Easy Prime Rib Recipe: Julia Child’s Classic Holiday Roast

Julia Child’s prime rib transforms an ordinary meal into a culinary masterpiece that promises restaurant-quality results right in your kitchen.

This legendary recipe celebrates the art of roasting meat with remarkable simplicity and elegance.

Professional chefs have long revered her technique for creating a succulent centerpiece that impresses even the most discerning palates.

The method relies on understanding temperature, timing, and quality ingredients to ensure a perfectly cooked roast.

Her approach demystifies a seemingly complicated dish by breaking down complex techniques into approachable steps.

Each slice promises a mouthwatering experience that balances tenderness with robust flavor profiles.

Get ready to elevate your cooking skills and wow dinner guests with a show-stopping main course that feels both luxurious and effortless:

Parting Thoughts On Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe

Succulent prime rib becomes culinary magic through Julia Child’s masterful technique.

Her method guarantees restaurant-quality results with minimal kitchen stress.

Salt and herbs transform simple meat into an elegant centerpiece for memorable meals.

Precise temperature control ensures juicy, perfectly cooked slices that melt on palates.

Kitchen enthusiasts can confidently recreate this classic recipe with strategic timing and careful preparation.

Lovers of classic cooking techniques will adore this foolproof approach – so grab your roasting pan, share this recipe with fellow enthusiasts, drop a comment below, and let deliciousness reign supreme!

Experience The Majestic Flavor Of Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe

• Unleash Luxurious Flavor Explosion: This prime rib recipe transforms an ordinary cut into a mouthwatering masterpiece with its herbes de Provence and butter blend, creating deep, rich layers of taste that dance across your palate.
• Master Foolproof Cooking Technique: Julia Child's method guarantees perfectly cooked meat every single time by using a genius high-heat start and slow residual heat finish, eliminating guesswork and reducing chances of overcooking.
• Wow Guests with Minimal Effort: Despite looking incredibly impressive, this recipe requires minimal kitchen skills and delivers restaurant-quality results, making it perfect for special occasions like holiday dinners or elegant gatherings where you want to look like a culinary pro without complex preparation.
• Embrace Stress-Free Cooking Process: The straightforward approach lets the meat rest at room temperature and uses a simple seasoning technique, allowing home cooks to relax and enjoy the cooking experience without constant monitoring or complicated steps.

Essential Ingredients For Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe

• Prime Rib: Top-quality beef cut with rich marbling, perfect for special occasions and impressive dining experiences.

• Butter: Provides rich, smooth coating and helps herbs adhere to the meat's surface.
• Black Pepper: Classic spice that adds warm, sharp flavor and slight heat to the roast.
• Herbes de Provence: Traditional French herb blend with aromatic and earthy flavor profile.
• Kosher Salt: Coarse salt that seasons meat deeply and helps create a flavorful exterior crust.

• Roasting Pan: Sturdy cooking vessel designed to support large meat cuts and collect drippings.
• Plate: Used for bringing meat to room temperature before cooking.

How To Cook Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe

Step 1: Warm Up Your Roast

Take the prime rib out of the refrigerator and let it rest on a clean plate at room temperature for 2 to 4 hours. This helps the meat cook evenly.

Step 2: Create Flavor-Packed Seasoning

• Softened butter
• Black pepper
• Herbes de Provence

Generously coat the entire roast with this herby butter mixture. Sprinkle kosher salt all over the surface.

Step 3: Blast with High Heat

Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C). Place the seasoned roast in a roasting pan and cook for 20 minutes. Pro tip: For different roast weights, multiply the pounds by 5 minutes to calculate precise roasting time.

Step 4: Slow Cook with Residual Heat

After the initial high-heat blast, turn off the oven completely. Keep the oven door closed and let the roast continue cooking with trapped heat for 2 hours. This technique ensures a perfectly tender and juicy prime rib.

Step 5: Carve and Enjoy

Carefully remove the roast from the oven. Slice into beautiful, thick cuts and serve immediately while warm.

Practical Advice For Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe

• Slice Strategically: Cut across the natural lines of the meat to ensure maximum tenderness and easy chewing.
• Monitor Meat Temperature: Use a reliable thermometer to check doneness, targeting 130°F for medium-rare or 140°F for medium after resting.
• Seal in Silence: Avoid opening the oven door during roasting to maintain consistent heat and perfect cooking conditions.
• Season Generously: Coat the prime rib with a thick layer of kosher salt to enhance flavor and develop a mouthwatering crust.
• Warm Up Wisely: Allow the roast to sit at room temperature for 2 to 4 hours before cooking, ensuring even heat distribution and preventing cold centers.

Tips To Preserve Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe’s Succulence

• Freeze: Seal prime rib slices in vacuum-sealed bags to preserve maximum flavor and prevent freezer burn. Portion meat into individual servings for convenient future meals and easier thawing.
• Refrigerate: Store prime rib in airtight glass containers with tight-fitting lids to maintain moisture and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors. Position meat in the coldest section of the refrigerator, typically the back shelf, to ensure consistent temperature and slow bacterial growth.
• Reheating: Restore prime rib's juiciness by using a gentle low-temperature method. Create a moisture barrier by wrapping meat in aluminum foil, adding a splash of beef broth to prevent drying. Warm slowly at 250°F for 10-15 minutes, checking internal temperature to avoid overcooking and maintaining tender texture.

Exciting Variations For Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe

• Herb-Crusted Mediterranean: Swap herbes de Provence with fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano. Add crushed garlic and lemon zest to the butter mixture for a bright, Mediterranean-inspired flavor profile.
• Spicy Southwest Rub: Replace herbes de Provence with a blend of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Mix these spices into softened butter for a bold, southwestern-style prime rib with a kick of heat.
• Asian-Inspired Umami Roast: Create a marinade using soy sauce, ginger, minced garlic, and sesame oil. Brush the roast with this mixture before applying the butter and salt. Garnish with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds for an Asian-inspired prime rib experience.
• Smoky Bourbon Glaze: Prepare a glaze using bourbon, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Brush the roast with this mixture during the last 10 minutes of high-heat roasting for a rich, caramelized exterior with deep, complex flavors.

Julia Child Prime Rib Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent Prime Rib elevates classic roast beef with Julia Child’s masterful technique. Herbed seasoning and precise roasting create a luxurious centerpiece that brings French culinary elegance to your dining experience.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 (4 lb / 1.8 kg) bone-in prime rib roast, at room temperature

Herbs and Seasonings:

• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
• Kosher salt, to taste

Fats:

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Remove the prime rib from refrigeration and allow it to equilibrate to ambient temperature for 2 to 4 hours, ensuring even cooking and tender meat texture.
2. Calibrate the oven to an intense 500°F (260°C) temperature, creating optimal roasting conditions.
3. Craft a flavor-enhancing compound by blending softened unsalted butter with freshly ground black pepper and aromatic herbes de Provence, creating a robust seasoning mixture.
4. Meticulously massage the herbal butter blend across the entire surface of the roast, ensuring comprehensive coverage and deep flavor penetration.
5. Generously sprinkle kosher salt over the seasoned roast, creating a delectable exterior crust that will seal in succulent juices.
6. Position the roast in a sturdy roasting pan with the fat side facing upward, allowing natural rendering during the cooking process.
7. Introduce the roast into the preheated oven and execute a high-temperature sear at 500°F (260°C) for precisely 20 minutes, calculating roasting duration by multiplying the roast’s weight in pounds by 5 minutes for precise timing.
8. After the initial searing phase, deactivate the oven but maintain the closed door, allowing residual heat to gently continue cooking the roast for approximately 2 hours.
9. Extract the roast from the oven, letting it rest momentarily to redistribute internal moisture and enhance tenderness.
10. Carefully carve the prime rib into elegant, uniform slices and present immediately while maintaining optimal warmth and succulence.

Notes

• Slice with precision across meat fibers to ensure maximum tenderness and easier chewing experience.
• Verify internal temperature using a reliable meat thermometer for perfectly cooked results between medium-rare and medium doneness.
• Maintain consistent oven heat by avoiding unnecessary door openings during the roasting process.
• Generously season the meat with kosher salt to enhance flavor profiles and develop a delectable exterior crust.
• Allow the roast to gradually warm to room temperature before cooking to guarantee uniform heat distribution and prevent uneven cooking zones.

• Prep Time: 4 hours
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg