Prepare to elevate your grilling game with this incredibly easy, yet utterly impressive, grilled filet mignon recipe. This guide is your ultimate playbook to achieving perfectly cooked, juicy, and tender steaks every single time, transforming your home cooking into a gourmet experience!
Understanding Filet Mignon: The King of Tenderness
Filet mignon, also widely known as tenderloin steak, is a prime cut of beef derived from the smaller, pointed end of the beef tenderloin. This particular muscle, the psoas major, is located along the spine and is minimally used by the animal, making it exceptionally tender – hence its name, “filet mignon,” which translates to “dainty fillet” in French.
While renowned for its unparalleled tenderness, tenderloin steak is inherently lean, meaning it doesn’t possess the rich, marbling-induced flavor found in fattier cuts like a ribeye steak. This characteristic makes it a versatile canvas for flavor enhancement. Many enthusiasts prefer to cook filet mignon wrapped in bacon to infuse it with smoky richness, or serve it alongside a vibrant, flavorful sauce. The goal is to complement its buttery texture with a burst of taste.
Why Grilling Filet Mignon is a Game-Changer
Grilling transforms filet mignon into a culinary masterpiece. The direct, high heat of the grill creates an irresistible charred crust on the exterior, adding an incredible depth of smoky flavor and a delightful textural contrast to the buttery-soft interior. This method is truly a game-changer for steak lovers, offering a depth of flavor that is simply unmatched.
When prepared correctly, a perfectly grilled tenderloin steak is a triumph of juiciness and tenderness that is genuinely hard to surpass. Each bite melts in your mouth, making it an ideal choice for special occasions or when you simply crave an indulgent meal.
Beyond its gourmet appeal, this recipe is remarkably quick and easy to prepare, requiring minimal effort and leaving you with virtually no messy cleanup. It’s the perfect solution for a sophisticated dinner without the fuss.
For an unforgettable dining experience, I highly recommend serving your grilled filet mignon with my personal favorite horseradish mayo sauce. Its creamy, tangy kick perfectly complements the rich steak, creating a bite you won’t soon forget.
Expert Tips for Buying the Best Tenderloin Steak
The journey to a perfect grilled filet mignon begins with selecting the highest quality meat. I strongly recommend visiting your local butcher, who can provide expert advice and superior cuts compared to most supermarkets. When speaking with your butcher, ask for the following to ensure you get the best possible tenderloin steak:
- **Professional Trimming:** Request that the butcher meticulously trims all excess fat and removes the silver skin. Silver skin is a tough, connective tissue that will not render or soften during cooking and can negatively impact the steak’s texture.
- **Consistent Thickness:** Insist on steaks cut to at least 1.5-inches thick. Crucially, each steak should be of uniform thickness to ensure even cooking across all pieces. Thicker steaks allow for a beautiful sear on the outside while maintaining a tender, juicy interior at your desired doneness.
- **USDA Grade Matters:** Opt for USDA Choice grade steaks. This grade offers a good balance of tenderness and flavor. If you’re looking to truly splurge and experience the peak of beef quality, choose USDA Prime. Prime beef boasts superior marbling, leading to an even richer flavor and more succulent texture. You can delve deeper into understanding beef grades and what they mean for your steak here.
Preparing Your Filet Mignon for Grilling
Proper preparation before the steak even touches the grill is vital for achieving optimal results. These simple steps ensure an even cook and maximum flavor:
- **Bring Steaks to Room Temperature:** Remove your filet mignon steaks from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, before you plan to cook them. This crucial step allows the steaks to gradually warm up to room temperature. While the internal core doesn’t need to reach full room temperature, having the surface warm prevents excess shrinkage when it hits the hot grill and promotes more even cooking throughout the steak.
- **Strategic Seasoning:** The timing of your seasoning can significantly impact the final result. If you have an hour before grilling, go ahead and liberally season the steaks with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper. Salting at least an hour prior allows the salt to draw moisture to the surface and then reabsorb it back into the steak, leading to a more deeply seasoned and juicy result. If you’re short on time and only have, say, 10 minutes before cooking, salt and pepper your steaks right before placing them on the grill. Salting 10-20 minutes before can draw moisture out to the surface without enough time for reabsorption, potentially leading to a less juicy steak and inhibiting a good sear.
- **Pat Dry for a Perfect Sear:** Before seasoning, use paper towels to thoroughly pat your steaks dry. Removing surface moisture is essential for achieving that coveted, crispy charred crust on the grill.
Grilling Tenderloin Steaks to Perfection: Step-by-Step
Follow these precise steps to grill tenderloin steaks that boast a beautiful sear and an incredibly tender, juicy interior:
- **Preheat Your Grill to High Heat:** Ignite your grill and preheat it over medium-high heat for approximately 15 minutes. The ideal temperature for grilling filet mignon ranges from 450-500°F (232-260°C). A hot grill is paramount for developing a fantastic sear and preventing the steak from sticking.
- **Clean and Oil the Grates:** Once the grill is hot, thoroughly clean the grates with a sturdy grill brush. Right before placing the steaks, lightly brush the grates with a high-smoke point oil (like vegetable, canola, or avocado oil) using a folded paper towel held with tongs. This prevents sticking and helps create those attractive grill marks. Avoid using olive oil, as its low smoke point can cause it to burn.
- **Sear the First Side:** Carefully place the seasoned steaks on the hot grill grates. Close the lid to trap heat and cook for about 5 minutes. If you desire distinct diamond grill marks, rotate each steak approximately 90° after about 3 minutes of cooking on the first side, then continue grilling for the remaining 2 minutes. This creates a beautiful crosshatch pattern.
- **Flip and Finish Cooking:** Flip the steaks to the other side and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or so, or until your desired level of doneness is reached. The cooking time will vary based on steak thickness and grill temperature.
- **Check Internal Temperature with a Meat Thermometer:** The only reliable way to ensure your steak is cooked to your preference is by using a high-quality meat thermometer. For a perfect medium-rare finish, remove the steaks from the grill when they reach an internal temperature of 125-130°F (52-54°C). Remember that the temperature will continue to rise slightly (known as carryover cooking) as the steak rests.
- **Crucial Resting Period:** Once cooked, transfer the steaks to a clean platter. Loosely tent them with aluminum foil and allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes, preferably 10 minutes, before slicing and serving. This step is absolutely crucial for a juicy steak! Resting allows the muscle fibers to relax and reabsorb the juices, preventing them from spilling out when you cut into the meat. Do not skip this step!
Achieving Perfect Doneness: Grill Times and Temperatures
It’s important to understand that providing an exact grilling time for filet mignon is challenging due to several variables: the precise thickness of your steaks, the actual temperature of your grill, and your desired level of doneness. These factors all play a significant role in the overall cooking duration.
For this reason, a reliable meat thermometer is your absolute best friend in the kitchen. It’s the only foolproof method to accurately determine when your steak has reached its optimal internal temperature. My personal favorite and highly recommended tool is the Thermapen ONE, known for its lightning-fast and 100% accurate readings.
As a general guideline, for a 1.5-inch thick tenderloin steak, you can expect it to take approximately 5 minutes per side to reach an internal temperature of 125-130°F (52-54°C), yielding a beautifully perfect medium-rare finish. Always refer to your thermometer for precision.
Steak Doneness Chart:
- **Rare:** 120-125°F (49-52°C) – Cool red center
- **Medium-Rare:** 130-135°F (54-57°C) – Warm red center (recommended for filet mignon)
- **Medium:** 135-140°F (57-60°C) – Warm pink center
- **Medium-Well:** 140-145°F (60-63°C) – Slightly pink center
- **Well-Done:** 150°F+ (66°C+) – Little to no pink
*Remember to remove steaks 5 degrees below desired final temperature to account for carryover cooking during resting.
Essential Side Dishes and Serving Suggestions
A perfectly grilled filet mignon deserves equally exceptional accompaniments. Here are some ideas to complete your gourmet meal:
- **Classic Sauces:** Beyond the horseradish mayo, consider a classic béarnaise sauce, a rich red wine reduction, a simple garlic herb butter, or a vibrant chimichurri to enhance the steak’s flavor.
- **Vegetable Sides:** Roasted asparagus, creamed spinach, grilled zucchini and cherry tomatoes (as pictured), garlic mashed potatoes, or a fresh garden salad with a light vinaigrette all make excellent partners.
- **Potato Dishes:** Crispy roasted potatoes, baked potatoes with all the fixings, or even truffle fries can provide a satisfying complement.
- **Wine Pairing:** Filet mignon pairs beautifully with medium-bodied red wines such as Pinot Noir or Merlot, or a robust Cabernet Sauvignon.
Common Grilling Mistakes to Avoid
Even seasoned grill masters can make mistakes. Keep these common pitfalls in mind to ensure your filet mignon turns out flawless:
- **Grilling Cold Steaks:** Placing cold steaks directly on the grill leads to uneven cooking, where the outside cooks too quickly while the inside remains undercooked. Always allow them to come to room temperature.
- **Insufficient Grill Preheat:** A cold grill means no sear, leading to a gray, unappetizing exterior. Ensure your grill is screaming hot before the steaks go on.
- **Over-Flipping:** Resist the urge to constantly flip your steaks. Let them cook undisturbed for several minutes per side to develop a solid crust.
- **Skipping the Thermometer:** Guessing doneness is a recipe for disappointment. Invest in a good meat thermometer for precise results every time.
- **Neglecting the Rest:** Cutting into a steak immediately after grilling will cause all the precious juices to run out, leaving you with dry meat. Always rest your steaks!
Frequently Asked Questions About Grilling Filet Mignon
Here are answers to some common questions about grilling this luxurious cut:
- **What is the best temperature to grill filet mignon?** The ideal grill temperature for filet mignon is between 450-500°F (232-260°C). This high heat is crucial for achieving a perfect sear.
- **Do I need to sear filet mignon before grilling?** While some recipes call for a pan sear before grilling, with a properly preheated grill at a high temperature, you can achieve an excellent sear directly on the grill grates.
- **Can I grill frozen filet mignon?** It is not recommended to grill frozen steaks directly. Always thaw your filet mignon completely in the refrigerator before bringing it to room temperature and grilling for the best results.
- **How do I know my steak is done without a thermometer?** While experienced cooks might use the “poke test” (feeling the firmness of the steak), this method is highly unreliable and imprecise. For consistently perfect results, a meat thermometer is truly essential.
More Favorites from Sweet & Savory
- Easy Miso Soup Recipe
- Best Moist Banana Bread Recipe
- Juicy Thanksgiving Turkey
- Beef Potsticker
- Matcha Latte at Home
Easy Grilled Filet Mignon Recipe
Comment
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (6-8oz) filet mignon steaks Note 1
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Note 2
- Horseradish mayo sauce for serving
Instructions
- Remove the steaks from the fridge at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, prior to cooking.
- If you have an hour before cooking, season the steaks generously with salt and pepper. Otherwise, season them right before placing them on the grill.
- Preheat your grill over medium-high heat for at least 15 minutes. The ideal temperature for grilling filet mignon is 450-500°F (232-260°C).
- After cleaning the grates thoroughly, lightly brush them with vegetable oil using a folded paper towel held with tongs, right before placing the steaks on.
- Place the steaks on the hot grill and close the lid. Cook for about 5 minutes. For attractive diamond grill marks, rotate the steak approximately 90° after about 3 minutes on this side.
- Flip the steak to the other side and cook for another 5 minutes or so, or until your desired doneness is achieved.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. For a medium-rare finish, remove the steaks when they reach 125-130°F (52-54°C) internal temperature.
- Transfer the cooked steaks onto a platter, loosely cover with foil, and allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes, preferably 10 minutes, before serving. This step is crucial for juicy steak – do not skip it!
- Serve immediately with horseradish mayo sauce for dipping.
⭐️ Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a review and let us know how you liked it!
Tips & Notes
Note 2: When oiling the grates, use a high-smoke point oil such as vegetable, canola, or avocado oil. Olive oil has a lower smoke point and is not suitable for this high-heat application, as it will burn and impart an undesirable flavor.
Nutrition
Conclusion: Your Guide to Unforgettable Grilled Filet Mignon
Grilling filet mignon might seem daunting at first, given its premium status, but with the right knowledge and a few simple steps, you can achieve steakhouse-quality results right in your backyard. By focusing on selecting the best cut, proper preparation, precise grilling temperatures, and the essential resting period, you’re well on your way to mastering this impressive dish.
This recipe is designed to take the guesswork out of grilling, empowering you to create a tender, juicy, and flavor-packed filet mignon every single time. So fire up your grill, follow these tips, and prepare to impress yourself and your guests with an unforgettable culinary experience!