Fancy Filet Mignon Recipe

5 from 3 votes
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This Fancy Filet Mignon recipe is a winner for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or birthdays. You will wow your guests with this elevated dish all served up in a eye-catching stack.

A fancy filet mignon dinner on a plate.

This Fancy Filet Mignon Recipe is one of those dinners that take a little extra time, but it is TOTALLY worth it. It’s perfect for any special occasion, and is always a hit! In this post you’ll see how to make the basic steak in a cast iron pan, as well as instructions on how to make it a full meal (as shown in the picture above). This is is the best filet mignon recipe – the flavors will blow you away!

Ingredients for this Filet Mignon Recipe

Dressing up the most tender cut of beef takes only a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you need for the filet mignon steaks:

  • 2 cuts filet mignon – about one to one and a half inches thick. It will be labeled as beef tenderloin steak filet mignon.
  • Avocado Oil
  • Butter – use herb butter if you have it.
  • Garlic
  • Rosemary – you can use other fresh herbs like thyme or sage.
  • Balsamic vinegar – the sweet, slightly smoky flavor of this rich vinegar makes a delicious sauce for the steak.
  • Brown sugar – this balances out the acidity of the vinegar beautifully.
  • Mushrooms – sliced, either fresh or from a can
  • Onions – I like to use yellow or white onions, thinly sliced
  • Butter – Use unsalted butter to control the sodium and flavor.
  • Green onion or chives – for garnish.
  • Kosher salt and black pepper – to taste
A fancy filet mignon dinner on a plate.


Tips for the Perfect Filet

  • I always get my filets from my local butcher at my grocery store. They will be bigger than what you can buy pre-wrapped and your butcher can help you pick the best cuts of meat.
  • I highly suggest cooking filet mignon to AT MOST medium inside. I prefer my filet medium-rare because it will practically melt in your mouth.
  • Medium will be great too, but any more than medium I can’t guarantee you will have a juicy filet.
  • Take the meat out of the fridge and let the steak rest at room temperature for about half an hour before you cook. If you throw refrigerated meat on a hot pan or grill it can shock the meat and cause it to toughen up.
  • Pan sear filet mignon in a cast iron skillet or another oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. A cast iron pan works great. Pan-searing gives the eat a beautiful crust while keeping the meat completely tender inside. Then place your cast-iron skillet in the oven at 300 to 350-degrees and bake until you reach the desired internal temperature.
sauteed mushrooms and onions in a skillet.

Filet Mignon Dinner

You can make the filet mignon on its own, or create a complete fancy schmancy dinner! Here’s what you need to make the full meal:

Frequently Asked Questions

How is filet mignon supposed to be cooked?

You’ll get a nice crust when pan-seared in a hot skillet. Or you can grill for about 1-2 minutes on each side. Use a meat thermometer to check the final internal temperature of your steak. It should be 135°F for medium-rare and 145°F for medium. Make sure to let the meat rest for about 10 minutes to let the juices distribute.

What is the best way to have filet mignon?

Unlike other cuts of steak, this one is supposed to be fork tender. To fully enjoy your filet, make sure it’s only cooked medium to medium-rare.

Should filet mignon be marinated?

Filet mignon is already a lean and tender cut of meat so it doesn’t require marinating like other tougher cuts of meat do. Just season with salt and pepper and cook.

READ NEXT: How to Make Cast Iron Filet Mignon

More Sides to Serve with this Filet Mignon Recipe

Serve these beautiful steaks alongside any of your favorite veggies or starches. Here are some ideas:

How to make this Fancy Filet Mignon Recipe

A fancy filet mignon dinner on a plate

Fancy Filet Mignon Recipe

5 from 3 votes
This Fancy Filet Mignon recipe is a winner for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or birthdays. You will wow your guests with this elevated dish all served up in a eye-catching stack.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Sauce Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place filets on a plate and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, pat dry with a paper towel and generously sprinkle each side of the filets with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 450.
    two filets on a plate seasoned with salt and pepper
  • Once the oven is preheated, add avocado oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and starts to smoke, add each filet presentation side down to the skillet. Let cook for 3 minutes. DO NOT move them around in the pan. Leave them untouched.
    Two uncooked filet mignons in a cast iron pan
  • After 3 minutes, flip the steaks and add butter, garlic cloves, and rosemary. Stir them around in the pan and spoon some of the butter over the steaks.
    Two partially cooked filet mignons in a cast iron pan
  • Place the pan directly into the oven and cook for 6-7 minutes for a medium cooked steak. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer – it should read between 130 and 135 degrees. See notes for more information on cooking times and temperatures. Pull the skillet out of the oven and spoon more of the melted butter over the steaks. Remove from skillet and place on a plate. Cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
    Two filet mignons in a cast iron pan
  • Mix together balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Bring to a slight boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved, reduce heat to LOW and simmer for about 15-20 minutes until it has reduced to a syrupy consistency and half of the original volume.
    Balsamic glaze in a little cup
  • While the glaze is simmering, saute mushrooms and onions in butter until onions become soft and transparent. Remove from heat.
    sauteed mushrooms and onions in a skillet
  • Start each plate with a layer of asparagus. Place a large spoonful of mashed potatoes over the asparagus. Layer sautéed onions/mushrooms over filet and drizzle with balsamic reduction and top with green onion.
    Asparagus topped with mashed potatoes on a plate
  • Place the filet on the bed of mashed potatoes. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the filet. Top with blue cheese sauce and the onion and mushroom mix. Garnish with chives.
    A fancy filet mignon dinner on a plate

Notes

  • Nutrition does not include mashed potatoes, asparagus, or blue cheese sauce.
  • Because of variations in oven temperatures, it is always best to check if your meat is done with an instant-read thermometer. 
  • The steak will continue to cook during the resting time so it is best to remove the steak from the oven when it is about 5 degrees below the desired final temperature. 
    • For rare steak: 120-125 degrees (remove from oven at 115 degrees)
    • For medium rare: 125-130 degrees (remove from oven at 120 degrees)
    • For medium: 135-140 degrees (remove from oven at 130 degrees)
    • For medium well: 145-150 degrees (remove from oven at 140 degrees)
    • For well done (not recommended): 160 degrees and above (remove from oven at 155 degrees)
  • Remember to never use dish soap on your cast iron pan! Wipe clean with a sponge and dry completely right away. Add a little oil to a paper towel and coat the inside of the pan with it. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 452kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 6gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 205mgPotassium: 721mgFiber: 3gSugar: 54gVitamin A: 554IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 2mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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Comments

  1. Love this recipe and made it back in April. Did you update it/change it to cook on cast-iron with the butter and rosemary? I don’t remember that from April. And the pictures have changed I think.

    1. Unfortunately, filet mignon is on the pricey side when it comes to cuts of meat. Since prices vary from state to state, and store to store, it’s hard to give an accurate price per pound. To give you an idea, at my local Walmart, filet mignon is $17.82 a pound.

  2. I made this recipe for my husbands birthday a few years back and LOVED it, but now I’m having trouble with the links to the loaded mashed and bleu cheese sauce. Would it be possible to get those re-linked?

    1. Thanks for letting us know that those links were no longer working! I just went in and reconnected them all! It should work great now. 🙂

  3. I am not able to view or purchase the dry rub. Can you please tell me what ingredients are needed to make it?

  4. Hi, I’m vegetarian, married to a steak lover who has strong aversion to my using his grill and steaks cooked any other way than with flame, so in the 25 years we’ve been together I have only cooked him steak once inside (he loved it) I’d love to make this, it looks awesome, but I am struggling with the directions on this…Let’s suggest I’m going to sear mine on the stove then transfer to the oven for a bit then let cool…when should I start my balsamic mix? (I have a balsamic glaze I could use, too I guess) But the 20 minutes you say to let the mix simmer is after the recipe says your steak is done cooking, so I just had to check 🙂 Thank you!

  5. Hello, how many plate dies this recipe make? I’m about to make it for 8 adults and 7 kids and don’t know how much meat to buy!

  6. 5 stars
    First I have to say that I’ve made a few of your recipes and loved them all but HAD to comment on this one. Made it for a belated Valentine’s Day and it was SO good. I wish I could post a photo here but I’ll definitely tweet it to you! I can’t wait to make this again – well worth the time and effort!!!

    1. Please tweet it to me! I would love to see the pictures! I am so happy to hear you liked it 🙂 like I said… my husband is always BEGGING for me to make it! lol we actually had it tonight!

  7. 5 stars
    This was fantastic! We’re not blue cheese fans but I tried it anyway (not telling anyone what the sauce was) and we all like it.
    From the rub to the sauces- everything. Thanks for sharing the recipes!

  8. Looks incredibly good! I’m not big on bleu cheese anything. Can you suggest something you would replace that with? Thank you. Your recipes are fast becoming our family favorites.