Garlic-Mustard Filet Mignon

By
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops approachable recipes for home cooks. Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/27/21
filet mignon with creamy mustard sauce

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Filet mignon, as indicated by its French name, is a tender cut of beef that is famous for its wonderful texture. It's expensive and delicate, so knowing how to cook it to perfection will give you an incredible meal, so satisfying that there is no need for big serving sizes. This part of the animal doesn't bear any weight, so it's not toughened by activity—you probably can slice it with a fork once it's cooked.

For our recipe, we prepare a tantalizing garlic-mustard pan sauce enriched with shallots, wine, and cream. Delicious and simple to prepare, this dish suits a dinner party. Wow, your guests serving it with potatoes au gratin, and an asparagus-pistachio salad.

Ingredients

  • 4 (6-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks, about 1 1/2-inches thick

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots 

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/3 cup red wine

  • 1/2 cup beef broth

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Filet Mignon With Garlic Mustard Sauce ingredients

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Rub Worcestershire sauce evenly on both sides of filet mignon steaks, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.

    rub steaks with seasoning

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Heat a large heavy skillet or cast iron pan over high heat until very hot, but not smoking. Add 1 tablespoon butter and swirl to coat the pan.

    heat butter in skillet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Brown steak 3 to 5 minutes on one side, then turn and cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes on the other side to medium-rare doneness. Turn only once, and remove steaks.

    sear steaks

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Make a tinfoil tent over filet mignon to rest the meat and keep warm.

    cover steaks to rest with tinfoil

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Add the shallots and garlic to the same skillet you used to cook the meat (without cleaning it), stirring for 30 seconds.

    cook shallots and garlic for sauce

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Carefully pour in the wine and stir, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom, for about 2 minutes.

    continue to build sauce for steak

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Add broth and bring to a slow boil. Cook for 3 minutes.

    add broth to sauce

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Add heavy cream and cook until sauce begins to thicken, from 3 to 5 minutes.

    add cream to sauce

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. Whisk in Dijon mustard until smooth.

    finish sauce with mustard

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  11. Return steaks to pan and warm for 1 minute. Sprinkle with finely chopped chives before serving.

    add steaks back to pan to heat in sauce

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

How to Choose Filet Mignon

Because filet mignon is not a cheap cut of meat, learn from these tips before you head to the store:

  • Know the USDA meat grading. 'Prime' is the best cut of the type of meat you are looking for, while 'Choice' is the average quality of it. Choose 'Prime' whenever you can, it has more fat and marbling, thus more flavor and tenderness. If the filets you find don't have any of the grades, don't buy them.
  • Look for dark pink and red steaks. Any gray or discoloration is a sign that the steak is past its prime time.
  • Some shady stores will sell filet mignon look-alikes, so first, pay attention to the price if it seems low, and secondly, go to recommended butcher shops and reputable supermarkets.

What Cut of Meat Is a Filet Mignon?

Filet mignon comes from the middle of the beef tenderloin and is one of the tenderest, most expensive cuts of beef you can buy.

Helpful Links

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
709 Calories
56g Fat
4g Carbs
42g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 709
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 56g 71%
Saturated Fat 25g 126%
Cholesterol 186mg 62%
Sodium 480mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 2mg 10%
Calcium 50mg 4%
Iron 6mg 32%
Potassium 692mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)