How to Grill Filet Mignon

Name: How to Grill Filet Mignon
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 2 Filet Mignon ( about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch thick. They will be about 6-8 oz each.); coarse salt and pepper (Or other seasoning of choice)

Oct 22, 2022 · Modified: Jan 6, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 77 Comments

Recipe Table of Contents

4.35 from 504 votes

Learn how to grill filet mignon to perfection with this simple technique in about 10 minutes. You can easily cook the best filets for your special dinner tonight.

Jump To:

👨‍🍳How to grill filet mignon
⏰How long to cook filet mignon on the grill
🐄About Filet Mignon
🧂 Seasoning
♨️The Grill Setup
🍽️What to serve with filet
📖Steak Recipes
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Recipe

Introduction

Make your home BBQ party special with grilled filet mignon. The best way is the easiest with these step-by-step photo instructions.

I consider filet the best cut of meat for special occasions. If I want something extraordinarily tender, this is it. I prefer the grill, but searing in a cast iron skillet and finishing in the oven can have similar results.

👨‍🍳How to grill filet mignon

Start with good-quality filet mignon steaks. Dry entirely and rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes if you have time.
Preheat the grill to 450° surface temperature—clean and oil grill grates.
Season to your taste with coarse salt and pepper. Another seasoning may be used. I suggest All Purpose Seasoning - 7:2:1 and 7:2:2, which adds garlic to the salt and pepper.
Place the filets on the grill. Close the lid—cook the first side for about 5 minutes (less for rare). Rotate half the way through for these nice crossed grill marks. Flip and grill until you reach the correct internal temperature for your desired doneness. You must use an instant-read or meat thermometer to get this right.
Remove and lightly tent with foil. Remember, the internal temperature will rise a few degrees during the rest.

⏰How long to cook filet mignon on the grill

Grilling a filet on a 450° girl for about 10 minutes will get medium-rare. But your endpoint is the internal temperature you want minus a few degrees. DO NOT COOK BY TIME ALONE.

Doneness	Internal Temperature	Approx. Grill Time
Rare-cold red center	125°-130°	6-8
Medium Rare-warm red center	130°-135°	10-11
Medium-pink and firm	140°-150°	12-14
Medium Well-minimal pink	150°-155°	15-16
Well Done-firm and brown	160°+	18+

Approximate times give for planning only and will vary by thickness, grill temp, and rest time—NEVER COOK BY TIME ALONE and use a thermometer. Cook to the internal temperature you want, allowing for a 2°-4° temperature rise after removal from the grill. You can not uncook meat but can always cook it a bit more.

There are several variables. The exact grill temperature, the meat temperature when placed on the grill, and the meat's thickness. So cooking by time CAN NOT WORK, and you must use a thermometer.

Once removed from heat, the internal temperature may rise 2°-4° more. Thinner fillets will be at the low end of that range. Take that into account, please.

WARNING FOR RARE DONENESS: It is hard to get the temperature you want to have a rare filet, so watch carefully and remove it early if unsure. You can always cook it a bit more later.

🐄About Filet Mignon

A filet mignon is cut from whole beef tenderloin. It is frequently referred to as tenderloin steaks or filets. You can buy pre-cut, which will be a bit more expensive, but I usually buy the whole tenderloin and cut my own. I like about 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches thick. It does freeze great for 2-3 months.

Image licensed May 16, 2017, from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. The image was modified in accordance with the license.

QUALITY DOES MATTER. It is all about quality here. Prime is the top 2%; it is harder to find but worth the extra cost for special meals.

Next is USDA Choice. About half the beef sold in the USA is choice grade, which you usually buy. If buying choice grade, compare the marbling, which can vary.

USDA Select and other grades or even ungraded filet should be avoided.

🧂 Seasoning

Just a good shake of salt and pepper is enough. We like to use my All Purpose Seasoning - 7:2:1 and 7:2:2. This is a bit salty for some people.

Do not overdo the Seasoning. You can always add more later, but it is impossible to remove.

The timing of the Seasoning is essential. Do not put salt on the meat for more than a few minutes before cooking unless you do 60 minutes or more. Between those times, it will pull water out of the meat fibers and not allow enough time to reabsorb back into the fibers.

♨️The Grill Setup

Filets should be cooked with medium-high heat —a surface temperature of 450° up to but not over 500° with direct heat.

You need to know your grill. My gas grill (which is very hot) is just above 50% burner power. On more normal gas grills, it should be about 75% but get a $10 grill surface thermometer and get to know your grill. I always use a surface thermometer.

See A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill for more details on grill surface temperature.

Charcoal Grill Instructions

You must be very careful about surface temperature; otherwise, times and temperature recommendations are unchanged. On most charcoal grills, you will need to adjust the venting.

🍽️What to serve with filet

Filet mignon goes with almost anything you like with a nice meal, like a simple salad it another vegetable like asparagus, green beans, or broccoli that matches nicely. Our favorites are crusty bread and baked potatoes, and vegetables.

Topping the filet with a pat of butter, herb butter, or garlic butter is a beautiful final enhancement. We love Blue Cheese and Garlic Compound Butter.

Choose a red wine like merlot, pinot noir, or cabernet for a wine pairing.

📖Steak Recipes

How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on a Gas Grill

Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon

Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak

How to Grill a Strip Steak on a Gas Grill

How to Grill a T-bone or Porterhouse Steak – A Tutorial

This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

101's Best Recipes, Beef Recipes, Grill Recipes, Grilling Techniques

🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

Start with quality filets—1 ¼ to 1 ½ inch thick, which will be 6-8 oz. each. Rest the filets at room temperature for 30 or so minutes. This raises the temperature of the meat, making getting your desired internal temperature easier.

While it is resting, get your grill surface temperature to about 450°—medium-high on most grills. Of course, clean and oil the grill grates.

Give the filets Seasoning of your choice. Do it just before grilling. I use a nice sprinkling of my 7:2:2 Seasoning, but just a nice sprinkle of coarse salt and black pepper will do.

Place the filets on the grill. Close the lid—grill on the first side for about 5 minutes (less for rare). Rotate half the way through for these nice crossed grill marks. Flip and grill until you reach the correct internal temperature for your taste—about 5 more minutes for medium rare.

Remove and rest for 5 minutes minimum. A light foil tent is a good idea here. The internal temperature will rise a few degrees.

Recipe

How to Grill Filet Mignon

From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Learn how to grill filet mignon to perfection with this simple technique in about 10 minutes. You can easily cook the best filets for your special dinner tonight.

Tap to leave a Rating

4.35 from 504 votes

Print Collection

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Resting time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Servings #/Adjust if desired 2

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric

▢ 2 Filet Mignon - about 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inch thick. They will be about 6-8 oz each.
▢ coarse salt and pepper - Or other seasoning of choice

Instructions

Start with quality filets—1 ¼ to 1 ½ inch thick, which will be 6-8 oz. each. Rest the filets at room temperature for 30 or so minutes if you have time. If not, cooking time will be increased.
While it is resting, get your grill surface temperature to about 450°—medium-high on most grills. Of course, clean and oil the grill.
Give the filets seasoning of your choice. Do it just before grilling. I use a nice sprinkling of my 7:2:2 seasoning, but a sprinkle of coarse salt and pepper will do.
Place the filets on the grill. Close the lid—grill on the first side for about 5 minutes (less for rare). Rotate half the way through for these nice crossed grill marks. Flip and grill until you reach the correct internal temperature for your taste. About 5 more minutes for medium rare and 7 more for mediium.
Remove and rest for 5 minutes minimum. A light foil tent is a good idea here. The internal temperature will rise a few degrees.

See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

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Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

The quality of the meat matters a lot here. Prime or choice only, please.
Medium to medium-high grill with a surface temperature of about 450°. Maximum of 500°. Never use the thermometer in the hood of the grill.
Be sure the grill surface temperature is correct. This is the most common source of problems. See A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill for details.
Rest to room temperature first if you have time. About 30 minutes if you can.
Season 1 hour before cooking or just before cooking. Not between.
It is always good to check your internal temperature a bit earlier than you think.
Do not over-season. You can always add more at serving.
Your endpoint is the internal temperature you want minus a few degrees. DO NOT COOK BY TIME ALONE.
Rest tented with foil for at least 5 minutes before serving. The meat will rise a few degrees during the rest.
If you want rare, you must watch the internal temperature closely and remove it a bit early. Take into account the rise in temperature with the rest. Remember, you can always cook it a bit more later, but it is impossible to uncook something.
You can not do this with frozen meat, it must be fully thawed.

To adjust the recipe size:

You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

Nutrition Estimate

Nutrition Facts

How to Grill Filet Mignon

Amount Per Serving (170.1 g)

Calories 420 Calories from Fat 279

% Daily Value*

Fat 31g48%

Saturated Fat 12g60%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 13g

Cholesterol 114mg38%

Sodium 644mg27%

Potassium 516mg15%

Protein 33g66%

Calcium 60mg6%

Iron 2.2mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

Course : Main Course

Cuisine : American

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Editor's Note: Originally Published June 1, 2014. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.