Cooked Filet Mignon

How to Cook Filet Mignon

Filet Mignon is always a favorite steak choice, prized for its tenderness and flavor. The best way to cook Filet Mignon is on the grill, but pan-seared Filet Mignon is also excellent. You can also broil Filet Mignon in the oven for an exceptional flavor. No matter which method or Filet Mignon recipe you choose, our cooking instructions and video will help you cook the tender and juicy steak you crave. We recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure your Filet Mignon steaks are cooked to perfection!

Ideally, steaks should be at least 1½–2 inches in thickness to maintain juiciness and avoid over-cooking when searing (all temperatures/times listed below are based on steak thickness, not weight). For steaks over 2 inches thick, please refer to our Extra-Thick Cut Filet Mignon Cooking Instructions page.


How to Cook Filet Mignon on the Grill

Wondering how long to cook Filet Mignon on the grill or how to achieve the perfect flavor at a medium-rare temperature? There are two main approaches for grilling Filet Mignon:

  • Charcoal Grilling
  • Gas Grilling

Regardless of which method you choose, be sure your steaks are completely thawed before cooking. We recommend thawing in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Once thawed, remove your steak from the refrigerator approximately 30–40 minutes before cooking to allow the steak to come to room temperature. Lastly, season your steak as desired. The best Filet Mignon steaks cooked on the grill are seasoned to taste with Kansas City Steaks Original Steak Seasoning.

Filet Mignon on a Charcoal Grill

Preheat your grill on high. Place steaks over the hottest part of the grill, and sear both sides for 1–2 minutes. Then move to medium, ash-covered coals and continue to grill for the times listed in the Cooking Times Chart below. Turn about 1 minute prior to the halfway point.

Filet Mignon on a Gas Grill

Preheat your grill on high. Sear both sides for 1–2 minutes, then reduce to medium heat and continue to grill for the times listed in the Cooking Times Chart below. Turn about 1 minute prior to the halfway point.

  • Grill for 7–8 minutes for a 1-inch steak, and 9–11 minutes for a 1½ inch steak, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F.
  • Rest your steaks for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking"). The final temperature will read 135°F.
  • Resting steak is important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.
  • To check the degree of doneness, use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of your steak.
  • Prior to serving, add a Kansas City Steaks Finishing Butter for an additional flavor boost.

How to Cook Filet Mignon in the Oven

Baked Filet Mignon is easy to prepare, and still provides a flavor-filled dining experience. Just as in the grilling method, be sure your Filet Mignon is completely thawed before cooking. We recommend thawing in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Once thawed, remove your steak from the refrigerator approximately 30–40 minutes before cooking to allow the steak to come to room temperature. Lastly, season your steak as desired. We recommend using our Kansas City Steaks Original Steak Seasoning.

Set your oven to “broil” and preheat for 10 minutes.

Once you have seasoned your steaks to taste, begin baking to your desired Filet Mignon cook time:

  • Place your steaks on the rack of a broiler pan and position the broiler pan in oven so that the surface of the steak is 3–4 inches from the heat. Broil to desired doneness, according to the Measuring Doneness and Cooking Times Chart listed below.
  • For the perfect medium-rare steak (recommended) broil for 9–12 minutes for a 1-inch steak, and 14–16 minutes for a 1½ inch steak, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F.
  • After removing from the oven, rest your steaks for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise for as much as 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking"). The final temperature will read 135°F.
  • Resting the steak is important for oven baked Filet Mignon because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.
  • To check the degree of doneness, use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of your steak.

How to Cook Filet Mignon on the Stove

If you've ever wondered how to cook Filet Mignon in a pan on your stovetop, this method will give you excellent results, with a sear that will give your steaks a rich golden-brown color and enhanced flavor.

Be sure your steak is completely thawed before cooking. We recommend thawing in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Once thawed, remove your steak from the refrigerator for 30–40 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature. Season your steak as desired; we recommend a generous serving of our Kansas City Steaks Original Steak Seasoning.

For a medium-rare Filet Mignon, follow these steps for best results:

  • Preheat a heavy non-stick skillet over medium heat until hot, for about 5 minutes. A very hot pan delivers the best seared Filet Mignon.
  • Once seasoned, place steaks in the hot skillet (do not overcrowd). Do not add oil or water and do not cover.
  • For the perfect medium-rare steak on the stove, sear in a non-stick skillet for 7–8 minutes for a 1-inch steak, and 9–11 minutes for a 1½ inch steak, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F.
  • Rest your steaks for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise for as much as 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking"). The final temperature will read 135°F.
  • Resting steak is important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your Filet Mignon to ensure it is cooked to the perfect level of doneness, from rare to medium-well.

Similar to using a non-stick skillet, Filet Mignon in a cast iron skillet can provide mouth-watering flavor, deep brown crust and the remarkable finish we all crave. Follow the same set of directions as you would if cooking Filet Mignon on the stove in a non-stick skillet.


Specialty Filet Mignon Cooking

Looking for a little adventure at dinner? While pan fried Filet Mignon, or grilled Filet Mignon are excellent methods, these new and unique cooking techniques are sure to provide the tenderness and exceptional flavor your desire. With each method, your steak should be completely thawed in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Remove the Filet Mignon from the refrigerator 30–40 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature. Season your steaks to your liking; we recommend using our Kansas City Steaks Original Steak Seasoning.

Ideally, steaks should be at least 1½–2 inches in thickness to maintain juiciness and avoid over-cooking when searing (all temperatures/times listed below are based on steak thickness, not weight). For steaks over 2 inches thick, please refer to our Extra-Thick Cut Filet Mignon Cooking Instructions page. For perfect doneness, we recommend using a meat thermometer.

Take the cooking process a step further with the professional reverse sear Filet Mignon method.

  • Preheat oven to 275°F. Place steaks on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
  • Place baking sheet on the center rack of the hot oven. Cook until internal temperature reaches 10°F lower than the desired final temperature. View our Measuring Doneness and Cooking Times Chart below. Preheat a heavy skillet or cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. A hot skillet delivers the best sear.
  • Add some butter or a high smoke point oil such as avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil and sear steaks for 1–2 minutes on each side. The final internal temperature of your steak should be 135°F for medium-rare and 145°F for medium.
  • The sear will give your steaks the rich golden-brown color and enhanced flavor that is typically associated with grilled steaks.
  • Serve immediately. Unlike other methods of cooking steak, the low heat of the oven used in reverse searing does not draw the juices of the meat to the surface so additional resting time is not needed.

Sous vide cooking takes all the guesswork out of the process, delivering steaks that are cooked perfectly to your desired doneness every time. Sous vide uses a low-heat, long-time cooking process which allows for evenly cooked steaks from end to end and guarantees every bite is as tender and juicy as the first.

Note: Steaks cooked under 130°F should not be cooked longer than 2½ hours at a time due to food safety concerns.

Here are the steps to follow when using the sous vide method:

Prepare It

  • Preheat your water bath: Fill your sous vide container up with warm water and set the sous vide device to the appropriate temperature for the desired doneness. The sous vide device should be set as follows:
    • Rare: 122°F
    • Medium-Rare: 129°F
    • Medium: 135°F
    • Medium-Well: 145°F
  • All our products arrive vacuum-sealed in sous-vide-ready, heat-stable packaging, allowing you to simply add them to the water bath and cook to your desired degree of doneness. However, if you have the means to repackage your steaks into sous vide heat-stable bags at home, we recommend seasoning your steaks with Kansas City Steaks Original Steak Seasoning for an enhanced flavor, prior to cooking in the sous vide. Another option is to add fresh herbs and a Kansas City Steaks Finishing Butter, along with your raw steak, into the heat-stable vacuum seal bag before sealing.
  • After thawing, bringing to room temperature, seasoning, and preheating the sous vide; you're ready to start cooking.

Cook It

  • Make sure the water bath has fully reached the desired temperature for cooking before adding in the steak.
  • Place the packaged steak in the water bath and allow it to cook for the recommended amount of time, based on your desired degree of doneness.
    • Rare: 45 minutes (1-inch steak) and 1–2.5 hours (1½ inch steak)
    • Medium-Rare: 45 minutes (1-inch steak) and 1–4 hours (1½ inch steak)
    • Medium: 45 minutes (1-inch steak) and 1–2.5 hours (1½ inch steak)
    • Medium-Well: 45 minutes (1-inch steak) and 1–3.5 hours (1½ inch steak)
  • Once your steaks are finished cooking, remove them from the sous vide and take the steaks out of the packaging.
  • Preheat a skillet over high heat for about 5 minutes (this can be done on a grill or in your kitchen). A hot skillet delivers the best sear.
  • Lightly coat the bottom of your skillet with high smoke point oil such as avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil. Place your steaks on the skillet and sear for approximately 2 minutes on each side. Sear until the steaks reach the final desired internal temperature, according to the Measuring Doneness Chart below.
  • The sear will give your steaks the rich golden-brown color and enhanced flavor that is typically associated with grilled steaks.
  • Serve immediately. Unlike other methods of cooking steak, the low-heat and long-time cooking technique used in sous vide does not draw the juices of the meat to the surface so additional resting time is not needed.
  • We recommend adding an additional savory flavor by topping your steak with a Kansas City Steaks Finishing Butter (even if you added butter during the sous vide).

Filet Mignon in an air fryer is certainly not the most conventional cooking method, but it is an exceptionally fast and easy way to prepare a delicious steak.

Here's how to cook Filet Mignon in an air fryer:

  • Preheat your air fryer. Set temperature to 400°F. Allow your air fryer to preheat for approximately 2–3 minutes.
  • Place your steak in the center of the air flyer and begin frying. We recommend using the grill rack option if available.
  • Flip your steak halfway through your cooking time listed in the Cooking Times Chart below).
  • Remove the steak from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 5 minutes, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the steak will continue to rise about 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking").
  • Resting steak is important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.
  • To check the degree of doneness, use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of your steak.
  • Prior to serving, apply Kansas City Steaks Finishing Butters for an additional flavor-filled experience.

The rich, natural flavor you receive when biting into smoked Filet Mignon is unparalleled. Enjoy a smoked steak and cook it to your desired doneness. Smoking time varies greatly depending on the cut of meat, thickness of the cut, quality of smoker, smoke and smoke retention, wind, etc. It is best to use a meat thermometer and base doneness off internal temperature.

Note: Steaks cooked under 130°F should not be cooked longer than 2½ hours at a time due to food safety concerns.

To begin, fire up your smoker and preheat it to 225°F.

  • Place your well-seasoned steak onto the grates of your smoker, close the lid, and smoke the meat until the steaks reach about 10°F below the desired internal doneness temperature (see Measuring Doneness Chart, below.)
  • You can check for smoking doneness by internal temperature. Temperatures are as follows:
    • Rare: 115°F
    • Medium-Rare: 125°F
    • Medium: 135°F
    • Medium-Well: 145°F
  • Next, preheat a skillet over high heat (this can be done on a grill or in your kitchen). Once hot, lightly coat the bottom of your skillet with a high smoke point oil such as avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil.
  • Place the steaks in the skillet and sear them for approximately 2 minutes on each side. Cook until the steaks reach approximately 5°F less than your final desired internal temperature.
  • Remove steaks from the skillet and allow them to rest for 5 minutes, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking").
  • Resting steak is important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.
  • To check the final degree of doneness, use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of your steak.
  • Prior to serving, expand upon the delicious taste by topping with Kansas City Steaks Finishing Butters for full flavor.

Filet Mignon Cooking Times

Select a cooking method that works for you and follow the recommended cooking times for the best results. For perfect doneness, we recommend you use a meat thermometer and the Measuring Doneness Chart, below.

For steaks that are thicker than 1½ inches visit our How to Cook Extra-Thick Cut Filet Mignon page for proper steak cooking times and temperatures.

 

Filet Mignon On the Grill
Gas Grill
Charcoal Grill
Rare
1-inch
5–7 mins
5–7 mins
1½ inches
8–10 mins
8–10 mins
Medium-Rare
1-inch
7–8 mins
7–8 mins
1½ inches
9–11 mins
9–11 mins
Medium
1-inch
8–9 mins
8–9 mins
1½ inches
10–12 mins
10–12 mins
Medium-Well
1-inch
9–10 mins
9–10 mins
1½ inches
11–13 mins
11–13 mins
Filet Mignon On the Stove or Oven
Skillet
Broil
Rare
1-inch
5–7 mins
7–10 mins
1½ inches
8–10 mins
12–14 mins
Medium-Rare
1-inch
7–8 mins
9–12 mins
1½ inches
9–11 mins
14–16 mins
Medium
1-inch
8–9 mins
10–13 mins
1½ inches
10–12 mins
14–17 mins
Medium-Well
1-inch
9–10 mins
11–14 mins
1½ inches
11–13 mins
15–18 mins
Filet Mignon in an Air Fryer
Temperature
Air Fry
Rare
1-inch
400°F
6–8 mins
1½ inches
400°F
10 mins
Medium-Rare
1-inch
400°F
8–10 mins
1½ inches
400°F
12 mins
Medium
1-inch
400°F
12 mins
1½ inches
400°F
14 mins
Medium-Well
1-inch
400°F
14 mins
1½ inches
400°F
16 mins