Beef Tenderloin

The Best Recipe For Beef Tenderloin

This beef tenderloin roast hits all the check marks of easy to make, impressive to serve, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, no fancy carving skills needed. It’s great for a small crowd of close friends or family. The horseradish sauce and garlic herb butter complement the tender beef, leaving room for the flavor to really shine through. The best way to cook beef tenderloin is a hard sear in the pan followed by a slow roast for a nicely browned crusty exterior and soft, fork-tender interior.

What Do You Need For The Best Beef Tenderloin?

In our beef tenderloin recipe, you’ll need the following:

For the Beef Tenderloin

• Center-cut beef tenderloin roast (also called a chateaubriand)

• Kosher salt

• Fresh cracked pepper

• Vegetable oil

For the Horseradish Sauce

• Heavy whipping cream

• Sour cream

• Mayonnaise

• Horseradish sauce

• Chives

• Sea salt

For the Garlic Herb Butter

• Salted butter

• Garlic

• Fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, and fresh sage

Feel free to make it your own by trying it with one of our other Compound Butters!

Is Beef Tenderloin The Same as Filet Mignon?

Don’t be confused; beef tenderloin is not the same as filet mignon. In fact, filet mignon is actually cut from a beef tenderloin. Both cuts are very tender and provide a silky, buttery bite without much fat. Whole beef tenderloin is typically uneven, with one side being leaner than the other, and can weigh anywhere from 3lbs-5lbs, which is why we suggest asking your local butcher for a center-cut piece – usually a bit more cylindrical. If you’re asking yourself, is beef tenderloin a good piece of meat, or is beef tenderloin expensive? While it’s definitely on the spendier side, it is so worth the splurge for a special occasion due to it being such a good cut of meat. We also like to save this recipe for when beef tenderloin goes on sale at our local market.

What To Serve With Beef Tenderloin

This celebratory roasted beef tenderloin in oven deserves to be served with menu items that match its elegance. To start, we love little bites such as Bacon-Wrapped Scallops or Pecan Stuffed Mushrooms. For a carby pairing, we suggest Scalloped Potatoes, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, or Crispy Shallot Mashed Potatoes. When it comes to veggies, you can never go wrong with Broccolini, Roast Fennel, Green Bean Almondine, Roasted Asparagus, or try a nice big green salad like Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Orange Vinaigrette, Shaved Snap Pea Salad with Goat Cheese and Dates, Simple Butter Lettuce Salad or check out our 30 Best Salad Recipes. End the meal with a luxurious, chocolate-rich dessert, like Bailey’s Chocolate Bundt Cake or a velvety chocolate mousse.

How to Cook Beef Tenderloin

Follow these step-by-step instructions for a tender inside and caramelized outside:

1. Make the horseradish sauce! This creamy, punchy sauce makes for the perfect bite with the roast beef tenderloin. It’s super easy to make: simply whip the cream until soft peaks form, then fold in the remaining ingredients. Pop into the fridge until you’re ready to serve. The flavors will continue to marry all the while you’re finishing up the dish.

2. Make the garlic butter! Pro tip: soften the butter by placing a warm bowl face down over the stick! It’ll result in a soft, spreadable consistency. Once the butter is ready, add the remaining ingredients.

3. Roast! You’ll do this in two steps! First, season with salt and pepper, then brown in a hot pan. Then, cover it with the garlic butter and pop it into the oven. The most precise way to measure the doneness of meat is with an instant-read thermometer. Time and temperatures are changeable, but a measurement is a measurement. For beef, rare is 125°F; medium-rare is 135°F; medium is 145°F, medium-well is 150°F; and well is 160°F. Medium-rare is our preferred doneness for beef tenderloin, but feel free to enjoy it at whatever temperature or doneness you like!

4. Rest and garnish! Once it reaches your desired doneness, place it onto your cutting board and let it sit, tented with foil, for 15 minutes. The juices will reabsorb into the cut, making a buttery-smooth bite! When it’s rested, cut into 1-inch slices and drizzle it with horseradish sauce. Dig in!

Tools You’ll Need For Beef Tenderloin Roast

• Small bowls

• Whisk

• Spatula

• Airtight container

• Kitchen twine

• Oven-proof skillet

• Tongs

• Cutting board

• Sharp knife

Make it Look Fancy (Without Too Much Hassle!)

When we’re looking for easy and elegant recipes, we turn to a simple protein that we can elevate. Some of our favorites are:

• Prime Rib with Roasted Garlic and Horseradish Cream Sauce

• Whole Coconut Curry Chicken

• Baked Salmon

• Roasted Garlic Honey Baked Ham

• Pistachio Crusted Pork Tenderloin with White Wine Dijon Sauce

• Wine Braised Short Ribs

You Deserve A Delicious Roast!

Try this juicy, tender beef tenderloin for your next festive occasion, and let us know how it turns out! Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!