Smoked Boneless Prime Rib Roast

3/4″ Prime Rib Steak with Au Jus, Mashed Potatoes and Creamy Horseradish on a red plate.

The Best Prime Rib Roast

Prime Rib Steak, in my opinion, is by far the king of steaks. Sure there’s the glorious Tomahawk Steak and Tri Tip, both are amazing, but nothing beats how tender and juicy a prime rib roast gets from hours of slow and low cooking. Those enzymes break down and make every bite a celebration. Adding smoke to the equation makes it even better because you get that genuine barbecue flavor and texture for each steak as well.

I smoked this Prime Rib Roast on a gas grill, believe it or not, and I say that proudly because the results are incredible. So amazing, in fact, this is the first time I even tried it this way and I can honestly say that I’ve never had better. I’ve dialed in a fool proof method of smoking on a gas grill that will please any true fan of barbecue, once they’ve tried the finished product.

5.35 lbs Choice Beef Ribeye Roast, $12.99 per lbs.

Boneless Beef

As you know, this cut can be purchased with or without the rib bones intact. Personally, I prefer it without because the meat cooks more evenly, all around the roast; leaving each cut steak portion perfectly cooked. It also gets an even layer of seasoning all around each steak and, if you cut 3/4 to 1″ inch steaks, you can season and sear each steak, too.

Boneless Ribeye Roast Seasoned with dried Rosemary and Kosher Salt and Black Pepper.

Seasoning the Roast

There are many different ways to dry rub a Smoked Boneless Prime Rib Roast. I prefer the simplest method; Kosher Salt and Pepper. I mix these two ingredients, 50/50 and I add a third ingredient, dried Rosemary. This gives the steak an aromatic smell and flavor, perfect for the holidays.

Smoked Prime Rib Roast on a wire rack and cake pan inside a gas grill.

Smoking on a Gas Grill

There are 2 basic principles for smoking meat; “Slow and low”, constant indirect heat and smoke. That’s why smoking on a gas grill is possible. Most grills today provide at least 3 controls for heat. This means there are 3 burners in the grill. All I do is turn off the 2 closest to each other then regulate the internal temperature of the grill with the one that’s left.

Most grills also have a thermometer on the lid to make this possible. First, I barely crack the propane open and second, once the grill is lit, I turn the dial down to it’s lowest setting, with the lid down and weight until the temperature rises. I roast and smoke a Prime rib, like this one, at 225° F. and I just turn the burner dial until I maintain that steady temperature. In many ways, it’s even easier than trying to control a constant temp in an actual smoker. But, a Gas grill doesn’t have any smoke so I add it in with pellets stuffed into a cheap smoke tube I bought from amazon.

Fully smoked Boneless Beef Prime Rib Roast with the Heel sliced into a 3/4″ inch steak, on a cutting board.
Smoking Results

As you can see in the photo above, the results I got from smoking on my gas grill, are tremendous. It only took 4 hours to smoke and fully cook. The only thing I did that I haven’t yet mentioned is that I added a reverse sear and, I show you how to do that in the video tutorial.

How to smoke a Boneless Beef Rib Roast on a Gas Grill video tutorial by PoorMansGourmet.
Smoked Boneless Prime Rib Roast Ingredients:

1 Boneless Ribeye Roast
Kosher Salt and Pepper, plus Rosemary, in equal amounts.

Just follow the instructions in the short video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to smoke a Boneless Prime Rib Roast.

Smoked Beef Rib Roast

Smoked Beef Rib Roast weighing about 9 lbs.

The Best Beef Ribs

Surprisingly, Beef Ribs like these aren’t readily available at most grocery stores but, when they are, you should snatch them up. I picked up this 9+ pound Beef Rib Roast for about $42 USD, with tax, $4.58 per lbs. Beef Short Ribs are more common but usually expensive. A rack this size, rarely has much meat on the bones because Prime Rib and Ribeye steaks are cut from the bones so, the only meat that’s ever left is in-between. I show you how to prepare and cook delicious Beef Ribs like that, here. Another great option is Country Style Boneless Beef Ribs and I’ve got a great recipe for those as well. But, if you ask me, this is the way to go. Just a solid piece of meat still connected to the rib bones.

9.12 lbs Raw Beef Rib Roast on a white cutting board upon a butcher block counter top.

Preparing the Beef

Much like a Beef Brisket, there is a lot of trimming that needs to be done before a Beef Rib Roast is cooked. All the fat can be left on the roast if it’s preferred but, everyone should be concerned with the removal of the silver skin. It can be very unpleasant chewing on piece of meat that hasn’t had this removed because it doesn’t break down when it’s being eaten. The silver skin, on a portion of beef this size, runs the entire length of the beef and is approximately 4″ inches wide. I show you how to trim and remove it in the video tutorial. The membrane on the ribs can also be peeled off.

Beef Rib Roast after Smoking on the grill for only 3 hours.

Seasoning and Smoking

It’s fairly common practice to lube up the meat before seasoning with some sort of oil, mustard or hot sauce. I don’t use any of those. I just hit it, on all sides, with Kosher Salt & pepper, then place in the corner of my grill over indirect heat. I have a 3 burner gas grill and I only turn on the front burner with the heat set on low. With the lid down my heat levels out around 275° Fahrenheit throughout the duration of the cook(approximately 9 hours). I use a smoke tube filled with pellets to provide the smoke and it works great. The flavor it adds to the meat is amazing.

Fully Smoked Beef Ribs with 7 bones and a black bark.

Something you might want to consider, however, is wrapping the meat once the internal temperature reaches 165° F. My ribs were good but I think they would have been even better if I had done that. I think next time, just for fun, I might even pull the rack off the heat, once I hit 125° F internal temp, and slice up some medium rare ribs.

Smoked Beef Rib Roast video tutorial by PoorMansGourmet.

Smoked Beef Rib Roast Ingredients:

10 lbs Beef Rib Roast, bone in
Olive oil or Louisiana Hot Sauce, optional
Kosher Salt and Pepper

5 cups Wood Pellets for smoking

Just follow the instructions in the video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make this Smoked Beef Rib Roast.

Grilled Tomahawk Ribeye Steak

Tomahawk Steak label with the listed lbs and price next to a picture of a seasoned 3.28 lbs. Tomahawk steak.

The King of Steaks

If you’re a steak lover and you don’t know what a Tomahawk Ribeye Steak is, you’re in for a real treat because this thing is huge. The shape of it is where it gets its name. It literally looks just like an Indian Tomahawk throwing axe, only bigger. I’m talking about a bone in ribeye steak, cut from the center of a Prime Rib Roast, with an average of 3″ inches in thickness and approximately 3 lbs of meat, it feeds up to 4 people with ease.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you a fool proof method to cook this steak perfectly and exactly the way you prefer your steak. If you like your steak medium rare, this method works, if you like your beef well done, this method still works. It’s all about internal temperature and it’s very easy to regulate.

Fully grilled and cooked Tomahawk Ribeye Steak unwrapped in Aluminum foil.

Seasoning and Grilling

In this recipe, I’m breaking down the steps in their easiest form so, when it comes to the rub or the seasoning, I’m keeping it simple. All you need for this Tomahawk Ribeye Steak is a 50/50 ratio of Kosher salt and Black Pepper. I do add in some ground Rosemary but it really isn’t necessary if you want to leave it out. The other addition is just garlic butter that I make my self, on the grill.

Sliced and cut up Grilled Tomahawk Ribeye Steak on a cutting board.

As far as the grilling is concerned, I like to use the slow and low method but I put a good sear on both sides of the steak before I do. If you’re into the whole “Grill Marks” thing, with the diamonds look, I show you how to get those on there even with a mistake. Then, much like smoking ribs or a brisket, I like to wrap the Tomahawk Ribeye Steak(with the garlic butter), put it back on the grill over indirect heat, and cook it slow and low until it reaches my desired internal temperature. I do this by monitoring the heat with a meat thermometer.

Steak Chart for internal temperatures for rare or everything in-between well done steaks.

This method insures that everyone gets to cook their steak to there desired tastes. All you need to know now is the exact temperature your steak needs to reach to be done the way you like it.

My Tomahawk Ribeye Steak Instructions:

3.29 lbs Tomahawk Ribeye Steak
Seasoned with Kosher Salt, Black Pepper and Rosemary

All burners on Medium High Heat, lid down, 475° to 500° F
5 minutes per grill mark, turned once each side
10 minutes per side
20 minutes total then wrapped in Aluminum Foil with
1/2 stick Garlic butter: 1 tbsp Minced Garlic

Internal temp was 106° f

Only Front burner on low, indirect heat, 275° F
Flip half way to 125° F or what ever your goal temperature is, according to the chart.
Then remove from heat and rest 15 minutes. Once it has cooled down, you can cut into your Tomahawk Ribeye Steak and serve and/or eat.