If you’re looking for a great Christmas dinner recipe, look no further! This perfect seared filet recipe will steal the show. And the best part is, you can use this recipe for any special holiday, not just Christmas.
Or if you want to celebrate special occasions such as an anniversary. These are also perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner as well. We usually love to just have a romantic dinner in, and seared filet is our go-to.
In fact, this filet mignon recipe is so good we hardly ever go to a fancy steakhouse like Ruth’s Chris anymore. Because it’s easier (and cheaper) to make at home and it tastes just as good!
It’s honestly the best way to prepare a filet in my opinion! So if you’re wanting a special dinner to celebrate Christmas Day with, this can be your go-to!
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The Essentials When it Comes to Searing a Filet
First, you need to find a good, quality piece of meat. That’s why I recommend a filet cut. Sure, you could cook a sirloin the same way with this recipe, but trust me, it won’t be near as good as a filet!
And I know during the holiday season that prime rib, standing rib roast, and beef tenderloin roast are popular choices for the main course too.
But, I think using the most tender cut of beef is perfect for a Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner party. This recipe would also be perfect for a New Year party too!
And even though a filet is an expensive cut of meat, it’s worth it because you aren’t going out to eat and spending a bunch of money that way instead! Most grocery stores carry good quality filet mignon steak and you can choose exactly which steaks you want to bring home with you to prepare.
Another essential when searing a filet- use a cast iron skillet. We recently started using a cast iron pan, and let me tell y’all, it makes all the difference in the world!
It makes the crust of the filet perfectly crisp and seasoned. Definitely better than any other skillet I have used when making these filets.
Lay out the filets 30 minutes prior to cooking them. Let them come completely to room temperature during this time and season them all over on both sides with salt and pepper.
You can do other seasoning for extra flavor if you would like, but I am telling you, just plain salt and black pepper is where it is at!
Also, make sure your skillet is pipping hot at a high temperature before placing the filets in there. I usually put in about a tablespoon of olive oil. Then I wait until it is sizzling before adding the filets in.
How Long do I Sear and Cook the Filets?
The cooking times vary greatly depending on how thick your meat is. We usually sear one side of the filet on medium high heat for about 5 minutes and then flip it over to the other side.
That side, we don’t sear as long since we place it in the oven right after. Usually we will sear it about 3-4 minutes and then throw it into a preheated oven at 425 degrees.
It is important to note that you should not move the filets around while searing them. Simply place them on the skillet and let it do its magic! You want it to have a nice blackened crust on each side of these pan-seared steaks.
And know, that just simply searing them is not long enough to cook them through. You will still see pink on the sides. We always throw them into the oven after searing to complete the cooking process.
A good rule of thumb is to then cook them in the oven anywhere from 5-10 minutes, depending on how done you want them to be.
We tend to adjust this as needed based on how thick our slices are. You can always use an instant read thermometer too if your unsure of how done your filet is.
For these particular cuts, I believe we placed them in the oven for a full 10 minutes after searing them because they were so thick.
Letting the Filets Rest
After cooking, place the filets on a plate tented with aluminum foil to keep them warm. Let them reset for about 5 minutes after before eating.
We also like to put a slice of herb butter on top and sprinkle some fresh herbs on there as well while the meat is resting.
You could also top with some cremini mushrooms or pair it with some horseradish sauce if you like to give it some extra pizazz.
If you’re wondering what pairs well with these filets, you have plenty of options. One of my favorite side dishes to make scalloped potatoes is if I am feeling fancy.
But a regular baked potato with all the toppings is always a great option too. Or even twice-baked potatoes. And sweet potatoes paired with some brown sugar and butter and cinnamon is always a fabulous choice too!
Another thing I like to make with them is roasted brussel sprouts with pecans and bacon with a balsamic glaze. You can get these delicious side dish recipes from one of my most favorite cookbooks, The Magnolia Table.
Enjoy Your Filet Mignon Christmas Dinner
Trust me, after making this meal, you will make it again and again. It really is the perfect seared filet recipe for a holiday dinner. It’s perfect for a small crowd and as a main dish, it will steal the show!
It never lets us down and gives us a wonderful, romantic dinner in every time we make it! Especially if you’re making these as just a date night for Valentine’s Day or whatever occasion, be sure check out my easy chocolate covered strawberries as a sweet treat to end the night with!
But trust me, as the main star in your Christmas dinner menu, all your guests will thank you! We have made these before for my family for Christmas Eve and it was such a hit!
Your hard work will pay off with the best filet mignon you’ve ever tasted after trying this recipe! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do my friends!
The Perfect Seared Filets
Ingredients
- 2 filet mignon steaks
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter optional
- fresh herbs optional
Instructions
- Take filets out from the fridge and lay them out to room temperature. About 30 minutes or so.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Season filets with salt and pepper after they have came to room temperature. You can also press gently into the filets to make sure the salt and pepper adheres well. No reason to season the sides of the filet though.
- Heat a cast iron skillet on medium high heat. Add the olive oil and let it get sizzling hot before adding the filets on.
- Add filets and cook them for 4-5 minutes, without touching them or moving them around.
- Flip filets over and cook them 3-4 more minutes, again without touching them.
- Then, transfer filets into the preheated oven and cook for 5-10 more minutes, depending on how done you want them to be.
- Remove from oven and let them rest on a plate for 5 minutes before serving. You can also add a slice of butter on top and some fresh herbs here if you would like.
- Serve and enjoy!
Ooh these look delicious! I’ve never tried cooking my own filets before but these look to good not to try. Thank you so much for sharing, I’m definitely going to give these a go x
Thank you, you should definitely try them out sometime!
These seared filets look delicious! I’ve never cooked anything like this before but I would like to try it one day! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thanks! You should definitely try it out for yourself sometime for sure!
Perfection on a plate! I love home cooking and filets have never looked so tender and juicy. Alongside this flavorful salad and a loaded baked potato, this dish has the feel of spring coming. 🙂
Thank you. They are so delicious for sure!
This is a great recipe, and thank you for sharing. We certainly know the trials and tribulations of searing filets. You seemed to have mastered it.
Thank you! We have done so many filets like this, I think we finally cracked the code!
I’ve never tried anything like this before because I’m always scared it will turn out raw in the middle. This looks great and delicious tho
Lol I understand that, but thankfully they don’t turn out raw as long as you cook it long enough!
I will be cooking it raw haha but this helps a lot and will follow your instructions. Thank you for sharing!
So glad you liked it!
I’m not a meat eater but the sear on these fillets looks amazing; my husband would love this!
Awe thank you so much! They are pretty great!
Such a coincidence that I used this method for flank steak. It works perfectly. Thanks for taking the time to create a post about it.
Oh yeah, I bet flank steak is good too!
Wow. How long do you keep the flank steak in the oven? I want to try this.
Around 8-10 minutes. It depends on how done you want it. This usually gets us to about a medium filet.
Wow! These look like a great dinner. I bet they taste wonderful.
Thank you. It was delicious for sure!
Those steaks look delicious! I always move mine which explains a lot! You taught me something with leaving them where you place them + letting them do their magic. Thanks girl
Oh yay! I am glad you found it to be helpful then!
Oh my heavens, those filets are MASSIVE. I need something like that in my life sometime soon. I’m a sucker for a good meaty dinner and so is my husband. This is definitely one of our preferred methods of cooking cuts like this as well!
Lol they were huge. My hubs picked them out so that’s why!
This looks amazing and I’m here for it! I wish I was any way decent at cooking. I tend to ruin anything I try to make without even trying.
Awe lol well you should try these, they aren’t too hard to cook!
Oh I’m so bummed I didn’t see this recipe before Valentine’s Day – it’s such a great idea. I will try to make it for my next date night with my partner! Thank you for sharing 🙂
xo Olivia | https://www.oliviaandbeauty.com
Oh yay! you should definitely make it for date night, it’s perfect for that!
Looks yummy! I have to try this recipe as I’m sure all the meat lovers in my family would love it! 🙂
Yes, you definitely should! It is so yummy!
Oh wow. This looks and sounds so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing.
Clem x
https://www.clemloves.co.uk
Thank you, so glad you thought so too!
Fillet steak is my absolute favourite. We’ve never tried to do it ourselves as our favourite restaurants fillet’s are so good! This is a great recipe though 🙂 x
Thank you, we love making them ourselves! That way we can have them anytime we have a craving for them!
This sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing. I must try this weekend.
Yes, you definitely should! They are delicious
I’ve never made my own fillets before, but these were making my mouth water! Do you have any tips on making these fillets spicier?
You could definitely add on whatever spices you wanted instead of just the salt and pepper. I’m sure adding some red pepper flakes would give it a kick for sure.