Easy Grilled Filet Mignon

Prep: 7 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 19 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 steaks

If you're new to grilling steaks or just a fan of simplicity, then grilling filet mignon is the perfect dinner option when you're looking for an elegant but simple meal—quick enough for a weeknight and indulgent enough for a special occasion, too.

Filet mignon is a delicious, tender cut of beef that melts in your mouth. It happens to be ideal for grilling, as it develops a nice crust over high heat while the center becomes juicy and succulent. It cooks fairly quickly once the grill is hot, just a few minutes on each side. Just make sure you bring the meat to room temperature—this should take half an hour or so, depending on the thickness—before it hits the grill. This ensures that the steak cooks evenly.

Because filet mignon is mild in flavor, it is often served with a sauce, such as a mushroom sauce or bearnaise, or a compound butter. You can also top the steaks with sautéed onions or mushrooms. The grilled beef pairs nicely with simple sides such as smashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.  

Easy grilled filet mignon on a plate with mashed potatoes

​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

"Delicious, tender and juicy." —Renae Wilson

Grilled filet mignon with compound butter
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

  • 4 3-ounce filets mignon steaks, each about 1 3/4 inches thick

  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil, or avocado oil

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Grilled filet mignon ingredients gathered

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  2. Preheat the grill to high heat.

    Grill preheating

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  3. Combine the salt and black pepper in a bowl and rub onto both sides of the steaks.

    Filet mignon steaks seasoned with salt and black pepper

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  4. Oil the grill grates using a high smoke point oil, like grapeseed or avocado oil; add 1 tablespoon oil to a folded paper towel, and using a pair of tongs, rub the oiled towel over the grates.

    Oil grill grates

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  5. Place the steaks on the grill.

    Filet mignon steaks on the grill

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  6. Cook the steaks 5 to 6 minutes per side or until they almost reach the preferred doneness, up to 9 minutes per side for well done. (The meat will continue to cook as it rests.)

    Filet mignon steaks cooking on the grill

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt 

  7. Remove from the grill and let the steaks rest for 5 minutes under foil.

    Steaks removed from grill and resting on a cutting board under foil

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  8. Plate with your favorite sides and a sauce or butter and enjoy.

    Easy grilled filet mignon with side dishes

    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

How to Cook a Filet Mignon Just Right

Filet mignon is an expensive cut of meat, so you want to make sure you are cooking it properly and to your liking. The best way to test for doneness is to use a meat thermometer, inserting it into the thickest part of the steak (without letting the probe touch the grill grates) as you are approaching the end of the cooking time.


Remember that the meat will continue to cook as it rests, so it's best to remove it from the grill a little under the desired temperature; if you want it medium, you should pull it off the grill between 140 F and 145 F and then let it rest; it will continue to cook.


If you are finding that the outside is getting too dark, but the inside isn't done, move the steaks to the side of the grill where the temperature is lower and cook for a few minutes more, checking the temperature every so often.

How to Store Grilled Filet Mignon

Grilled filet mignon will keep in the fridge, well wrapped and/or covered, for three to four days. You can reheat it in a cast-iron pan over medium heat with a little bit of oil or butter, or wrap it in foil and reheat it in the oven (350 F) for about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thickly it's sliced.


Leftover grilled filet mignon is also a great choice for lunch the next day, using it in a salad or stuffing it in a sandwich.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
260 Calories
18g Fat
1g Carbs
23g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 260
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 82mg 27%
Sodium 1104mg 48%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 23g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 294mg 6%
*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.)