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Filet Mignon seared in garlic herb butter on the stove top and then finished in the oven is the absolute best way to cook a tender steak. This recipe turns about perfect every time! I have never made, nor have I ever enjoyed, a more delicious steak than this one.

See below for all the information you need including recipe variations and cooking tips to create the most perfect filet mignon.

perfectly cooked filet steak cut in half
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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.

  • Perfectly cooked: Each bite will deliver a crisp browned flavorful outside with a moist and tender middle.
  • Best flavor: Fresh garlic and herbs infuse into the butter and all that flavor gets cooked into the steak.
  • Accurate doneness: You can cook each steak exactly how you want: rare, medium rare, medium, or (gasp) medium well and well done. This is completely controlled by using an accurate meat thermometer.
  • Better than a restaurant: Because filet mignon is expensive, it is most often enjoyed for a special occasion like date night or Valentine’s day. Even though the price of filet steaks at your local butcher is still very expensive, the cost will pale in comparison to what high-quality steakhouse filet mignons will cost.

Ingredients Needed

The exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below.

To make these tender juicy steaks, you will need a couple of filet mignon steaks, butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme, as well as salt and pepper.

How to Cook the Best Filet Mignon

The absolute best way to cook this tender cut of meat is to sear 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.

Step 1: Prepare tools and ingredients

Set your steaks out at room temperature. Preheat your oven. Add the butter, smashed garlic cloves, and sprigs of fresh herbs to the pan.

Generously coat both sides of the steaks with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.

Step 2: Melt and infuse herbed butter

Heat a sauté pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. It needs to be an oven-safe skillet. You want the butter to melt and foam but not burn, so continue to move everything around to prevent burning. Once the butter reaches this point, add the steaks to the hot skillet.

infusing garlic and herbs in butter in pan

Step 3: Sear steaks

While the steaks are searing, use a spoon to continually pour the melted garlic and herb-infused butter onto the top and sides of the steak. You want to infuse all of that flavor into the meat.

Step 4: Finish in oven

Once you’ve seared both sides to perfection, finish cooking the Filet Mignon steaks in the preheated oven.

pan seared oven finished steaks in pan

Filet Mignon Cooking Time

If you’re wondering how long it takes to cook a Filet Mignon, the total amount of time depends on a few factors:

  1. How thick are your steaks?
  2. 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)?
  3. 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, the total cook time is about 15 minutes, start to finish, including the 2-3 minutes it takes to give each side a good sear and the 6-7 minutes to finish them off in the oven. It truly is an easy dinner recipe.

Internal Temperature Guide for Filet Mignon

Remove the filet mignon steaks from the oven when the internal temperature is about 2-5°F below your desired doneness. Place steaks on a plate and loosely tent with foil.

DonenessColorTemperature
RareCool red center120-130°F
Medium RareWarm red center130-135°F
MediumWarm pink center135-145°F
Medium WellSlightly pink center145-155°F
Well DoneLittle or no pink155°F and up

Remember: Allowing the steaks to rest in the hot pan will continue to cook them and the internal temperature will likely continue to rise more than 5°F.

Recipe Tips for Perfect Results

  • Bring steaks to room temperature: 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 overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside.
  • Choose the right pan: A high-quality stainless steel pan or cast iron skillet will give you the best sear.
  • Prevent burning: 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.
  • Cook according to temperature, not time: Be sure to test with an accurate thermometer to guarantee that the steaks are cooked to your liking. Pull the steaks out of the oven a few degrees before they’ve reached their final desired internal temperature and allow them to rest in the pan for at least 5 minutes prior to serving.
  • Thickness matters: 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 and possibly remove them from the oven at different times.
  • Avoid accidental overcooking: If you accidentally cook them too long and take the temperature too far, you will still need to allow the filet mignon to rest before cutting into them. Take them out of the hot pan to rest and transfer to a cutting board or plate. This will slow further cooking which would result in an overly done filet mignon.
top view of two filet mignon steaks in pan with butter

What is so special about filet mignon?

Beef tenderloin steaks are expensive.

But they are absolutely worth the cost every so often for a special treat or for a holiday dinner. If you really want to go above and beyond, pair these steaks with some broiled lobster tails for the ultimate Surf and Turf 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. If you’re looking for a less expensive steak, T-Bone Steaks are another great option.

Worth it. So worth it.

thinly sliced rare filet mignon

Side dish recommendations:

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Filet Mignon

Prep5 minutes
Cook15 minutes
Total20 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Filet Mignon seared in garlic herb butter on the stove and finished in the oven is the best Filet Mignon recipe that turns about perfect every time!

Video

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 fresh rosemary
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
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Instructions 

  • Prepare steaks: 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°F. 
  • Prepare infused butter ingredients: Add butter, garlic, rosemary and thyme to an oven safe stainless steel or cast iron pan. 
  • Infuse butter: Heat butter, garlic cloves, and fresh herbs over medium-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. (Optional: Infuse the butter over a very low heat for an hour or more. It won't burn and will create even better flavor. If choosing this method, you can remove the garlic and herbs at the end when you are ready to sear the steaks and use them as a garnish when serving. The heat will need to be increased when you are ready to sear the steaks).
  • Sear steaks: Add both steaks to the hot pan. Sear for 2-3 minutes on both sides, constantly spooning the hot butter onto the steaks, and only turn them once after they get nicely browned. Do not let the butter burn – keep it moving. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the steak and transfer the pan to the hot oven. Alternatively, you can test with an instant-read meat thermometer.
  • Finish cooking in hot oven: After 5-15 minutes, remove when internal temperature reaches 115-120°F for rare, 125-130°F for medium rare, and 130-135°F for medium. Total time in oven will vary depending on desired doneness as well as the starting internal temperatures of the steaks. Allow the steaks to rest on a plate, loosely tented with foil to keep them warm, 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

Calories: 728kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 60g, Saturated Fat: 27g, Cholesterol: 188mg, Sodium: 1374mg, Potassium: 689mg, Vitamin A: 395IU, Vitamin C: 2.6mg, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 5.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave me a comment below

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!

Hi! I’m Krissy.

I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make.

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129 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made it for my wife and son tonight, with no changes to your recipe. Excellent! My son raved about it. When I was cooking it, I thought I may cast aside the rosemary and thyme before cutting into the steak, but I loved the crunchy herbs and garlic with every bite. Thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    Your recipe is wonderful. Your webpage is awful. The ads are overwhelming. I’m not stupid, I realize you need to make money but there are less annoying ways to feature ads.

    1. I’m sorry. I truly am. I’m always trying to find ways to minimize ads, optimize user experience, but also make a living. I’m constantly trying to balance. -Krissy

  3. 5 stars
    I made this for the first time a few weeks ago for date night and it was delicious. I’m so pleased I found your recipe and will be making it again this week.

  4. 5 stars
    Perfect. I added handful of whatever fresh herbs I had around – turned out great. I bought the fillets at Trader Joe’s as a test and they were spectacular.

  5. 5 stars
    This really is the best method! Heated my oven proof serving plates at the same time and wow! Thanks for my new favorite way to cook filet mignon.

  6. 5 stars
    This is the easiest AND best way to cook a filet!! I have used the same method with other cuts of meat, only adjusting the cooking time. AMAZING!!!

  7. 5 stars
    I must have the hottest electric stove in the world because if I heat a cast iron skillet on high and then add butter, it burns IMMEDIATELY, like 3 seconds in. Does not matter if I stir it around or not. Just a heads up. Some people might wanna play around with something cheaper (sirloin?) before plunking down 50 bucks and burning them up.

    1. Ugh… I hate electric stoves. For real! When we moved into this house a couple years ago we had one (no plumbed gas) so we took it out and replaced it with a Bosch induction cooktop. It works like a dream! Good thing you know your stove!