Description
This Simple Filet Mignon recipe guides you to prepare tender, buttery, perfectly cooked 2-inch thick filet mignon steaks using a combination of stovetop searing and oven finishing. The steaks are seasoned and basted with melted butter for rich flavor and juiciness, making for an elegant yet straightforward steak dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak
- 2 filet mignon steaks, 2″ thick
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Butter Basting
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
Instructions
- Bring steaks to room temperature: Take the steaks out of the fridge 30-60 minutes prior to cooking to ensure even cooking and better searing.
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and place the oven rack in the middle position for even heat distribution.
- Season steaks: Pat steaks dry with paper towels and generously season both sides with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Heat butter in skillet: Add butter to a heavy oven-safe skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat. Allow butter to melt and heat without burning, stirring every 20-30 seconds for about 4-5 minutes until the pan is hot but butter is not browned.
- Sear the steaks: Place steaks in the hot buttered skillet. Continuously spoon melted butter over the steaks to keep them moist and prevent burning. Cook first side for 2 minutes until browned.
- Flip and baste again: Turn steaks using tongs, cook the other side for another 2 minutes while continually spooning butter over them for flavor and moisture.
- Finish cooking in the oven: Transfer the entire skillet to the preheated oven. Cook steaks until they reach the desired internal temperature—125-130°F for medium doneness (about 10 minutes), or 120°F for medium-rare. Use an instant-read or external probe thermometer for accuracy.
- Rest the steaks: Remove skillet from oven and let steaks rest for 5 minutes in the skillet. This resting time allows juices to redistribute, ensuring tender, juicy steaks.
- Serve: Spoon leftover butter from the skillet over the steaks and your choice of sides such as mashed potatoes for extra richness.
Notes
- Cooking steak may produce some smoke; use your stove extraction fan or open a window during cooking.
- You can double this recipe by using 4 steaks and doubling the butter accordingly.
- Oven times are guidelines; adjust for steak thickness (e.g., ~5 minutes for 1.5″ thick steaks).
- An instant-read thermometer with an external probe ensures perfect doneness every time.
- Nutritional info is calculated based on a 6 oz serving size steak.
- This recipe also appears in the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook.
