Curious how to grill filet mignon? Better yet, what is filet mignon and why are people so interested in cooking this in-demand cut of beef ? This ultimate guide to filet cookery will tackle all your burning questions (pun intended), including how to choose the right cut, whether gas or charcoal grilling is better, what seasoning you should use, and how you’ll know when your steak is perfectly done.
The truth is that it’s fairly easy to grill a steak once you learn the proper technique and become familiar with the steps and tips needed to transform a raw cut into a dinner-worth masterpiece.
Put your culinary future into our hands, and Allen Brothers’ experts will help you gain the confidence you need to rock the grill all year long.
Choosing the Right Filet Mignon
When you shop for filet mignon, you’ll likely come across more options than you expected. Your local grocery store or supermarket may only have one grade of filet in a single size, but dedicated beef providers and artisanal butchers will likely offer a multitude of steaks that tick a variety of boxes.
Before you buy, ask yourself:
- What grade do you prefer? The USDA Prime designation indicates the best beef available on the U.S. market, excluding Wagyu, which is subject to its own special grading scale. Prime beef is well marbled, beautifully tender, and juicy beyond belief. Consider American Wagyu for beef that’s even more marbled, tender, and buttery.
- Bone in or bone out? It’s far more common to find a bone-out filet vs. a bone-in filet, but you should try a bone-in cut at least once in your life. Filet on the bone takes a little longer to cook and is a bit fattier, but it also offers a little more moisture and flavor. Plus, the presentation is impressive. But the classic bone-out filet is tradition incarnate — easy to cook, slice, and eat, and the perfect balance of leaner meat and beefy aroma.
- Do you have a recipe in mind? The size and type of filet mignon you buy may depend on the recipe you have planned, too. A filet Oscar calls for a USDA Prime filet that will shine under a smattering of crab, asparagus, and bearnaise sauce. But you can also let Allen Brothers take care of some of the prep when you buy a bacon-wrapped filet or our surf and turf with crab legs or lobster both of which go great on the grill.
Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill
Tools play a big part in successfully grilling filet mignon, especially when it comes to how you’ll be cooking your cuts. Both charcoal and gas grills have their benefits, and both can produce a delicious steak, but there are some things to consider before you decide which grill belongs in your backyard.
Gas grills
Gas grills are user-friendly and can go from totally dormant to cook-ready in about 10 minutes. Gas also burns “cleaner” in terms of what flavor it adds to the meat — you’ll taste the beef and your chosen seasonings, not your cooking method, which can be a pro or a con depending on your POV.
You can dial in your desired heat level with a gas grill, which is helpful when you’re newer to grilling or just don’t want to fuss with adding or subtracting charcoal to get your heat source just right. Most people say gas grills are easier to clean, too, since you aren’t dealing with charcoal and ash.
Keep in mind that you will need a gas line hookup or access to propane tanks to run a gas grill.
Charcoal grills are beloved for the smoky, “authentic” grill flavor they add to anything cooked on those piping-hot grates. But the complexity you get taste wise requires more work up front. It can take 30 minutes for a charcoal grill to achieve high heat, and another 30 minutes or so to set up the grill prior to firing up the system.
It takes time and practice to learn how to get a charcoal grill to the proper temperature, and you may need a temperature gauge while you’re still learning.
You’ll need to account for the extra accessories required for charcoal cooking, including the briquettes themselves, lighter fluid to get the fire started, a fire source, and a way to safely collect and dispose of ashes.
How to Grill Filet Mignon
Okay. You’ve bought some meat, you have your grill, and now it’s time to cook. Here’s how our pros make the most of their quality filet mignon steaks.
- Prep Meat: Remove your steaks from the fridge about an hour before you want to put them on the grill. Pat the surface dry with a paper towel. Then season the room temperature steaks liberally with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Prep Grill: You should always clean your grill after each cooking session, including scraping away debris and clearing out ashes (as needed). When it’s time to cook again, double check the grill grates for cleanliness, fire up the grill, and oil the grates if you’re worried about your steaks sticking.
- Preheat Grill: Preheating your grill is just as important as preheating a cast-iron skillet or oven. You want your steak to get a beautiful sear — or in this case, gorgeous grill marks. That requires an extremely hot grill.
- Start Grilling: Grill your steak for the desired time per side (see our chart below for more details). Do not fuss with the steak. Avoid the urge to continuously prod or reposition your filet mignon.
- Add Toppers (Optional): When your steak is grilling on its second side, it’s nearly completely cooked and ready for any additional toppings you’d like to add. This is when you sprinkle on blue cheese or add a pat of compound butter, if desired.
- Rest Meat: Finally, you’ll want to rest your meat for at least half the total cook time. This allows the juices inside the grilled steak to calm down and redistribute, ensuring a juicy, tender steak from first bite to last.
Grilling Tips from the Pros
Ready to take your steak to the next level? Use these tried-and-true cooking tips from our experts.
- Allow your filets to rest before and after cooking. Skipping this step could result in a steak that’s unevenly cooked, dry and chewy, or all of the above.
- Season your steak generously before it hits the grill. It’s important to season your steak either 30-40 minutes before it hits the grill, so you can pat dry any moisture that seeps out due to the salt, or right before the meat meets the heat.
- Monitor cooking closely. When you’re just starting out, it can be hard to know how much time it takes to cook your steak correctly. Check the temperature frequently and feel your steak when it’s done to learn doneness by touch as well.
- Use reverse searing to hedge your bets. Cooking steak low and slow and then moving to direct heat for a high-temp sear can help you perfect your cookery.
- Play around with enhancements. In addition to basics like salt and pepper, play around with accompaniments like black truffle butter to give your juicy steak extra pizzazz.
Time on Grill Temperature Chart
Per our grilling guide, this is how to cook a filet mignon to rare, medium, or medium well.
| Doneness | Internal Temperature | Approximate Time |
| Rare | 110 to 120°F | 3 to 4 minutes per side |
| Medium Rare | 120 to 130°F | 3.5 to 4.5 minutes per side |
| Medium | 130 to 140°F | 4 to 5 minutes each side |
Grilling Filet Mignon FAQs
How thick should a filet mignon be?
Filet mignon is most commonly cut at a thickness of 1.5 to 2 inches. This allows for a beautifully seared outside without risking an overcooked interior. While the majority of standard 8-ounce filets adhere to the 1.5-2-guideline, larger cuts like a 12-ounce or 16-ounce filet may measure a bit thicker.
How to season filet mignon?
Classic seasoning for a filet mignon includes just good-quality salt and freshly cracked black pepper. However, some chefs like to amp up the flavor using additional herbs and spices, such as rosemary, garlic, thyme, or onion powder.
How long does it take to grill a filet mignon?
The length of time it takes to grill a filet mignon depends on the thickness of the steak and the desired temperature. Assuming your cut of meat is between 1.5 and 2 inches, it takes 3 to 4 minutes per side for a rare steak, 3.5 to 4.5 minutes per side to reach medium rare, and 4 to 5 minutes per side to cook the filet to medium rare.
How long to grill filet mignon medium rare?
Many cooks argue that the perfect filet mignon is served at a temperature of 120 to 130°F, otherwise known as medium rare. To achieve that “perfect” doneness, cook your 1.5 to 2-inch filet for approximately 3.5 to 4.5 minutes per side. Use a meat thermometer to double check the temperature, and allow for a small rise in temp due to carryover cooking once the beef is off the grill.
What temp should you grill a filet mignon?
If you’re wondering how to grill filet mignon, a lot depends on your desired doneness and the associated target temperature. A rare filet mignon will reach a temperature of 110 to 120°F. A medium-rare filet mignon reads between 120 and 130°F, and a medium filet mignon will read between 130 and 140°F.
Recipes
Ways to Cook Filet Mignon
Broil, grill, pan sear, sous vide — there are so many ways to cook a stellar filet mignon. Here’s an expert-tested filet mignon recipe to get you started. It uses simple ingredients and a grill — all you need is some patience and an appetite.
Shop High-Quality Filet Mignon from Allen Brothers
Grilling filet mignon doesn’t have to be difficult. Practice the basics, then play around with different seasonings and cooking methods to see what appeals to you most.
For the best cuts, shop Allen Brothers beef, and consider giving steak as a gift for special occasions and a little extra holiday magic.


