If you ask me, prime rib pizza is the best way to use up those holiday dinner leftovers.
This unexpected combo turns two classic favorites into something that’ll make everyone at the table smile. Tender slices of prime rib meet melted cheese and a crispy crust, creating a pizza that’s both comforting and different.
I love how the rich meat pairs with fresh herbs and a touch of horseradish sauce, while the golden-brown crust adds that satisfying crunch we all look for in a good pizza.
It’s a crowd-pleasing twist on pizza night that feels special enough for company but easy enough for a regular weeknight dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Prime Rib Pizza
- Creative leftovers solution – This recipe gives leftover prime rib a delicious second life, turning yesterday’s roast into today’s gourmet pizza experience.
- Quick preparation – Using a pre-made pizza base and pre-cooked ingredients means you can have this fancy pizza ready in about 35 minutes.
- Restaurant-quality taste – The combination of horseradish cream sauce, Swiss cheese, and prime rib creates a steakhouse-inspired pizza that tastes like it came from an upscale pizzeria.
- Customizable toppings – You can easily adjust the amount of prime rib, mushrooms, and other toppings to match your preferences, making it perfect for feeding different tastes.
What Kind of Prime Rib Should I Use?
Leftover prime rib from your Sunday roast works perfectly for this pizza, but you can also use freshly cooked prime rib if you’re planning ahead. The key is to make sure your prime rib is cooked to at least medium-rare, as this will give you the best flavor and texture when it’s reheated on the pizza. If you’re buying prime rib specifically for this recipe, ask your butcher for a small end cut, which tends to be more tender and flavorful. Just remember to slice the meat thinly against the grain and into bite-sized pieces so it distributes evenly across your pizza and reheats quickly in the oven.

Options for Substitutions
This pizza recipe is pretty flexible and you can make several swaps based on what you have in your kitchen:
- Prime rib: While prime rib gives this pizza its signature taste, you can use leftover roast beef, ribeye steak, or even deli roast beef in a pinch. Just warm the meat slightly before adding it to the pizza.
- Swiss cheese: Don’t have Swiss? Try Gruyere, provolone, or a mix of mozzarella and white cheddar for a different but equally good flavor.
- Sour cream and horseradish mix: You can use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, or ready-made creamy horseradish sauce. If using the ready-made sauce, skip the additional horseradish.
- Pre-made pizza base: Any pizza crust works here – store-bought flatbread, naan, or even a homemade crust. Just adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of your base.
- Mushrooms and bell peppers: Feel free to swap these with any veggies you like – caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, or sautéed spinach all work great here.
- Cooked potatoes: You can skip the potatoes or replace them with roasted parsnips or turnips for a different root vegetable twist.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest challenge when making prime rib pizza is managing moisture – too much liquid from the toppings can make your crust soggy, so be sure to pat dry your cooked potatoes and mushrooms before adding them to the pizza. Another common mistake is overloading the pizza with toppings, which can prevent the crust from cooking properly – instead, aim for a balanced distribution and remember that less is often more. To ensure your pizza cooks evenly, pre-cook your mushrooms and bell peppers slightly to remove excess moisture and prevent them from releasing water during baking. For the best results, spread only half of your Swiss cheese as the base layer, then add your toppings, and finish with the remaining cheese on top – this helps everything stick together nicely and creates that perfect melty texture.

What to Serve With Prime Rib Pizza?
Since this pizza is already pretty hearty with its prime rib and potatoes, you’ll want to balance it out with some lighter sides. A simple arugula salad with lemon dressing works great – the peppery greens and bright citrus help cut through the richness of the meat and cheese. I like to serve this pizza with some roasted garlic Brussels sprouts or a classic Caesar salad on the side. If you’re feeding a crowd, consider starting with some light appetizers like marinated olives or a small antipasto plate, since this pizza can be quite filling on its own.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Once your prime rib pizza has cooled down, place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Pop it in the fridge where it’ll stay good for up to 3 days. The flavors actually get even better as they meld together overnight!
Freeze: If you want to save some for later, you can freeze individual slices by wrapping them in plastic wrap and then foil. They’ll keep well in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just remember to label them with the date so you know when you put them in.
Warm Up: For the best texture, reheat your pizza slices in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese starts bubbling again. A pizza stone works great if you have one! Skip the microwave if you can – it tends to make the crust a bit chewy.
| Preparation Time | 15-20 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Total Time | 35-50 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 1800-2000
- Protein: 70-80 g
- Fat: 100-110 g
- Carbohydrates: 150-160 g
Ingredients
For the base:
- 1 pre-made pizza base
For the sauce:
- 1 tbsp jarred horseradish (prepared horseradish, not fresh)
- 1 cup sour cream
For the toppings:
- 3 oz cooked prime rib (finely diced or shredded)
- 1 thin-sliced onion
- 2 cups grated Swiss cheese
- 1 green bell pepper (cut into thin strips)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cooked, thin-sliced potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russet work well for this)
- 1 cup thin-sliced mushrooms
Step 1: Cook the Onions
Begin by heating oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add chopped onions to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and lightly browned.
This should take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Once done, remove the onions from heat and set aside.
Step 2: Prepare the Pizza Base
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Place the pizza crust on a baking sheet or a pizza stone, ready for the toppings.
Step 3: Mix and Spread the Base Sauce
In a small bowl, mix together sour cream and horseradish.
Spread this mixture evenly onto the prepared pizza crust, creating a flavorful base for your other toppings.
Step 4: Add the Toppings
Begin by layering potato slices over the sour cream and horseradish base.
Follow with 1 cup of Swiss cheese evenly distributed over the potatoes.
Next, layer the cooked onions, slices of prime rib, mushrooms, and green bell pepper on top of the cheese.
Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of Swiss cheese to cover these toppings.
Step 5: Bake the Pizza
Place the prepared pizza in the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the crust is lightly browned.
This will ensure all the flavors meld together and the toppings are perfectly cooked.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Once the pizza is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a couple of minutes before slicing.
Serve warm and enjoy your deliciously unique pizza creation!