Some people avoid cooking an entire Prime Rib roast because they will only serve a smaller crowd and therefore will end up with lots of leftovers. Yet if you refrigerate and freeze the leftovers correctly, you can make nearly a dozen different dishes out of a single piece of beef. Wrap up the leftovers as soon as they cool down after dinner with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Use this meat within 3 days or freeze immediately in a tight sealing freezer bag for up to 6 months. These top 10 ways to use up leftover roasted, grilled, or smoked Prime Rib will make sure you never think twice about cooking up a large piece of beef.
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10 Clever Ways to Use Up Leftover Prime Rib
Reheating Prime Rib usually brings it past medium rare, making it less ideal to enjoy by itself. Try slicing or chopping it finely then using it in the following dishes where it will add a meaty flavor and a good texture no matter how well-done it becomes.
Prime Rib Beef Stroganoff
Prepare a package of egg noodles in boiling water and set them aside. Slice up your Prime Rib until you have about 2 cups of meat in 2 inch long strips or small cubes. Add about a tablespoon of olive oil to a pan and saute a chopped shallot and a minced clove of garlic. Once they’re becoming translucent, add in 4 tablespoons of butter. Melt it and then sprinkle in 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, mixing it together until it forms a soft paste. Toss in 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms, ½ teaspoon of dried thyme, and salt and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms are softened and the flour is lightly browned, stirring regularly. Then mix in 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, ½ tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and 1.5 cups of beef broth. Simmer the gravy until it thickens, tossing in the chopped steak. Mix in ¼ cup of sour cream, take the sauce off the heat, and serve it over the egg noodles with parsley on top.
Prime Rib Quesadilla
Start with your favorite corn or flour tortillas. Spread about 1/8th cup of shredded Colby, Pepper Jack, or Mexican cheese blends over the tortilla. Slice the Prime Rib thinly across the grain, then cut again into small shredded pieces. Sprinkle in some of the meat and fold the tortilla over, cooking in a hot pan for a few minutes on each side until the cheese is melted. Consider serving with salsa or sprinkled smoked garlic powder into the cheese before cooking.
Prime Rib Chili
Prime Rib makes the ideal addition to your favorite chili recipe. It can either replace the ground beef entirely or just become an addition to it. If Prime Rib will be the only meat, add it during the simmering stage and chop it very finely to mimic the texture of cooked ground beef. Prime Rib added to chili with ground beef or other meats can be left in larger pieces and allowed to simmer from an earlier stage to infuse more of its flavor into the recipe.
French Dip Sandwiches
Thin slices of Prime Rib are piled on crusty French bread and then dipped in au jus. To make au jus sauce, warm up drippings from the roast and add in about 2 cups of beef broth for every 1/4th of drippings. Simmer this mix together in a small saucepan until it thickens slightly, adding pepper and salt to taste. A tablespoon of Worcestershire or soy sauce deepens the flavor. Warm the Prime Rib slowly in an oven set to 250 degrees F before slicing to keep it at medium doneness.
Prime Rib Tacos
You want to slice up about 1 pound of leftover Prime Rib to make 8 to 10 small street-style tacos. Heat the meat in an oiled pan, seasoning with a generous dash of chili powder, powdered cumin, granulated garlic, black pepper, and a squeeze of a fresh lime. When it’s warmed through, toss it in any type of warmed tortillas and top with pico de gallo, shredded cheese, and cilantro if you like it.
Stir Fry
Green beans, broccoli, and carrots make the ideal pairing for a stir fry that uses leftover Prime Rib meat. Slice up the Prime Rib in long ribbons, but hold it until the vegetables are nearly done so you can just warm the meat and add the sauce before serving. Any kind of stir fry sauce you prefer, from pre-made teriyaki to a homemade combination of soy and oyster sauce, will pair well with the Prime Rib’s flavor.
Shepherd’s Pie
Any kind of leftover roast beef works for Shepherd’s Pie, but Prime Rib is particularly flavorful. Chop the meat very finely before layering it in a casserole dish under mashed potatoes and a mix of peas and carrots. You can make a gravy for the steak layer from scratch following the same steps as the stroganoff recipe, leaving out the sour cream. For quicker results, use a prepared gravy mix for good results. This is a quick weeknight meal that makes the most of the leftover Prime Rib.
Nachos
Slices of flavorful Prime Rib are the perfect topping for a tray full of nachos. You can simply spread shredded Mexican cheese over tortilla chips and heat them in the oven until melted, topped with the beef and other additions. Or for a restaurant style experience, find melting cheese and apply it instead so the chips become saturated before adding the steak and toppings. Try heating the steak in a pan and seasoning it in the same way as the taco recipe.
Prime Rib Sliders
Grab a pack of small slider buns from the bakery and you’re ready to make sandwiches. Thin slices of Prime Rib are the easiest to bite through when making a sandwich. Try topping the steak with creamy horseradish sauce, a sweet option like cranberry sauce, or just a slice of dill pickle. Fried onions and mushrooms also elevate the basic beef slider to another level. Consider cheese or pretzel buns for an even more gourmet experience right at home.
Steak Salad
Make sure you use a hearty Romaine or Bibb lettuce for this salad. Use strips of steak so the meat is easy to spear with a fork while eating the salad. Try a strong-flavored dressing like Blue Cheese or an herb vinaigrette. Don’t forget the croutons, preferably a garlic type to enrich the savory flavor of the Prime Rib. Most people enjoy eating steak salad without heating the meat if it’s a leftover, but you can also heat it gently in a pan and season it with salt and pepper to add contrast against cold and crisp ingredients.
Conclusion
Spreading out your enjoyment of a masterful Prime Rib over the course of many meals is a great way to justify the expense and effort. One holiday or anniversary dinner could inspire dozens of other meals, or at least a few if you’re feeding a bigger crowd. Explore all your options for cooking with leftover T-bone steak and roast beef to expand your repertoire and you’ll never waste meat again.