This horseradish prime rib sauce is a must for any roast beef dinner. Mixing whipped cream with horseradish gives the creamy sauce just enough kick without being overwhelming.

Horseradish sauce in glass bowl next to prime rib on a platter.

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What is Horseradish Whipped Cream?

Horseradish is a plant that’s cultivated mainly for its roots. It is native to Central and Eastern Europe and has very little odor until it’s cut or grated.

Some love to use horseradish straight from the root or from a bottle. But not everyone loves the strong, hot flavor of straight horseradish. I think the best horseradish sauce for prime rib, or any roast beef, is made in the traditional British style with whipped cream.

This creamy horseradish sauce recipe is made with whipping cream, vinegar and English mustard. It’s spicy, tangy, creamy, and refreshing all at once!

I’ve seen many recipes for horseradish cream sauce made with sour cream, but those are not traditional British recipes. This is an old recipe from the 1960’s Time-Life Cooking Series, Recipes of the British Isles. My mom has been using this recipe for over 50 years.

Ingredients for Horseradish Prime Rib Sauce

There is nothing like this horseradish sauce for beef tenderloin, roast beef, and prime rib. Here are some important tips for best results:

Be sure to buy fresh, “prepared” horseradish, which is made with just grated horseradish root, vinegar, and salt. Do NOT use horseradish “sauce” which has added cream, sour cream, or mayonnaise.
It’s important to drain as much of the liquid out of the horseradish as possible before incorporating it into the other ingredients. Squeeze any liquid out in a clean, dry towel.
Use dry English mustard. Don’t be tempted to substitute Dijon mustard as it won’t have the same flavor or consistency.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this horseradish sauce recipe for prime rib.

1/2 cup bottled horseradish (not creamed or sauce)
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons granulated sugar (Swerve can be substituted for low carb)
1/2 teaspoon dry English mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup heavy cream chilled

How to Make the Best Horseradish Sauce for Prime Rib

Using a clean dish towel or cheese cloth, wring out as much liquid as possible from the horseradish. Then mix together the horseradish, vinegar, sugar, English mustard, salt and white pepper.

Beat the whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks. Gently fold the horseradish mixture into the whipped cream. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more horseradish if desired.

Can horseradish sauce be made ahead of time?

Because it’s made with whipped cream, I wouldn’t recommend making creamy horseradish sauce for prime rib the day before. I usually make it about 2-3 hours ahead of time and refrigerate until ready.

In fact, it tastes better if the flavors have a chance to meld. Mix all the ingredients together except the whipped cream, and refrigerate. Then whip the cream and finish the recipe just before serving.

Is horseradish sauce low-carb?

This recipe contains a mere 2 teaspoons of sugar for 8-10 servings. However, if you are very sensitive to sugar, you can easily substitute swerve or your favorite sugar substitute.