Our favorite special occasion dinner EVER. 🥂 This mouthwatering, garlic-herb crusted beef tenderloin roasts in under 30 minutes. Every bite is melt-in-your-mouth tender and delicious! Serve with roasted potatoes and my super-quick, creamy horseradish sauce. Easier than it looks, and so very elegant for date nights or holiday dinners.
Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Creamy Horseradish Sauce
Years ago, I was crammed at a table for two during a less-than-stellar holiday dinner. From then on, I decided to whip up my own special occasion dinners at home. When you cook at home, you save money, eat food flavored just as you like, and learn a new skill.
As a bonus, why not enjoy your fancy plate in your pajamas?
Whether you’re cooking for two or a hungry crowd, this juicy Roasted Beef Tenderloin always hits the spot. It is our favorite easy, yet incredibly elegant dish for dinner parties and special occasions with friends and family. All of the ingredients are easy to find, the preparation is quick, and the flavor is melt-in-your-mouth delicious every time. Pure perfection served with Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes and my Creamy Horseradish Sauce (recipe below).
Wanna impress your guests? Look no further than this garlic herb butter beef tenderloin. So simple, it only needs 6 ingredients (plus a dash of salt and pepper). We’ve served this exact recipe to guests many times, who have all raved about this restaurant quality dish! Who can blame them, when dinner is this delicious.
Let’s get you to the recipe, shall we?
Ready to cook your own Roasted Beef Tenderloin?
• Remove beef tenderloin from refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. Trim and tie the loin (you can also request that your butcher does this for you, when you purchase the loin).
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Arrange oven rack in center of oven. Prepare a large baking sheet or roasting pan.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine butter, horseradish, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Using a small fork, mash to combine.
• Using paper towels, pat tenderloin dry. Spread garlic-herb mixture on tenderloin, coating evenly. Transfer to your roasting pan.
• Roast in a preheated oven for 24-26 min for medium-rare doneness (130-135˚F). Check cooking time chart below, if you prefer your meat cooked to a different doneness.
• Remove from oven and transfer loin to a cutting board. Let rest 10 minutes. Slice into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Serve warm with Creamy Horseradish Sauce (recipe below) and Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes, if desired.
Keep reading for full ingredient list + recipe, below
What to serve on the side of Roasted Beef Tenderloin? Try these!
• Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Bacon
• Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Bread
• Crispy Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes
• Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
• Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
• Brussels Sprout Winter Salad with Lemon Champagne Vinaigrette
How do you order your beef tenderloin?
Visit or call up your local butcher or grocery store. Order a beef tenderloin between 2 and 3 pounds. Ask the butcher for it “trimmed and tied” – this is the process of trimming the silver skin on the beef, which is tendinous and prevents flavor from penetrating the beef. Tying it into a uniform shape helps the beef cook evenly and is a necessary step. This is an easy process, but saves quite a bit of time to have it done by a professional butcher.
Can I make this ahead?
You can prepare your beef tenderloin up to 1 day ahead. Spread the garlic-herb butter on the beef, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in a re-sealable bag or container. Remove from the refrigerator and unwrap before roasting as instructed in the recipe.
Can I cook the potatoes with the beef tenderloin?
These parmesan potatoes are golden, crispy and absolutely delicious with this tenderloin. Contrary to what the photo suggests, the potatoes do not cook with the tenderloin. You need to cook them at a separate temp and time. Click here for the potato recipe.
Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Creamy Horseradish Sauce
Our favorite special occasion dinner EVER. 🥂 This mouthwatering, garlic-herb crusted beef tenderloin roasts in under 30 minutes. Every bite is melt-in-your-mouth tender and delicious! Serve with roasted potatoes and my super-quick, creamy horseradish sauce. Easier than it looks, and so very elegant for date nights or holiday dinners.
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb. beef tenderloin , trimmed and tied
- 2 Tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 Tablespoon prepared horseradish, strained
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tablespoon rosemary leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For serving, optional:
- Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes
- Creamy Horseradish Sauce (recipe in Notes)
Instructions
Remove beef tenderloin from refrigerator 1 hour before roasting. Trim and tie the loin (you can also request that your butcher does this for you, when you purchase the loin).
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Arrange oven rack in center of oven. Prepare a large baking sheet or roasting pan.
In a small mixing bowl, combine butter, horseradish, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Using a small fork, mash to combine.
Using paper towels, pat tenderloin dry. Spread garlic-herb mixture on tenderloin, coating evenly. Transfer to your roasting pan.
Roast in a preheated oven for 24-26 min for medium-rare doneness (130-135˚F). Check cooking time chart below, if you prefer your meat cooked to a different doneness.
Remove from oven and transfer loin to a cutting board. Let rest 10 minutes. Slice into 1/4-inch thick slices, and serve right away.
Notes
For my Creamy Horseradish Sauce: (makes 3/4 cups)
In a medium bowl, whisk 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 Tbsp. prepared horseradish, 2 Tbsp. mayo, 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. black pepper, 1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives. Cover and refrigerate before serving.
Beef Tenderloin Temperature Chart:
Cook 22-23 minutes for rare (120-125˚F)
Cook 24-26 minutes for medium-rare (130-135˚F)
Cook 28-30 minutes for medium doneness (138-140˚F)
Cook 30-32 minutes for medium-well doneness (140-145˚F)
* Cooking time can vary depending on your oven temperature and thickness of your beef. We recommend checking for desired doneness using a meat thermometer.
Please feel free to leave a comment and a star rating. I would love to know if you serve this tenderloin recipe for your next special occasion!
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