Melt in your mouth Blackened Beef Tenderloin is easy to make in the oven with a simple, flavorful rub. It’s an impressive meal anytime of the year, but perfect for the holiday season!

Top it with horseradish butter and serve it with Cajun Roasted Potatoes or Mashed Potatoes on the side for an incredible meal!

Slice of blackened beef tenderloin on plate with potatoes and herb butter in wood ramekin

Today’s post is sponsored by my friends at the California Beef Council.

There is nothing more impressive to serve during the holidays than a whole beef tenderloin. If you’re not familiar with the cut, the beef tenderloin is the large cut of beef that is then sliced into filets.

While it is a more expensive cut of beef, it’s well worth the price tag for the incredible results of this recipe! The beef tenderloin is the most tender cut of beef, therefore a quick sear and roast in the oven is all you need to cook this cut of beef to a perfect, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.

The easy homemade blackening seasoning rubbed on this beef tenderloin recipe takes the flavor of the steak to another level! I melted a homemade horseradish butter on top for even more juicy flavor.

Whether it’s served at a special occasion, Christmas dinner, a New Year’s Eve soiree or just a random meal that calls for serious deliciousness, this Blackened Beef Tenderloin is sure to impress your friends and family! And the best part is, making it at home will cost you a fraction of the cost of purchasing 6 filets at a restaurant.

Slices of blackened beef tenderloin on white plate with fresh herbs

Instructions

Follow these simple steps to make a show-stopping beef tenderloin every time! To see how each step is done, be sure to catch the video at the end of this post.

  1. Remove the beef tenderloin from the refrigerator one hour before roasting.
  2. If you purchased a tenderloin that still has fat around it, use a sharp knife to remove the fat from the beef tenderloin.
  3. Use kitchen twine to tie the tenderloin every inch. The twine should be tight, but not so tight that the beef is bulging out around it.
    • Note: tying the tenderloin helps the entire piece of meat cook evenly.
  4. In a small bowl, combine paprika, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Add cayenne pepper, black pepper, thyme and oregano to make the blackening rub.
  5. Sprinkle the rub evenly over the beef tenderloin and rub it into the meat.
  6. Heat a large skillet or grill pan on the stove over high heat.
  7. Sear the beef tenderloin in the skillet on all sides, approximately 1 minute per side.
  8. Transfer the tenderloin to a wire rack on top of a baking sheet.
  9. Place in a 425°F preheated oven for 25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the middle of the beef tenderloin reaches 130°F, for medium rare.
    • Note: medium rare is the recommended temperature to cook a beef tenderloin for the ultimate tenderness. If you’d like to cook it to medium, wait until the beef tenderloin reaches 135°F.
  10. Remove from the oven and let the meat rest at room temperature for 10 – 15 minutes before slicing.

How to make horseradish butter

  1. In a small bowl, combine softened, salted butter, prepared horseradish, chopped chives, lemon zest and crushed garlic.
  2. Form the horseradish butter into a log shape.
  3. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before serving.
    • Quick tip! Prepared horseradish butter will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 6 months. It’s delicious on a toasted baguette, corn on the cob, in mashed potatoes or used to cook scallops or shrimp.

What to serve with it

After topping the roasted beef tenderloin with homemade horseradish butter, I recommend pairing the dish with a medium-bodied red wine, like cabernet sauvignon.

For sides, I’d recommend serving the dish with both a potato and vegetable side dish. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

How much to serve per person

A great tip to remember is to purchase a half pound of meat per person. If serving 12 people, purchase a 6 pound beef tenderloin.

How to purchase beef tenderloin

Some larger grocery stores and wholesale stores, like Costco, will sell packaged beef tenderloins, but a lot of smaller grocery stores will not. At these grocery stores, simply ask the butcher to cut a beef tenderloin to the size you need based on how many people you’re serving.

In a store where the beef tenderloins are already cut and packaged, they may be sold as a beef tenderloin or beef tenderloin roast. These are the same thing and either will work just fine for this recipe.

Thick sliced beef tenderloin on plate with herbs, potatoes and butter

More beef recipes

Looking for more impressive beef recipes to share with friends and family this holiday season? Look no further than these top 6 beef recipes for a crowd! Each recipe will easily feed 6-8 people and can be doubled for larger groups.

  • Slow Cooker Beef Ragu – this easy recipe only takes 5 minutes to prep and is guaranteed to impress your guests!
  • Marinated Grilled Tri Tip – red wine, garlic & black pepper are combined to make the perfect tri tip marinade! I recommend tossing it on the grill, but during the winter months, you can also prepare it in the oven.
    • To cook this tri tip in the oven, first sear the tri tip in an oven-safe skillet on the stove over high heat for 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to a 350°F preheated oven and cook for approximately 10 minutes per pound of meat. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the tri tip. Remove from the oven when it reads 130°F inside the tri tip.
  • French Onion Pot Roast – this pot roast can easily be made in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot. And it has quickly become a Bond family favorite!
  • Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Horseradish Sauce – if you’re looking for another AMAZING way to serve beef tenderloin this holiday season, try this simple, flavorful recipe!
  • Coffee Crusted Tri Tip with Balsamic Stout Reduction – one of my all-time favorite recipes on the blog from all the way back in 2012! The rub on this steak is out of this world amazing!
  • Beef Wellington – this classic English dish is a SHOW STOPPER at any dinner table! While this recipe is a little more complicated than the others, my step-by-step photos and video will walk you through how to make it perfectly on your first try!

For more holiday entertaining ideas, be sure to check out this article. It’s My Party: How CA Food Blogger and Lifestyle Expert Whitney Bond Styles A Holiday Event

Slice of beef tenderloin on plate with fresh herbs and potatoes
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Blackened Beef Tenderloin

Melt in your mouth Blackened Beef Tenderloin is easy to make in the oven with a simple, flavorful rub. It's an impressive meal anytime of the year, but perfect for the holiday season!

Ingredients

Blackened Beef Tenderloin

Horseradish Butter

Instructions

Blackened Beef Tenderloin

  • Remove the tenderloin from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.
  • Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • Use kitchen string to tie the roast every 1 inch.
  • In a small bowl, combine the paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, thyme and oregano.
  • Sprinkle this spice mixture evenly over the beef tenderloin and rub into the meat.
  • Heat a large skillet or grill pan on the stove over high heat.
  • Add the beef tenderloin to the skillet or grill pan and sear on all sides, app. 1 minute per side.
  • Transfer the tenderloin to a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and place in the oven for 25 minutes or until a thermometer reaches 130°F for medium rare.
  • Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

Horseradish Butter

  • Before starting the beef tenderloin recipe or while it’s roasting in the oven, prepare the horseradish butter.
  • In a small bowl, combine the butter, horseradish, chives, lemon zest and garlic.
  • Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
  • Serve the butter on top of the warm beef tenderloin.

Video

Notes

  • Beef Tenderloin
    • When preparing a beef tenderloin, make sure to prepare 1/2 lb per person you’re serving.
  • Horseradish Butter
    • If you don’t have salted butter, add ¼ tsp salt to the recipe.
    • The butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or the freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 701kcal (35%)Carbohydrates 2g (1%)Protein 42g (84%)Fat 57g (88%)Saturated Fat 25g (125%)Cholesterol 179mg (60%)Sodium 966mg (40%)Potassium 735mg (21%)Fiber 1g (4%)Sugar 1g (1%)Vitamin A 987mg (20%)Vitamin C 2mg (2%)Calcium 26mg (3%)Iron 6mg (33%)
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