Easy Horseradish Sauce for Prime Rib – Just 6 Ingredients

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This horseradish sauce for prime rib is made with a few simple ingredients and prepared horseradish, so you can make it in less than 3 minutes! Serve this easy homemade horseradish sauce with your favorite prime rib roast, steak sandwiches, or other cuts of beef.

Prime rib and horseradish are a classic combination. Order a prime rib dinner from any restaurant, and I’d bet money that your meal will come with a little ramekin of horseradish.

But the flavor of freshly grated horseradish root is too strong for many people, and it can definitely clear out your sinuses if you take too much of it in one bite.

So I prefer to serve my smoked prime rib roast with a simple horseradish sauce that gives you all of the robust flavor but toned down a bit so that it doesn’t overpower the delicate flavors of your beef.

Here’s how I make my easy horseradish cream sauce for smoked prime rib, beef tenderloin, steak sandwiches, and more:

Ingredients for Horseradish Sauce for Prime Rib

This easy prime rib sauce only has 6 simple ingredients, not including salt and pepper, and most of the ingredients you probably already have on hand for your prime rib crust. Here’s what you need:

• sour cream
• mayonnaise
• prepared horseradish – More about the star ingredient down below.
• sweet and spicy mustard – We prefer Woeber’s Sandwich Pal Sweet & Spicy Mustard… This perfectly sweet and not-too-spicy mustard is a staple in our pantry!
• Worcestershire sauce
• freshly minced garlic
• salt and pepper

What Kind of Horseradish to Use?

Before diving into this horseradish sauce recipe, it’s crucial that you have the correct type of horseradish. Most grocery stores sell three main varieties of horseradish:

• Fresh horseradish root. This is the purest form of horseradish, often found in the produce section of the grocery store. Horseradish root has the most potent flavor, but it’s more difficult to prepare.
• Prepared horseradish. Often sold in jars in the condiment aisle, prepared horseradish is the perfect combination of convenience and flavor. This type consists of grated fresh horseradish root mixed with vinegar, salt, and in some brands, sugar. Prepared horseradish is ready to use right out of the jar, and it is the best kind to use for this horseradish sauce recipe.
• Creamed (or creamy) horseradish. This type of horseradish comes premixed with mayonnaise or sour cream to create a more mild flavored, creamy consistency. If you want a ready-made sauce, then this is a great option, but I prefer to make my own to control the flavors.

For this homemade horseradish sauce recipe, you’ll need prepared horseradish. The bold flavor perfectly compliments the delicateness of the prime rib, and it’s the more authentic option for serving with your rib roast.

*NOTE – Prepared horseradish is also fantastic in homemade burger sauce or french fry sauce to add a little extra kick!

How to Make Horseradish Sauce for Prime Rib

Combine all ingredients

Just add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and mix well.

Adjust the flavors if needed

We think this horseradish sauce recipe is perfect as is, and we even love it as a sandwich spread on steak sandwiches. But you may need to adjust the recipe to your taste.

Want a spicier, bolder sauce? Add more prepared horseradish. Want to mellow out the flavor a bit? Add more mayonnaise or sour cream. You could even add some fresh, finely chopped chive to the sauce for a bit of color.

Serve the horseradish sauce

Refrigerate the horseradish sauce for at least an hour before serving so that the flavors have a chance to marry together. We actually made our sauce the night before serving, and it was fantastic!

Allow your guests to spoon the sauce onto their plates or directly onto the prime rib slices.

Notes for Leftover Horseradish Sauce

• Storage – Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Shelf Life – Homemade horseradish sauce can typically be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. However, use your own judgment and check for any signs of spoilage, such as an off smell or changes in color and texture.
• Stir Before Serving – Just like with sour cream and cottage cheese, you’ll want to give the horseradish cream sauce a good stir before serving to make sure that all of the ingredients are incorporated and the sauce is a good consistency.
• Stronger with Time – The flavors of the horseradish will probably get stronger over time, so you may need to adjust the flavor before serving. If you find the sauce too pungent after it has been stored, you can adjust the flavor by adding a bit more mayonnaise or sour cream to balance it out.

Other Ways to Serve the Horseradish Cream Sauce

When you hear “horseradish” you probably immediately think about prime rib, but this delicious and robust sauce is perfect for other recipes too! Here are some other ways you can use the leftover horseradish sauce:

• Sandwich spread for steak sandwiches. I originally made this recipe for a tomahawk steak sandwich that I made on my Santa Maria grill, but it is equally fantastic with prime rib roast. Spread the horseradish sauce on bread just like you would mayonnaise for a delicious sandwich that’s full of flavor!
• Mix in to mashed potatoes. Homemade mashed potatoes with a hint of horseradish are a personal favorite!
• Use as a shrimp cocktail dip. Traditional cocktail sauce is made with grated horseradish and ketchup, but why not try this creamy sauce with your shrimp too?
• Other beef options. Don’t just limit yourself to prime rib… This horseradish sauce is great with other meats like roast beef, grilled steak, or even used as a condiment for smoked brisket.

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