Are you craving prime rib? Maybe you want to impress your family and friends with a special holiday meal. If so, you’ll want to check out my Cajun Inspired Prime Rib. This recipe is as easy as pie, and if you follow my tutorial, it's practically foolproof.
Serve my Cajun Inspired Prime Rib alongside my Smoked Funeral Potatoes, fluffy rolls, and a house salad for a dinner no one will ever forget. The holidays have never tasted better. Give this recipe a try, and let me know what you think!
Cajun Inspired Prime Rib | Heath Riles BBQ
Many people shy away from cooking prime rib due to the “complex” tutorials out there. I’m here to tell you that prime rib can come together easily and taste gourmet. Cooking your Cajun Inspired Prime Rib on the pellet grill gives it that BBQ twist we all know and love.
The Ingredients
My Cajun Inspired Prime Rib requires less than 10 ingredients, which are easy to find at your local grocery store. Here’s what you need to add to your shopping list.
- Prime rib. I snagged my prime rib from Costco and was so impressed with the quality. My cut of meat was a little over 4 pounds, so remember that you may need to adjust the cooking time if yours differs in size.
- Heath Riles BBQ Beef Injection. If you’ve been looking for an injection that complements the natural flavors of beef, I’ve got you covered. This injection contains a proprietary blend of spices and beef flavor that’s bound to be a hit. You can also use it as a brine.
- Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub. This rub shines on beef, but you can use it to enhance your veggies, pork, chicken, or popcorn! The sky’s the limit.
- Heath Riles BBQ Cajun Creole Garlic Butter Rub. Bring a taste of NOLA flavor to your life with this Cajun rub. Add a dash to chicken, steaks, burgers, or prime ribs. It’ll take anything to the next level.
- Garlic. Fresh garlic is a must for my homemade basting mixture. When peeled, the garlic releases its natural juices, leaving you with a delicious herbed butter.
- Kerrygold Irish Butter. Irish butter has more butterfat than standard, giving you the creamiest spread. This ingredient sounds fancy but can be found in most grocery stores.
- Fresh herbs. Nothing compares to the taste of fresh herbs! I used fresh thyme and rosemary to give my homemade basting mixture a deep, rich flavor.
The Smoker Setup
Here’s the main equipment I used for this recipe. More of my grilling favorites are in the Equipment and Tools section.
- Pellet grill/smoker. I cooked this Cajun Inspired Prime Rib on the Traeger Ironwood XL. This pit is incredible because you can use it to grill or smoke. The Traeger Ironwood XL has many excellent features, like a pellet sensor, a super smoke button, and easy transportation.
You can’t go wrong with the Traeger Ironwood XL if you cook large quantities of food. It’s roomy without taking up your entire patio. Plus, it’s ultra-durable, lasting for years!
- Charcoal. I stoked the pit with Royal Oak Charcoal Hardwood Pellets. I love this brand because you get clean smoke with no fillers. It gives the potatoes a rich, deep flavor that tastes authentic. This charcoal burns hot and fast!
The Process for Making Cajun Inspired Prime Rib
You can find a detailed demonstration of this recipe within the video and recipe card. Here’s a quick rundown of how I pulled this Cajun Inspired Prime Rib together.
- Fire up the pit. I stoked the Traeger Ironwood XL with Royal Oak Charcoal Hardwood Pellets and fired it up to 250℉.
- Trim the meat. I removed the prime rib from its packaging and used butcher twine to tie the roast. This helps it cook evenly and maintain its juices. Be sure to watch the video to see how I secured my prime rib.
- Inject the roast. I placed the prime rib in a large aluminum pan and whipped up my signature injection. To do so, I mixed ¼ cup of Heath Riles BBQ Beef Injection with 1 cup of water until smooth. Then, I injected the Cajun Inspired Prime Rib in a grid-like pattern.
- Add seasoning. I set the Cajun Inspired Prime Rib on a baking rack over the aluminum pan. Then, I seasoned it liberally on all sides with Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub and Heath Riles BBQ Cajun Creole Garlic Butter Rub.
- Start smoking. I placed the Cajun Inspired Prime Rib on the Traeger Ironwood XL and set a ChefAlarm for 100℉, the perfect temperature for basting.
- Make the basting mixture. To create my homemade basting mixture, I set the garlic, butter, thyme, and rosemary in a small cast iron skillet. I let the basting mixture melt while the prime rib cooked.
- Start basting. Once the prime rib reached 100℉, I added a coat of herbed basting mixture. Then, I shut the lid to the grill and let the Cajun Inspired Prime Rib keep cooking. When the prime rib hit 120℉, I took it off the grill and let it rest for 30 minutes. The only thing left was to dig in!
The Results
The Cajun Inspired Prime Rib came off the Traeger Ironwood XL with a gorgeous crust and a heavenly aroma. When I sliced into it, it was a perfect medium-rare. Thanks to my homemade basting mixture and injection, the meat held its moisture on the pit. This is one prime rib recipe you can’t sleep on!
Storing Leftovers
You can store leftover Cajun Inspired Prime Rib in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze it for up to 4 months.
Equipment and Tools
Traeger Ironwood XL, Royal Oak Charcoal Hardwood Pellets, disposable cutting board, ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE, ChefAlarm, wire cooling rack, ThermoWorks Hi-Temp Silicone Brush, heavy-duty aluminum pan, cast iron pan.
