Smoked Beef Tenderloin 

If you really want to impress your guests, try smoking a whole beef tenderloin. What you end up with is smokey, tender beef, that’s melt-in-your-mouth good. 

Although it may look a little intimidating, it’s really not. In this recipe, I will show you how to trim a whole beef tenderloin, smoke it, slice it, and serve it so you can do this at home with confidence. 

Smoked Whole Beef Tenderloin

Ingredients you’ll need 

• Beef tenderloin
• Binder – Olive oil or Worcestershire sauce
• Seasoning – salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Baste – butter and garlic.

Equipment you’ll need

• Charcoal grill or smoker
• Smoking wood – I used pecan. 
• Charcoal 
• Sharp knife – Smoke Kitchen Boning Knife 
• Instant read thermometer

What is a beef tenderloin?

The three main cuts of the tenderloin are the butt, the center cut, and the tail. Sometimes you will see the chain attached, which is the muscle that runs alongside the filet.

What you’ve probably had before is a filet mignon, which is basically a steak cut from the tenderloin. 

You can smoke the entire tenderloin as is, but I prefer using the center cut as you get a better presentation and more even cook.

I like to trim the ends and use them for roasts.  The prized section is the center cut, also known as the chateaubriand, and is the most tender and flavorful. 

How to trim beef tenderloin

The beef tenderloin I used was from Snake River Farms and was pre-trimmed. Most tenderloins will require some trimming, though.

Lay your tenderloin out on a cutting board and pull away any of the loose fat or silver skin with your hands.

Then run your fingers along the side to locate the chain which is a muscle that runs alongside the tenderloin.

Pull it apart with your hands and run a sharp knife along it until it’s completely separated. 

Trim the silver skin off the top of the tenderloin by running your knife underneath and pulling away.

Finally, cut the butt and the tail off. You can use these as roast, cube up for stir fry or make skewers. 

How to make Smoked Beef Tenderloin

1. Tie

I like to tie butcher’s twine around the meat every 3-4″ so it holds its shape while cooking.

2. Season

Apply a good coat of binder. Olive oil is usually my go-to, but for this cook, I used Worcestershire sauce.

Season it with a generous amount of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Let the beef come to room temperature and allow the seasoning to penetrate into the meat.

Bringing the steak up to room temp will also relax the muscle fibers in the beef and help ensure a nice, even cook. 

3. Fire up the smoker 

Heat your smoker to 250°F.

For this cook I used my PK360 grill with pecan wood.

I set up my grill with charcoal banked on one side, adjusted the vents to dial in the temperature, and added the tenderloin to the opposite side once I got good clean smoke running through the grill. 

4. The cook

Place your tenderloin on the opposite side of the charcoal for indirect heat.

During the smoking process, I flip the tenderloin once or twice to ensure it cooks evenly.

Baste the tenderloin with the garlic butter a few times to add a little extra flavor and moisture.

Once the tenderloin reaches an internal temperature of 125°F degrees, ramp up the heat and sear it for a few minutes over the direct heat to get a nice crust.

Remember that while the tenderloin rests, it will continue to cook another 5-10 degrees.

5. Resting 

Because beef tenderloin is a large cut of meat, proper rest is crucial at the end of cooking.

I recommend resting the tenderloin for 20-30 minutes to let the meat relax, and the internal juices redistribute to the center. 

I place the tenderloin onto a wire rack and loosely tent foil on top. 

6. Serving

Slice the tenderloin into 1″ thick medallions and if needed add a little Kosher salt to finish.

Sides for beef tenderloin

• Smoked Rosemary and Garlic Potatoes 
• Beer Mustard Potatoes 
• Pasta Salad 
• Bacon Wrapped Carrots with Maple Glaze