Nothing tops the flavor of a medium-rare perfectly grilled steak over charcoal. Wood fire and beef are a match made in heavy. But can a lean delicate cut like the filet hold up to the heat? We put it to the rest with this reverse-seared grilled filet mignon.
When you think of rosy pink medium-rare slices of juicy steak, cooking filet mignon on the grill is not what comes to mind. But it turns out; the filet picks up the beautiful aromatic of charcoal like a champ, just like a whole grilled beef tenderloin. And with some strategic timing, grilling filet mignon may be your new favorite way to prepare this delicate steak cut not only on special occasions.
The Cut: Filet mignon
Filet mignon steaks are an incredibly tender cut from the tenderloin on the lower upper back of the cow. The muscle is rarely worked, making it an incredibly tender cut of beef. But, also is notorious for being a very lean and expensive cut of meat with minimal marbling. Making it a tricky cut to master. Cooked to anything over medium, and the steak can dry out and become tough. We love pan-seared filets in a good cast iron skillet. Or even perfectly cooking them in the sous vide to make sure their internal temp remains perfect for slicing into. But every now and then, the flavor you can get grilling filet mignon makes it worth the effort.
Keep the flavor and juices locked in with this reverse-seared filet mignon recipe on the grill by cooking it over indirect heat to pick up that amazing char-grilled flavor. Then finishing it hot and fast directly over the coals to lock in a crust.
Timing is everything, and a digital meat thermometer will be your best friend for cooking filet mignon to a perfect 125 degrees F and allow for carryover cooking. When you slice into it, it will be a perfect 130 degrees F.
Because tenderloin steaks are so lean and have a mild beefy flavor, we pair them with compound butter or a rich steak sauce like our peppercorn sauce, red wine steak sauce, or a classic bearnaise sauce to amp up the umami.
Ingredients
- Thick filet mignon steaks, about 2″ thick and 6 to 8 ounces. Want to save some money? See our guide on how to trim a whole beef tenderloin to cut your own filet steaks. We get 9 to 12 out of every tenderloin. Or check out our trusted list of where to buy meat online for high quality steaks delivered to your door.
- Salt – we use kosher salt
- Butter – use one of our favorite compound butter recipes to finish this steak with flavor
How to grill Filet Mignon
- Start by patting the steaks dry with paper towels and secure the steaks with butcher’s twine. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet. Season the filet mignon steaks liberally with salt and place them on the wire rack for 2 to 24 hours to air dry.
- When you’re ready to grill the filets, allow them to sit at room temperature for 45 minutes.
- Prep your charcoal grill for indirect heat by building a 2-zone fire. To build a 2-zone fire, stack lit coals on one side of the grill. This creates a cool zone, the side without coals, and a direct heat zone, with the coals underneath. Add woodchips to the coals and pop the grate back on top, and clean and oil it. Place the grill lid on with the vents open, and let the grill heat for another 10 minutes.
- When the grill temperature has reached 400 to 450 degrees F, place the steaks on the cooler side of the grill grates, over low heat, and cover and grill for 5 to 7 minutes, or not past 110 degrees F.
- Immediately transfer the steaks to the hottest part of the grill, directly over the hot coals, and sear them for 2 minutes on each side for a nice crust, ensuring the internal temperature reaches only 125 degrees F for excellent results.
- Remove the filets from the heat, remove the butcher’s twine, and let the steaks rest with heaping tablespoons of the compound butter for 5 minutes before serving.
- Grilled filets are best enjoyed immediately and won’t reheat well. If you need to store leftovers, place them in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the fridge for up to 3 days. Leftovers are best enjoyed cold.
What to serve with reverse-seared filet mignon
Filet has a mild flavor, and it’s best served with a rich compound butter (like our roasted garlic compound butter recipe), a savory steak sauce (like our red wine sauce for steaks), and a rich side. We love topping a perfect filet mignon with smoked crab imperial for an indulgent meal and serving it with fresh green beans, steakhouse creamed spinach, and a hot smoked baked potato.
