How to Cook Classic Beef Tenderloin

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21 Ways to Dress Up Beef Tenderloin

Looking for the best beef tenderloin roast recipe? Or wondering how long to cook beef tenderloin? Or how many pounds of beef tenderloin per person? (Answer: between 3 to 6 ounces.) Or how to trim beef? Or whether beef tenderloin is filet mignon? (Answer: the latter is a cut from the former) You've got questions, we've got answers. Here, you'll find our most meltingly tender beef tenderloin recipes along with easy ways to amp up this prized meat's flavor. Think: fresh herbs, spice rubs, textured crusts, rich sauces, and simple compound butters. Pick the flavor-boosters best suited to your Christmas dinner or special-occasion meal and get ready for raves!

For more holiday suggestions, check out our other round-ups such asfestive vegetable sidessuch as green beans, holiday potatoes,five-ingredient hors d'oeuvres, and other roasted meats like standing rib roasts and Beef Wellington,plus bar cookies, fudgeand showstopper holiday desserts. And be sure to tell us about your favorites on our Facebook page.

Recipe

Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Caramelized Shallots & Red Wine

Now this is how you dress up beef tenderloin for the holidays! The red wine in the marmalade adds depth while the shallots give it a little sweetness. Together, they give the beefy tenderloin nuance.

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Recipe

Sear-Roasted Beef Tenderloin

Tenderloin has a wonderful texture, but its flavor can be a bit bland. This recipe brings out its natural goodness by salting ahead to concentrate flavors, searing to develop a rich crust, and glazing with ingredients that add depth. Punch up the flavor with one (or more!) of our make-ahead sauces.

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Recipe

Beef Tenderloin with Cornichon-Caper Herb Sauce

Capers and cornichons add briny flavor to this pesto-like sauce, brightening up the buffet-table standard of room temperature roasted beef tenderloin.

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Recipe

Slow-Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Thyme

This simple recipe is a great blank canvas for dressing up. Roasting the tenderloin at a low temperature cooks it slowly and evenly. Pair this recipe with the classic sides of Spinach Amandine and creamy Potatoes Mousseline, or adorn it with one of the toppings or sauces that follow.

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Recipe

Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary and Chocolate

This dish is based on a classic Italian recipe that calls for a touch of grated chocolate or cocoa to add complexity to a red wine sauce. The sauce doesn't taste chocolatey; rather, it has a full-bodied, extraordinary flavor that you just can't pin down. You can make this with any cut of roast beef or steak and the sauce can be prepared a day ahead.

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Recipe

Fennel & Rosemary Beef Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce

This beef tenderloin recipe includes two flavor boosters. First, the rosemary and fennel seed rub creates a fragrant, flavorful crust, and the creamy mustard sauce pairs beautifully with the roast.

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Recipe

Black-Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Chimichurri Sauce

A tangy condiment made with fresh herbs and garlic, chimichurri sauce is a traditional accompaniment to grilled meats in Argentina and pairs well with peppery steak.

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Recipe

Roasted Filet of Beef with Whole-Grain Mustard & Herb Crust

As the reviews attest, the simple four-ingredient mustard-herb rub is in perfect balance with the meat; it doesn't overwhelm and it roasts into a perfect crust.

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Recipe

Beef Tenderloin with Roquefort-Pecan Butter

These tender steaks, topped with a tangy blue cheese and toasted nut butter, make for a main course that's ready in minutes but feels like you fussed.

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Recipe

Beef Tenderloin Roasted in a Salt Crust

Roasting a beef tenderloin in a salt crust helps keep moisture in, making the meat tender and juicy. For an impressive main course, serve each portion of tenderloin over Warm Potato Salad with Gorgonzola, Baby Spinach & Walnuts.

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Recipe

Beef Tenderloin Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers & Olives

The olives and feta in this stuffing offer a briny contrast to a tender beef filet.

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Recipe

Spice-Rubbed Roast Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce Recipe

The deeply flavored, thyme-infused red wine sauce here can be made days ahead, so there's no last-minute panic when it comes time to serve.

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Recipe

Filet of Beef Wrapped in Bacon with Wild Mushroom & Rosemary Sauce

As if there were any doubt, the bacon emphasizes this is a truly special meal. You'll tie the bacon on at 10 intervals to create a neat package.

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Recipe

Beef Tenderloin with Wild Mushroom Stuffing & Port Wine Sauce

A stuffed beef tenderloin comes together quite easily. You can even make this rich, earthy mushroom filling ahead of time and freeze it in a log shape until you're ready to butterfly the tenderloin.

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Recipe

Horseradish Cream

The cream here does double-duty. The evening of your party, it's an easy way to let everyone enhance the roast to their taste, and the next day, it's divine on sandwiches (assuming there's leftovers).

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Recipe

Double-Mushroom Ragoût

Porcini and cremini mushrooms join forces in a creamy ragoût that truly makes your tenderloin a centerpiece dish.

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Recipe

Morel Sauce

A creamy morel sauce adds a luxurious note to an already rich dish. Originally developed for our Herb-and-Salt-Crusted Standing Rib Roast, you can use it with any beef roast.

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Recipe

Béarnaise Sauce

Béarnaise makes a bright, luscious sauce for beef. And, it couldn't be simpler to make. Think: hollandaise with finely chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as tarragon, chives, parsley, and chervil.

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Recipe

Frizzled Leeks

Put a topper on your showstopper. These crispy leek strips make a fantastic garnish for beef tenderloin, braised short ribs, or roast pork or chicken.

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Recipe

Caramelized-Shallot Butter

Not a fan of super-textured crusts on your tenderloin? Add flavor with a compound butter. Melt this French-inspired condiment over your beef for a hit of sweetness and complexity.

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