How Much Prime Rib Per Person? (With Table)

Prime rib is an incredible cut of beef, perfect to make when having guests over. It can be made into many dishes and always ends up super flavorful, no matter how you cook it or what you serve it with.

Prime rib is the upper rib section of the cow, and rib eyes are the steaks cut from the prime rib. It is most popularly served roasted with an au jus or gravy on the side and is incredibly flavorful and tender.

But how much do you serve per person, and how do you calculate it?

The first thing to do is to determine whether you are having a buffet-style dinner or a sit-down dinner. If it is a buffet-style dinner, people will probably take less, so estimate about ½ lb per person. If it is a sit-down dinner, estimate around 1lb per person.

That is generally about 1 rib for every two guests.

If you’re worried, always buy a little bit more, because you can always eat the leftovers the next day and they tend to get even better with time, sitting in their flavors.

Plus, everyone loves leftovers after a great meal.

You don’t have to buy an entire prime rib if you’re having a small dinner party, and can always ask your butcher to cut it down if needed. Make sure to ask your butcher if you’re unsure of the quantities you need.

Here is a table that determines how much prime rib you will need.

How Much Prime Rib Per Person?

Remember, when you are making prime rib, you are also taking sides. So, it is very important to calculate how many of the sides you will need. For example, how many potatoes or veggies you will need on the side of your rib.

If you are having fewer sides, it might be a good idea to make slightly more of the prime rib, depending on how many courses you are offering. 

If you are offering a starter and a dessert, your guests will probably eat a little less. But if you’re only offering a main, it’s a good idea to buy a little bit more just in case.

How Long Do I Cook Prime Rib Per Pound?

Prime rib is often roasted in an oven for the best flavor. For the best flavor and texture, it is usually cooked to medium-rare.

The most important thing is to make sure that the meat reaches an internal temperature of 130-135°F, which you can check using a meat thermometer. This is a chart for how long to cook your prime rib per pound, with an oven temperature of 325°F.

Take the prime rib out of the fridge about two hours before cooking it. Then, sear it in the oven at 450°F for 20 minutes, before turning down the temperature to 325°F.

Once cooked, make sure it has an internal temperature of 130-135°F. Lastly, after taking it out of the oven, let rest for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Related Questions

How much prime rib do I buy per person?

If you’re having a sit-down dinner party, estimate that each one will eat about 1lb. That’s approximately 1 rib for 2 people, which should help you calculate.

If you’re having a buffet-style dinner with many dishes, you can estimate that each person will eat about ½ lb. So, you can make less because there will be other dishes to choose from, and most people go for smaller portions.

Also if you are having a sit-down dinner, you can make slightly less if you’re having starters and dessert, or many sides, since people will be more likely to have less meat if there are many sides.

The best advice would be to buy a little more than expected just in case. If the meat isn’t eaten, it is great the next day as leftovers and still maintains its moistness and flavor.

How much does a 10lb prime rib cost?

Depending on where you buy it from, a pound of prime rib can cost anywhere between $10 and $16, making 10 pounds of prime rib about $110.

Prime rib is an expensive cut of meat, but it cooks beautifully and is popular among guests, and also great the next day in case you have leftovers.

It is also not eaten super frequently and is popular during the holidays, so buying prime rib is a great meal idea for a special occasion. 

Why is prime rib so special?

Prime rib is an incredibly delicious cut of meat and is super popular to make for dinner parties or special occasions like the holidays.

This is because it’s a sure crowd pleaser and always cooks beautifully. Not a lot of work has to be done to the actual prime rib because it takes a while to roast. Therefore, you can focus on other things while it’s in the oven. 

Prime rib is also marbled with fat throughout, and because the muscle is not used a lot, it lends to a thick, juicy, tender cut of meat, which is a perfect main course for any meal.

What are some ways to season prime rib?

Seasoning is always what makes or breaks a dish, so as long as you season your prime rib, you will have a great dish. Before cooking, you can marinate your prime rib in seasonings and oil the night before, or you can season before cooking.

A very popular seasoning for prime rib is garlic because garlic adds flavor to everything. Fresh garlic is best in this case. It should be minced and rubbed into the meat along with salt and pepper. Butter is also a popular seasoning. It also helps it cook and brown.

You can also use fresh or dried herbs such as rosemary and thyme, depending on what you like. You can make your own flavor combinations depending on how you like your prime rib to taste and experiment with different spices.

What can you serve with prime rib?

You can serve almost anything you want with prime rib because it will always be the star of the show. However, some of the most common sides are potatoes. These can be mashed, boiled, or prepared in other ways, but accompany the meat perfectly.

Vegetables are also a popular side. You can either boil vegetables like peas and carrots. Or saute them for extra flavor. Spinach is a good suggestion for sauteing. 

You can use the juices in your pan to make a quick jus or gravy to go on the side, which will add extra flavor to your whole meal and ensure that you don’t waste anything from your prime rib.

Gravies are easy to make while the meat is resting by adding butter, flour, and stock to the juices left behind the pan. This makes a super flavorful gravy to accompany the whole meal.