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A whole slow roasted tenderloin or the chateaubriand (aka center cut) is my family’s favorite recipe that I make. It gets requested WAY too much, of course I cascade it in béarnaise sauce which was the bane of my existence at the restaurant world but it is now a favorite. It was the bane of my existence because it took me a LONG time to master 😖 but once you do, it’s like riding a bicycle (I promise). Plus I have given you a ton of tips in my Chef Nadia’s Tip area that I learned with trial and error, so you don’t have to!

How To Prepare Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin (Chateaubriand)

Beef Tenderloin

🔪 When buying the beef tenderloin, ask your butcher for a chateaubriand or centre cut of beef tenderloin and ask him to clear it if any silver skin.

🧂 Cover your tenderloin with kosher salt. Let it sit in the fridge for 4 hours. Remove it from fridge 1-2 hours before roasting. Salt brining is important to tenderize the meat, draw out excess moisture on the surface creating a better crust AND it also retains more juices.

🥘 Pat dry your tenderloin well and add some pepper. Place on a roasting pan or a baking sheet with a wire rack. You don’t want the bottom of the tenderloin touching the pan. You can even use chopped up vegetables to lift it off the pan if you’d like.

🌡️ Roast at 250°F for 1-2 hours or until roast reaches internal temp of 118-120°F for a medium rare. See notes for other temperature options. I highly recommend an in oven thermometer for precise temperature.

🔥 Let it rest at least 20 minutes or right until serving. Sear on all sides until golden in a pan or grill. This is the reverse searing method and my favorite way to do it. Trust me, your chateaubriand will be absolutely perfect.

Béarnaise Sauce

🧈 Melt your butter and let cool. Sometimes I like to brown it for a nutty flavor.

🧅 In a pan, add your shallots, vinegar, wine, dried and fresh tarragon. Turn heat on to medium low and let it cook until all the liquid absorbs. Set aside to cook.

🥚 Fill a small saucepan 1/3 of the way up with water and bring to a simmer. Add the yolks to a bowl with the shallot and tarragon mixture, white pepper, tabasco and about 2-3 tbsp of the butter.

🍳 Whisk the yolks over the saucepan. Whisk vigorously until they turn a very pale yellow, adding in a TOUCH of water at this point. It makes for a creamier/looser texture. It should be about 45 seconds to 1 minute MAX.

🧈 Remove from heat and emulsify the rest of the butter in VERY slowly. It should look like a thread of butter going in. Once it’s all done, add chives and salt to taste.

And that is it, subscribe for more!


🔥 Chef Nadia’s Tip 🔥

Beef Tenderloin Tips:

  • Have your butcher clean it up for you, as in remove the silver skin etc. I do ask for the whole tenderloin, and cut the center piece or chateaubriand myself because then I get to use the rest of the meat but also I cut it a little bit bigger than the pure center cut so I have a bigger roast. You can also ask for just the center cut. The reason why I ask the butcher to remove the silver skin and excess tissue is so I don’t end up getting charged for that, given that it is sold by weight.
  • Salt brining is important to tenderize the meat, draw out excess moisture on the surface creating a better crust AND it also retains more juices. I generally salt brine anywhere from 2-4 hours in the fridge.
  • Reverse searing is my method of choice for Chateaubriand because as it cooks to your desired internal temp the surface dries out even more so when you do sear, it is more even and absolutely perfect.
  • I highly recommend an in oven thermometer for precise temperature.
  • I cook it at 250°F because it yields the most tender results. Rule of thumb is about 20-25 min per lb for medium rare.
  • I cook mine to 118°F, then I remove it from the heat because as it rests the temperature rises by about 10°F. I let it rest for 20 min (you can tent with foil) and then give it a nice hard sear. No need for resting after the sear, this way you serve it warm too. Tenderloin is lean so I do love it a bit under med rare which would be 130°F-135°F.
  • My rule of thumb is 8 oz of meat per person.

Bearnaise Sauce

  • Typically it is done with clarified butter, personally I find that using the whole butter and sometimes even browning it adds depth of flavor as well as a better/creamier texture.
  • I like adding a TOUCH of water while whisking the egg yolks for a creamier/looser texture.
  • Reheating béarnaise is very tricky business. I have done it successfully over a gentle water bath. My preferred method is to reserve a bit of the butter and whisking it warm right before serving.

Variations for Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin (Chateaubriand)

A Béarnaise Sauce is traditionally used, but you can use whatever sounds good to you.

  • Red Wine Reduction: This will add a nice richness and depth to the dish
  • Mushroom Sauce: A nice creamy mushroom sauce will add earthy and umami flavors.
  • Peppercorn Sauce: This will bring a spicy kick to your meal.
  • Horseradish: This is another spicy option that will bring a sharp tang that you feel in your nose!

Recipes That Pair Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin (Chateaubriand)

A cut of slow roasted chateaubriand with a vibrant Béarnaise Sauce topped it with chives.

Common Questions

What meat thermometer should I use?

I like to have the thermometer in the oven while cooking so I can monitor it so using an oven-safe one is the way to go for this. You can use the ThermoPro Digital Cooking Thermometer or for a wireless option that you check on your phone you can get this Wireless Meat Thermometer.

Can I make the Béarnaise Sauce ahead of time?

No, this sauce breaks very easily and should not be made ahead.

What is the ideal thickness for Chateaubriand?

They are usually sliced about 1-2 inches, but you can do it based on personal preference.

What sides do you recommend?

A nice roasted or mashed potato go very well with Chateaubriand, especially with the Béarnaise Sauce. Roasted veggies and/or a salad also pair wonderfully. You can also never go wrong with dinner rolls!

Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin (Chateaubriand)

A whole slow roasted tenderloin or the chateaubriand (aka center cut) is my family's favorite thing that I make. It gets requested WAY too much, of course I cascade it in béarnaise which was the bane of my existence at the restaurant world but it is now a favorite. It was the bane of my existence because it took me a LONG time to master 😖 but once you do, it's like riding a bicycle (I promise). Plus I have given you a ton of tips in my Chef Nadia's Tip area that I learned with trial and error, so you don't have to!
Servings: 10 servings
By Nadia Aidi
Prep 30 minutes
Cook 3 hours
Salt Brine and Room Temperature 6 hours
Total 9 hours 30 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 Roasting Pan or a baking sheet with wire rack

Ingredients 

Beef Tenderloin

  • 1 tenderloin roast, 4-6 lb
  • kosher salt
  • pepper to taste

Béarnaise Sauce

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tbsp white wine or red wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp white wine
  • 2-3 tbsp fresh tarragon
  • 1 ½ tsp dried tarragon
  • 2 tbsp chives
  • 8 oz unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 squirts tabasco
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 1 large shallot, brunoise
  • 1 tbsp hot water, not boiling, just hot and it is optional

Instructions 

Beef Tenderloin

  • Cover your tenderloin with kosher salt. Let it sit in the fridge for 4 hours. Remove it from fridge 1-2 hours before roasting.
  • Pat dry your tenderloin well and add some pepper. Place on a roasting pan or a baking sheet with a wire rack. You don't want the bottom of the tenderloin touching the pan.
  • Roast at 250°F for 1-2 hours or until roast reaches internal temp of 118-120°F for a medium rare. See notes for other temperature options.
  • Let it rest at least 20 minutes or right until serving.
  • Sear on all sides until golden in a pan or grill.

Béarnaise Sauce

  • Melt your butter and let cool. I sometimes brown my butter for a richer, nutty flavor.
  • In a pan, add your shallots, vinegar, wine, dried and fresh tarragon. Turn heat on to medium low and let it cook until all the liquid absorbs. Set aside to cook.
  • Fill a small saucepan 1/3 of the way up with water and bring to a simmer.
  • Add the yolks to a bowl with the shallot and tarragon mixture, white pepper, tabasco and about 2-3 tbsp of the butter.
  • Whisk the yolks over the saucepan. Whisk vigorously until they turn a very pale yellow, adding in your water at this point. It should be about 45 seconds to 1 minute MAX.
  • Remove from heat and emulsify the rest of the butter in VERY slowly. It should look like a thread of butter going in. When you are almost done, reheat a little bit of butter and slowly add to reheat the sauce.
  • Once its all done, add chives and salt to taste and that is it!

Notes

Rare (115–125°F) 10-12 minutes per inch of thickness.
Medium-rare (125–135°F) 12-14 minutes per inch of thickness.
Medium-well (145–155°F )14-16 minutes per inch of thickness.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 88mg, Sodium: 11mg, Potassium: 75mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 0.3g, Vitamin A: 717IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Nadia Aidi
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Salt Brine and Room Temperature: 6 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, French
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 185
Keyword: Beef Tenderloin, chateaubriand
Tried this recipe?Mention @FoodMyMuse or tag #FoodMyMuse!
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