Filet Mignon seared in garlic herb butter on the stove and finished in the oven is the best steak recipe that turns about perfect every time! I have never made nor have I ever enjoyed a better steak than this one.
Why this recipe works so well:
This is quite possibly my favorite dinner. Ever. That's a pretty bold statement from a girl who lives and breathes recipes.
- Each bite will deliver a crisp browned flavorful outside with a moist and tender middle.
- Fresh garlic and herbs infuse into the butter and all that flavor gets cooked into the steak.
- You can cook this steak exactly how you want it: rare, medium rare, medium, or (gasp) medium well and well done. All controlled with an accurate thermometer.
Here's how to cook them:
The absolute best way to cook this cut of meat is to pan fry the steaks in high quality butter with fresh herbs and garlic. Once the steaks get a nice sear on both sides you will finish them off in a hot oven until they've reached the desired internal temperature.
- Set your steaks out at room temperature. Preheat your oven. Add the butter, smashed garlic cloves, and sprigs of fresh herbs to the pan (photo 1).
- Generously coat the both sides of the steaks with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (photo 2).
- Heat a saute pan over medium high to high heat. You want the butter to melt and foam but not burn, so continue to move everything around to prevent burning (photo 3). Once the butter reaches this point, add the steaks.
- While the steaks are searing, use a spoon to continually pour the melted butter to the top of the steak. You want to infuse all of that flavor into the meat (photo 4).
- Once you've seared both sides to perfection, finish the Filet Mignon off in the oven (photo 5 & 6).
How long do you cook a Filet Mignon?
The total amount of time it takes to cook these steaks depends on a few factors:
- How thick are your steaks?
- What is the starting temperature of the meat (i.e. did you pull it straight from the fridge to the pan or did you let it come to room temperature first)?
- How hot can you get your garlic herb butter and pan without burning the butter? There are a few tips and tricks to this step... keep on reading to find out.
All in all, Filet Mignon cooks up in about 15 minutes, start to finish. It truly is an easy dinner recipe.
Internal temperatures:
Remove the filet mignon steaks from the oven when internal temperature reaches 120 degrees F for rare, 125 degrees F for medium rare, and 130 degrees F for medium.
Remember that as long as you let them rest in the hot pan, the temperature will continue to rise about 5 degrees.
Cooking tips for perfect results:
- Prior to cooking, take the steaks out of the refrigerator at least an hour before they hit the pan. If the steaks are cold when you cook them, the outside will cook much faster than the inside resulting in steaks that are usually over cooked on the outside and under cooked on the inside.
- When the steaks are added to the pan, they will reduce the temperature of the pan and help prevent your butter from burning. You still need to keep an eye on it and move the butter around so that it doesn't burn.
- Be sure to test with an accurate thermometer to guarantee that the steaks are cooked to your liking.
- For best results, buy steaks that are the same size and thickness. This will ensure they cook at the same rate. Otherwise you will need to test the temperature of each steak.
- Pull them out of the oven a few degrees before they've reached their final temperature and allow them to rest in the pan for at least 5 minutes prior to serving.
- If you accidentally took the temperature too far, you will still need to allow them to rest before cutting into them, but take them out of the hot pan to rest. This will slow further cooking which would result in an overly done filet mignon.
What is the difference between beef tenderloin and Filet Mignon?
In a nutshell, Filet Mignon is beef tenderloin but beef tenderloin is not Filet Mignon. Confused yet?
Beef tenderloin refers to to the cut of beef taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin. The tenderloin refers to a small area of muscle near the back of the cow situated near the sirloin, top sirloin, and short loin.
Filet Mignon is simply beef tenderloin that has been sliced into individual steaks. These tender steaks are often thick cut and are oh-so-wonderful.
Why is tenderloin so expensive?
The only thing holding me back from eating Filet Mignon every single week is the price. I bought a 4-pack of steaks at Costco and I paid $32. We're talking Choice... not even Prime cut. That's $8 per steak. Basically, not your average family weeknight dinner.
But beef tenderloin steaks are absolutely worth the cost every so often for a special treat or for a holiday dinner.
Filet Mignon is expensive because it is arguably the most tender cut of beef. It is super tender because it is not a weight-bearing muscle and contains less connective tissue, thus making it more tender.
Tender beef is desirable beef. Desirable beef is expensive beef. The fact that beef tenderloin is a relatively small cut compared to other beef cuts adds to the hefty price as well.
Worth it. So worth it.
Is prime rib or Filet Mignon better?
Depends on who you ask.
I much prefer a filet to prime rib steaks because this cut of meat is so completely tender without the fat. Prime Rib is marbled with fat which makes it tender. I just find these steaks easier to eat.
I will admit, though, that my family goes crazy for prime rib during Christmas time. If you're feeding a crowd, a prime rib roast is much easier to cook than a bunch of steaks.
Filet Mignon is definitely a good choice if you're cooking for 2-4 people.
What recipes to serve with these steaks:
- You can't go wrong with perfectly cooked Baked Potatoes (hint: they are outstanding when you make them in the Instant Pot)
- Don't want baked potatoes? Go the extra mile and make Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes (again, made in the Instant Pot)
- You can't enjoy Filet Mignon without a darn green vegetable. What's more perfect than Garlic Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus?
- You can't go wrong with serving up an every day salad alongside your steak.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave me a comment below! I love to hear from my readers.
Filet Mignon
RECIPE VIDEO WILL AUTOPLAY
Ingredients
- 16 ounces filet mignon (2 steaks, about 2 inches thick, room temperature)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper (freshly ground)
- 2 tablespoons butter (Kerrygold recommended)
- 2 cloves garlic (smashed)
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 2 sprigs thyme
Instructions
- Take steaks out of refrigerator about an hour before you plan to cook them to allow them to come to room temperature. Coat both sides with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add butter, garlic, rosemary and thyme to oven safe stainless steel or cast iron pan.
- Heat over medium high to high heat. You want the pan to be as hot as you can get it without burning the butter. Allow butter to melt, swirling frequently to prevent burning. The more you move the butter around, the less it will burn.
- As soon as the butter is melted, add both steaks to hot pan. Sear 2-3 minutes on both sides, constantly spooning the hot butter onto the steaks, and only turn once after they get nicely browned. Do not let the butter burn - keep it moving. Insert thermometer into thickest part of steak and transfer pan with steaks to hot oven.
- Finish cooking in hot oven. Remove when internal temperature reaches 120 degrees F for rare, 125 degrees F for medium rare, and 130 degrees F for medium. This should take around 10 minutes. Allow steaks to rest in pan for at least 5 minutes (temperature should rise another 5 degrees).
Notes
Cooking tips for perfect results:
- I can't stress enough how important it is to let your steaks come to room temperature before cooking. These are thick cut and if they're super cold in the middle, you risk over cooking the outside before the middle is done. Prior to cooking, take the steaks out of the refrigerator at least an hour before they hit the pan.
- When the steaks are added to the pan, they will reduce the temperature of the pan and help prevent your butter from burning. You still need to keep an eye on it and move the butter around so that it doesn't burn.
- Be sure to test with an accurate thermometer to guarantee that the steaks are cooked to your liking.
- For best results, buy steaks that are the same size and thickness. This will ensure they cook at the same rate. Otherwise you will need to test the temperature of each steak.
- Pull them out of the oven a few degrees before they've reached their final temperature and allow them to rest in the pan for at least 5 minutes prior to serving.
- If you accidentally took the temperature too far, you will still need to allow them to rest before cutting into them, but take them out of the hot pan to rest. This will slow further cooking which would result in an overly done filet mignon.
- The best type of pan is either cast iron or a high quality stainless steal. Just be sure it is oven safe.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
This post was originally published in January 2019 and has been updated with more information and cooking tips. Don't worry - I would never touch the recipe!
Marcy
The filet turned out perfect. Only used butter, garlic, salt & pepper. Did not have other ingredients.