Juicy, tender, and oh-so-delicious, my Beef Tenderloin Recipe recipe makes a perfect holiday meal. Complete with sea salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme, this is the best beef tenderloin with a beautiful crust and so much flavor in every bite.

📋 Recipe

What is Beef Tenderloin?

It is a long, narrow, and lean muscle within the Loin. This is the most tender cut of beef available. It is also known as a tenderloin steak or filet mignon when cut. It is typically a more expensive cut that is a perfect splurge for the holidays. This cut of beef will melt in your mouth, it is amazingly delicious.

Beef Tenderloin Recipe Ingredients

Whole Beef Tenderloin, trimmedSea saltBlack pepperDried thyme leavesGranulated garlicOlive oil

This simple mix of seasonings complements a hearty beef tenderloin perfectly and gives it a beautiful crust. Serve it with Herb Garlic Butter for extra flavor.

How to Cook Beef Tenderloin

Tenderloin Recipe Tips

Trim your roast: Remove the silver skin and excess fat before roasting. This will give you a more tender, flavorful roast.Tie your roast: Tie the roast with kitchen string so it cooks more evenly in the oven. Tenderloin has a skinny end that should be tucked underneath the roast.Use a rack: Use a roasting rack and a shallow baking pan, or a roasting pan, to roast tenderloin. Using a rack allows hot air to circulate evenly around the beef.Sear at 450°F first: Searing your roast before lowering the oven temperature will give you the most beautiful crust.

How to Trim a Whole Beef Tenderloin

The whole beef tenderloin has a fibrous connective tissue called silver skin that should be trimmed. It’s shiny and easy to spot and cut away. You will also want to trim any excess fat. If you do not want to trim beef tenderloin yourself, ask your butcher to do it for you! And while you’re at it, have them french, or tie, the roast. This will help it cook more evenly.

How to Tie a Whole Beef Tenderloin

This is optional - To tie your own roast, follow these instructions. It’s easy to do: For more info on tenderloin, check out our guide on the Best Cuts of Beef.

Beef Tenderloin Recipe Temps

3 lb. roast: 30 minutes4 lb. roast: 40 minutes5 lb. roast: 50 minutes6 lb. roast: 1 hour

These cooking times will give you a medium-rare roast. For a more well-done temperature, roast for an additional 10 minutes or so. For best results, always use a meat thermometer to check for the desired doneness. I make it easy to follow with my easy-to-follow Roast Beef Temperature Chart.

How to Reheat Beef Tenderloin

If frozen, thaw your whole beef tenderloin recipe first! Try this dish with any of my Sauces for Beef Tenderloin!

Beef Tenderloin Recipes

Grilled Beef TenderloinSous Vide Beef Tenderloin

Roast Beef Recipes

Dutch Oven Pot RoastEye of Round Roast Instant Pot Prime RibBoneless Prime Rib RecipeSmoked Prime Rib

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