Cooking steak can be a little intimidating. But with this tried-and-true formula, you'll cook perfect filet mignon from now on! Both seasoned to perfection and melt-in-your-mouth tender.
How to Make a Happy Wife
It's true what they say: happy wife, happy life. I am so blessed with both! And one thing that keeps my wife smiling is an occasional perfect filet mignon for dinner. When we first got married, almost four years ago, she was a well-done kinda girl. But I'm happy to report that she has seen the light! She now knows the beauty and perfection of medium rare. I feel so accomplished.
A Cheaper Way to Date Night
Man, I really love going out to eat. But since we started having kids, our date nights look a lot different. By the time we pay for a babysitter, order two meals and a couple drinks, we're looking at $200 easily. Well, it's a good thing I like to cook! And that I'm pretty decent at it. It also helps that our kids are usually in bed by 7pm every night. That's plenty of time to enjoy a great filet, mushroom risotto, and a bottle of Pinot Noir.
HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT FILET MIGNON
Remove filets from refrigerator at least 20 minutes before cooking. Once near room temperature, season well on all sides with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Once it begins to smoke a little, add oil. Then swirl around pan for about 15 seconds.
Add filets to screaming hot pan and sear on all sides (top, bottom, and all around sides), 2-3 minutes each side.
When searing the final side, add butter, thyme, rosemary, and garlic to pan.
Baste steaks constantly for the last 2-3 minutes.
Transfer skillet to oven. Cook times - rare: 5 minutes; medium rare: 6 minutes; medium: 7 minutes; anything else: just don't. Halfway through cook time, turn steak for even cooking.
Remove skillet from oven and transfer filet to plate to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
And this is the AMAZING result...
More Ideas for Impressive Dinners at Home
- Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
- Pressure Cooker Lamb Shanks - With Gordon Ramsay Style!
- Ratatouille Frittata
★ Did you make this Perfect Filet Mignon? Please give it a star rating below! ★
📖 Recipe
Perfect Filet Mignon
Ingredients
- 16 oz. center cut filet mignon 8 oz. each
- 2 Tbsp. grape seed oil
- 1 rosemary sprig
- 3 thyme sprigs
- 3 cloves garlic smashed
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- course kosher salt
- fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Remove filets from refrigerator at least 20 minutes before cooking. Once near room temperature, season well on all sides with salt and pepper.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Heat skillet over high heat. Once it begins to smoke a little, add oil. Then swirl around pan for about 15 seconds.
- Add filets to screaming hot pan and sear on all sides (top, bottom, and all around sides), 2-3 minutes each side. When searing the final side, add butter, thyme, rosemary, and garlic to pan. Baste steaks constantly for the last 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer skillet to oven. Cook times - rare: 5 minutes; medium rare: 6 minutes; medium: 7 minutes; anything else: just don't. Halfway through cook time, turn steak for even cooking.
- Remove skillet from oven and transfer filet to plate to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT OUR DISCLOSURE PAGE.
Matthew
What happens if your wife is Vegan? Does that mean I get double portions? Suggestions?
vivster
This was awesome
Lancerlady
Thank you! I the wife made this for my husband and it was awesome!
Gary
Happy to help!
Samantha
Love it!
Lisa
Def the best steak I’ve ever made. Thanks, Gary!
Tony Hollifield
Just made this in a 200 year old family cast iron. I only tweaked the recipe for fats.
I rubbed the filets with truffle oil after completely drying the surface of the meat.
Then seasoned the outside of the meat on all sides. Coarse Salt, Pepper, and granulated garlic.
I used duck fat in the place of the oil.
I also used fresh rosemary from my garden.
This is the absolute best filet I have ever made or eaten.
Thank you for sharing your recipe with us!!
Melissa Fraum
The best steak I’ve ever made at home - Hands down!
Julie
WE LOVED THESE FILETS!! I bought Prime Filets from Costco for Valentines Day and these were SUCH a delight!!! Mine stayed in (my 22-year-old) the oven for a total of 10 minutes for medium rare. I usually BBQ my steaks, but I'm a cast-iron-cooker from here on! We also ATE the rosemary and thyme sprigs, and the "goo" left in the pan went into the freezer for future gravy. YUM!
Pete
Searing time is way too long
Kaylan
Found this recipe for our anniversary dinner and it came out incredible!
Gary White
Happy anniversary!
Laura
This is the BEST steak I’ve ever cooked. I made it tonight for our Valentine’s Day dinner date night at home (once we put the kids to bed). I’ve made this several times and it is the only way I will cook my filets now. I’ve got the timing down and they come out perfect. Juicy, flavorful, perfect texture, just all around delicious. My husband asks for this frequently and it is better than going out to a restaurant. Tonight we had it with asparagus and sweet potato fries!!!