Beef Wellington is a classic around the holidays. This dish is perfect to serve on Christmas and special occasions throughout the chilly seasons. Show your love and appreciation for your family this holiday season with a dish they won’t soon forget!
What’s in this Beef Wellington Recipe?
Juicy beef tenderloin wrapped in a mushroom, herb, and spice mixture, then wrapped in salty prosciutto, and finally wrapped in buttery puff pastry, makes this delicious dish well worth the effort!
- Beef Tenderloin: A tender and lean cut of beef, typically the center-cut portion, that’s the perfect size and shape for wrapping.
- Salt + Pepper: Enhances the natural flavor of the beef and mushrooms.
- Olive Oil: Helps sear the tenderloin and cook the duxelles (mushroom mixture) without burning.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a tangy kick and helps hold the mushroom duxelles in place.
- Garlic + Onion: Add an earthy and slightly sweet flavor to the mushrooms.
- Cremini Mushrooms: Used to make the duxelles, a paste that adds moisture and flavor.
- Red Wine: Adds depth of flavor to the duxelles.
- All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken the duxelles into a workable paste.
- Rosemary + Thyme: Add a fresh and herbaceous flavor to the mushrooms.
- Prosciutto: Wraps around the beef and duxelles to protect the pastry from getting soggy.
- Frozen Puff Pastry: Forms a crispy, flaky outer layer!
- Egg: Helps create as shiny, golden crust on the pastry.
Pro Tip: Cut the beef and pastry into smaller squares for individual wellingtons!
Variations on Wellington Beef
This classic dish is easy to change up based on ingredients you have on hand and/or personal preferences. You can use pork tenderloin instead of beef or a blend of different mushrooms, like shiitake, oyster, and portobello, for a more complex flavor.
Beef Wellington is a hearty dish made from steak coated with a paté made from mushrooms and thinly sliced ham wrapped in puff pastry and baked.
Beef Wellington is made from a whole beef tenderloin fillet. You may need to visit a butcher in order to find one large enough.
Chilling the meat ensures that the beef doesn’t overcook before the puff pastry on the outside has a chance to brown.
Once the beef is fully cooked, rest it on a wire rack so that the heat can escape quickly. This will help avoid a soggy bottom.
Wellington can fall apart if you cut the slices too small. I recommend making your slices about 1 inch thick for the best results.
Yes, you absolutely can! I recommend investing in an instant-read thermometer to ensure your Wellington is not overcooked. For medium-rare, you want it to be 130°F internally, and for medium, cook to 140°F.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover fully-cooked beef Wellington in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 275°F oven for 10-12 minutes, until warm or microwave on 50% power in 30-second increments until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze before baking for best results. You can freeze the Wellington for up to 3 days. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
Serving Suggestions
Serve each tender cut of this beef Wellington alongside a variety of sides, including well-known holiday recipes such as cranberry sauce, mashed or sweet potatoes, sautéed vegetables, and more!
Beef Wellington Recipe
Ingredients
- 3-4 pound beef tenderloin
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ onion finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pound cremini mushrooms finely chopped (see note)
- ⅓ cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary chopped
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme chopped
- 10 slices prosciutto ham
- 17.3 ounces frozen puff pastry thawed (1 box)
- 1 large egg beaten
- Sea salt for topping
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Twine
- Food Processor (click for my favorite) – optional
Instructions
- Trim the excess fat from the beef tenderloin. Use kitchen twine to tie up the tenderloin, spacing each tie about 1 inch apart. Season generously with salt and pepper.3-4 pound beef tenderloin, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Once heated, add in the tenderloin, searing on all sides until browned and crispy, but not cooked through. Transfer to a plate to rest.3 tablespoons olive oil
- Combine 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard and the garlic in a small dish. Once the tenderloin is no longer hot, cut off the twine, and gently pat the tenderloin dry with paper towel. Rub the Dijon mustard all over the tenderloin covering it completely. Set aside for now.2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 cloves garlic
- In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add in the onion and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Once softened, add in the mushrooms. Continue cooking and stirring until the mushrooms are browned.½ onion, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 pound cremini mushrooms
- Add in the red wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking until the excess liquid is absorbed.⅓ cup red wine
- Add in the flour, rosemary, and thyme, and continue to cook until the mixture is thick and has a paste-like texture. Season to taste.2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 sprig fresh rosemary, 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- Place a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Arrange the prosciutto slices on the plastic wrap in 2 rows of 5 slices. Use a spatula to spread the mushroom mixture onto the prosciutto.10 slices prosciutto ham
- Place the beef tenderloin horizontally at the bottom of the prosciutto. Roll the prosciutto and beef up into a tight roll. Wrap in the plastic wrap.
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- On a floured surface, pinch the 2 sheets of puff pastry together and roll out into a large rectangle.17.3 ounces frozen puff pastry
- Unwrap the tenderloin and place it horizontally at the bottom of the puff pastry. Roll the pastry over the beef. Pinch the ends of the pastry together and tuck any excess pastry underneath.
- Place the pastry-wrapped tenderloin, seam side down, on a baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer for 20 minutes.
- Score the pastry by cutting small slits on the top. Brush the sides and top of the pastry with the beaten egg. Sprinkle with sea salt.1 large egg, Sea salt
- Transfer to the oven to bake for 35-40 minutes, until the puff pastry is golden brown and the beef is cooked to your liking. If you notice your puff pastry browning too fast during the cooking process, loosely cover with tin foil. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. For medium rare, cook to 130°F, and for medium, cook to 140°F.
- Once baked, place the wellington on a wire rack to allow heat and moisture to escape and prevent a soggy bottom.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Mushrooms: The mushrooms should be very finely chopped. Use a food processor to help you do this quickly!
- You can prepare the mushroom/veggie mixture up to 2 days in advance of when you plan to bake the wellington. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Let the beef rest in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes between each stage of wrapping to help it keep together better.
- Make sure to cook off as much moisture as possible from the mushroom mixture to prevent soggy pastry.
- To help the meat stick to the puff pastry better, you can brush it with egg wash before wrapping.
- Take care not to wrap the puff pastry too tightly.
- You can prep the entire beef wellington up to step 7, then wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Continue with the recipe the next day.
- Internal Temperature Guide
- For rare: 125-130°F
- For medium-rare: 130-140°F
- For medium: 140-150°F
- For medium-well: 150-160F
- For well-done: 160-165°F
Nutrition Information
I feel like I’m going crazy…. I have this recipe saved in my “favorites” because I truly enjoyed the individual Wellington recipe. I made it several times. It looks like the recipe has been updated and I’m super bummed. Would love the original back.
Yes! I have been going crazy trying to find the recipe for the individual Beef Wellingtons as well. I made it several times for date night for my guy and he loved it! Please bring that recipe back!!