correspond to 135° for medium rare, 140° for medium, and 145° for medium well?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Carol,
Welcome to the blog. Not quit on the temps. The commonly accepted ranges are listed in the post https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/smaller-rib-eye-roast/#time-and-temperature. I was giving approximations to help people estimate when to check temps.
As always, never cook by time alone. Times vary by ovens, thicken of meat, and exact temps of the meat at the start of cooking. So keep an ey on it to get what you want. Always remember that the temp will rise a bit during the rest period (3-4°) and that you can always cook something a bit more but you can not uncook something.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Ronda K
Dr. Dan:
Thanks for the recipe for a smaller roast. I'll be making it for Christmas Day.
One question - Do you begin with the roast cold straight out of the refrigerator or do you begin with a roast that has been out of the refrigerator for a period of time?
Thanks for your help!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Ronda,
Welcome to the blog.
Either will work since we are cooking to a final internal temperature. Staight out of the refrigerator will take a bit longer to get to the temperature you want.
Dan
Debbie
I’m also interested in how the cooking time may vary with a bone in rib-eye roast. Searing it in a cast iron skillet vs. a 500 degree oven? Do I cook a 2.75, 2 rib roast standing on its ribs or laying down? Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Debbie,
Welcome to the blog.
Bone in will take a bit longer but not a lot. Sear on the stovetop should work fine but be a bit careful, the butter many not do well, you might want to sear with oil the brush with butter going into the oven.
Position. An individual choice. I would tend to stand it up if it is stable. Better cooking on both sides.
Dan
Added comment. I did not give a specific answer about "how much longer" since you are cooking to a final internal temp and not by time. Also, searing on the stovetop vs oven probably will increase the time a bit also.
Dawn
Hi there! My oven does not reach 500°. Meaning it actually shuts itself off when it gets too hot. Would doing a low or high broil work instead for the 20 minute period? Or would 475 work?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Dawn,
Welcome to the blog.
Go for the 475. I discuss skipping the sear in the post if you want to do that instead.
Dan
David
My wife picked up a 2.5 prime rib knowing I enjoyed them at restaurants. I’m familiar with the roast but not cooking it. These instructions for a smaller cut were all I found and as this direction was my first choice it was the best choice Went much better than expected. Top Notch and as the cook says through out don’t judge by time alone. Check your Prime Rib temp.
T. Y.
David
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi David,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad it worked well for you and thanks for re-enforcing the check the temperature and not the clock thing. I wish everybody would do that.
Thanks for the note and rating. Have a great holiday.
Dan
Lisa
Hi there! I have been researching Prime Rib recipes & found yours. I appreciate the fact that it is specific to small prime ribs. If I have a 3.5 lb. roast, do I still cook at 500 degrees for 20 minutes? Then, how long at 325?
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Lisa
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Lisa,
Welcome to the blog.
The "sear time" at 500 would stay the same, it is aimed at the surface.
The cooking time after that... no single answer. It depends on the final temperature you want, the thickness of your roast along with oven variables.
You must use a meat thermometer to get the results you want. You will fail if you cook by time alone. Having said that, to get a 3.5 pound roast to about 140 after a 20 minute sear, probably close to 60-80 minutes. But start checking internal temperature at about 45 minutes.
Hope that helps some but there is no exact answer.
Dan