Marinated Beef Tenderloin

This Marinated Beef Tenderloin recipe is perfectly tender & juicy and packed with flavour . It’s an easy to make beef tenderloin roast with a simple marinade that’s great for the holidays, served with horseradish sauce!

 

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

This Beef Tenderloin roast is the PERFECT recipe for Christmas, New Years, or any celebration meal. It’s restaurant-quality, and SO easy to make! If the idea of roasting a Beef Tenderloin at home scares you, don’t worry! It’s actually really simple, and with a few tips (read all our NO FAIL tips below!!) you’ll be well on your way to an absolutely delicious dish that will rival any restaurant meal.

Beef tenderloin is a lean cut of meat that’s also one of the most tender cuts of beef. It can be susceptible to over-cooking and becoming dry, but marinating it helps lock in the flavour and keep the beef nice and moist. Tenderloin is often cooked as a whole roast or cut into filet mignon steaks.

Here are just a few reasons we love this beef tenderloin recipe!

1. It is EASY to MAKE: This recipe only needs a dish for it to marinate in, a pan to cook the tenderloin, and a meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked to the preferred doneness.
2. It is VERSATILE: Tenderloin tastes delicious seasoned with salt and pepper or with different flavoured marinades.
3. It is a TENDER CUT: Beef tenderloin is a lean cut of meat that is tender and mild in flavour.

Here are all our best no-fail tips for roasting beef tenderloin so it’s juicy and delicious every time!

If you want to infuse flavour into roasted meats (especially beef and pork), the best way is to make a simple marinade and marinate the beef for about 2 – t6 hours.

Using butcher’s twine to tie the tenderloin in several places will help it roast evenly and keep it together as it roasts.

One of the most common mistakes home cooks make when roasting beef or pork is roasting at too low a temperature. A higher temperature (like 425 degrees Fahrenheit/220 degrees Celsius) ensures the outside of the roast will be caramelized with a beautiful texture and the inside will be juicy and tender.

Since every beef tenderloin is a different size, using a meat thermometer will ensure it’s cooked to the correct temperature and doneness. We like our beef tenderloin cooked to medium rare, 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius).

For rare, cook to 135 Fahrenheit (57 degrees Celsius).
For medium rare, cook to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius).
For medium, cook to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
For medium well, cook to 164 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).

Once the roast comes out of the oven, let it sit for about 10 or 15 minutes before slicing into it. This will ensure the juices stay in the meat, making your beef roast ultra moist and juicy.

Pan juices from beef tenderloin can be used to make a delicious gravy, or you can serve the beef tenderloin with our famous Best Ever Horseradish Sauce!

If you are having trouble with this beef tenderloin recipe, follow the solutions we recommend below.

An instant read meat thermometer (paid link) is a MUST for any roasted beef you make. Check the doneness easily by measuring the temperature of the meat to ensure the beef stays juicy and tender and doesn’t dry out or over-cook!

A common mistake is over-marinating the beef. Marinate as long as the recipe calls for – any longer and the muscle fibres can break down too much and lead to the meat having a mushy texture.

It is important to not only marinate the beef but use herbs and spices before cooking beef tenderloin as it enhances the flavour inside. Be sure to follow the recipe as directed for the best flavour!

Make sure to pat the tenderloin dry after marinating before placing it in the pan. This allows the beef to caramelize on the outside, instead of steam, and keeps the flavour inside the beef.

The tenderloin can cook unevenly if it is cooked straight from the fridge. Let it come to room temperature first before cooking to make sure it cooks evenly.

You will need these kitchen items on hand to make this beef tenderloin recipe (paid links):

• rectangular baking dish
• large baking dish
• Instant Read Thermometer
• measuring cups and spoons
• liquid measuring cups
• large knife
• Whisk
• Cutting Board
• Butcher’s twine

If you’re looking for a cheap but effective meat thermometer for roasted meats like this that doesn’t require you to open the oven door, try THIS ONE (paid link).  We also really like THIS ONE from Ikea called the FANTAST (not a paid link).

To make this Marinated Beef Tenderloin you’ll need (paid links):

• 2 pound beef tenderloin at room temperature
• 1 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 8 cloves garlic finely minced
• 2 small shallots finely minced
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Try these variations with the beef tenderloin depending on what suits your tastes and preferences.

1. Blue Cheese and Walnuts – Coating the tenderloin with blue cheese and chopped walnuts when it roasts it will give it a texture that’s crusty on the outside and tender on the inside.
2. Spinach, Mushroom, and Cheese – Butterfly the tenderloin and stuff with spinach, chopped mushrooms, and cheese and then tie the tenderloin back up before cooking.
3. Peppercorn Crust – Cover the tenderloin with fresh cracked black pepper before cooking to give the tenderloin some kick.

We hope you love this beef tenderloin recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite holiday side dish to serve at the Holidays? We’d love to know!  

• Easy Crock Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Easy Vegan Green Bean Casserole
• Roasted Garlic Butter Carrots
• Apple Walnut Spinach Salad
• Roasted Beet Salad with Greens
• Maple Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes 
• Winter Berry Cocktail (Alcohol Free Version Included)
• Rosemary Dill Roasted Potatoes

Watch the video below to see exactly how we make this recipe. You can find more delicious recipe videos on our YouTube channel.