This Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Pan Sauce is perfect for a special occasion homemade meal without much hassle.

It's simple to make, and start to finish, takes under an hour to cook!

Beef Tenderloin - Sliced and Served with Mushroom Pan Sauce Spooned On

Even though I love to cook, I'm one of those people who's always nervous when cooking for company.

I want to serve something that's special enough for guests, but not too stressful for me to pull off. And sometimes that feels hard to balance!

If you're one of these people too, today's recipe is a great option for a main course. Beef tenderloin is one of those cuts of meat that does most of the work for you.

Today we are making a beautiful center-cut beef tenderloin roast, served with a simple baby bella mushroom pan sauce that you make while the beef roasts in the oven.

Beef Tenderloin Recipe - Cooked to Rare and Served with Baby Bella Mushrooms and Pan Sauce on White Platter

It's really easy, the beef is luxuriously rich and tender, and the sauce adds an earthiness and saltiness to the dish.

Then just add a couple of your favorite sides.

Potato side dishes always pair well with beef, like Potato Gratin, Crispy Smashed Potatoes, or a lighter Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes side.

Or add Roasted Carrots, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, or a Wild Rice Salad to the table.

How to Cook Beef Tenderloin:

For the beef, season a center-cut beef tenderloin roast all over with salt and pepper.

Tenderloin Beef - Center Cut and Tied with Twine to keep its shape during cooking

I use about 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound. Use less if using table salt.

You'll notice that my beef is tied, which helps the beef retain its round shape as it cooks, and also helps with uniformity. I buy my beef already tied from my butcher, but you can also do it yourself with kitchen twine.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, then sear the beef in a little bit of oil, until brown on all sides.

Beef Tenderloin Roast - First Seared in the Pan to Brown the Outside

Remove the beef to a sheet pan, and place into the oven to continue cooking.

Tenderloin Roast Beef - On Sheet Pan, First Seared in a Skillet then Roasted in the Oven

Return to the pan, and add a couple tablespoons of butter to the fond that's leftover in the skillet. We want to incorporate all the brown bits and drippings in our pan from that beautiful roast!

Pan Sauce with Butter and Beef Drippings

Next add a half pound of sliced baby bella mushrooms, and season with salt.

Mushroom Sauce - Adding Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms to Pan with Beef Drippings and Salt

And of course, feel free to use other types of mushrooms! I also love using Hen of the Woods mushrooms or Chanterelles.

Cook the mushrooms for about 10 minutes until they are brown, and all liquid released from the mushrooms has been cooked off.

Mushroom Sauce for Steak - In Skillet Sauteed with Beef Fond

Now add a couple cloves of smashed garlic, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, a couple slices of onion, and beef stock.

Mushrooms with Beef Stock, Thyme, Rosemary, Onion, and Garlic in Stainless Steel Skillet

You'll notice that I cut the onion through the root, so the slices are connected and easy to remove later.

Bring the mixture to a boil, and stir all the ingredients around to submerge the herbs into the liquid.

Beef Mushroom Sauce with Herbs in Skillet

Cook the mixture for about 8-10 minutes until the liquid is reduced by half.

Pan Sauce - Shown Reduced in Skillet With Mushrooms and Onion

Remove the herbs, onion, and garlic from the sauce, then the sauce is ready to stand by for the beef. If at any point the sauce gets too thick, simply add more beef stock to adjust.

Once the beef is done, which should happen right around the time you finish the sauce, let it rest for 10 minutes. Then cut the twine off.

Cooked Beef Tenderloin on Sheet Pan Medium Rare

Cut the beef into slices, however thick you'd like, and serve with the mushroom pan sauce.

Roasted Beef Tenderloin Slices on Platter with Mushroom Pan Sauce Spooned Over

To round out the meal, I served the beef with sauteed haricot vert and roasted fingerling potatoes. Enjoy!

Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Pan Sauce on White Platter

Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Pan Sauce

Servings: 6 to 8

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 35 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

This Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Pan Sauce is the perfect entree for a special meal without the hassle.

For the Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce:

  • 2.5 to 3 lb center-cut beef tenderloin roast tied
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cooking fat (like tallow or avocado oil)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms
  • 2 cloves garlic smashed
  • 1/2 yellow onion sliced
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 10 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 1/2 cups quality beef stock (not broth)

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.

  • Season the beef all over with salt and pepper. As a guideline, I use about 2 teaspoons of salt total.

  • Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the fat. Sear the beef on all sides, until deeply brown. This should take about 5 minutes.

  • Remove the beef to a sheet pan, then roast in the oven for 20-25* minutes, for a rare roast, until the meat measures 120F with an instant read thermometer (the temperature will rise about 5 degrees as it rests).

  • In the meantime, melt the butter in the pan you cooked the beef in, and add the mushrooms. Season with a pinch of salt, about ⅛ teaspoon, and cook for about 10 minutes, until all of the moisture released from the mushrooms has cooked off.

  • Add the garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, and beef stock. Bring the sauce to a boil, and cook for about 8-10 minutes until the liquid reduces by about half.

  • Remove the garlic, onion, rosemary, and thyme from the pan. The sauce is now ready to stand by for the beef, which should be just about done by now.

  • When the beef has finished cooking, let rest for 10 minutes. Slice the beef and serve with the mushroom pan sauce. Enjoy!

*Cooking time will vary slightly depending on the thickness of the beef tenderloin you use. Make sure to check for desired doneness with a thermometer.

Calories: 467 kcal , Carbohydrates: 7 g , Protein: 61 g , Fat: 23 g , Saturated Fat: 9 g , Cholesterol: 187 mg , Sodium: 772 mg , Fiber: 2 g , Sugar: 2 g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Post updated in February 2020. Originally published December 2016.