This Crockpot Beef Tenderloin melts in the mouth and takes minimal effort to make! Serve up with my easy béarnaise sauce, for a delicious meal. It’s perfect for the holidays and special occasions.
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What’s in this Crockpot Beef Tenderloin Recipe?
Beef tenderloin is a fantastic cut, but can turn out dry and chewy if not cooked properly. This slow cooker beef recipe gives you tender, flavorful tenderloin every time! This is an easy showstopper, perfect for dinner parties and holidays!
- Beef Tenderloin: A great cut of meat, but the key is to not overcook it, as it can become dry if cooked past medium-rare. You can trim and tie the tenderloin yourself but it is much easier to have a good butcher do it for you!
- Garlic + Rosemary: The perfect complement to beef tenderloin! The key is strong, aromatic flavors, so make sure you go for fresh herbs.
- White Wine Vinegar: The base of béarnaise. It adds a subtle acidity and sweetness. I do not recommend substituting another vinegar.
- Shallot: Adds a subtle onion flavor to the béarnaise. Again, make sure to mince it small! No one wants a big bite of shallot in their sauce.
- Dijon: Adds a bit of zing to the sauce to help cut through the richness. It also helps prevent the sauce from curdling.
- Egg Yolks: Add richness and help thicken the sauce.
- Unsalted Butter: Gives the sauce substance and richness, plus delicious butter flavor! No need to clarify it for this recipe.
- Tarragon: The main flavor in béarnaise. It has a subtle anise flavor and pairs deliciously with beef. Don’t skip it!
Pro Tip: You can use 1½ teaspoons of dried tarragon in place of fresh.
Variations on Slow Cooker Beef Tenderloin
If you prefer a more Dijon-forward sauce, leave out the lemon and the sauce will be more mustard-herb. For a more subtle flavor (closer to a true béarnaise), add the juice of half of a lemon (about 1-2 tablespoons) and whisk to combine.
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Beef tenderloin is widely regarded as the most tender cut of beef. It’s important not to overcook beef tenderloin, though, as it can become tough and dry if cooked past medium-rare. The crockpot is a great way to cook tenderloin low and slow.
Without enough liquid or cooking time, beef can turn out tough in the slow cooker. Make sure to add plenty of beef broth and check the temperature often towards the end of the cook time.
I recommend cooking this beef on low heat in the crockpot to ensure that it doesn’t cook too quickly and turn out tough.
Beef tenderloin is best served at medium-rare or below. Rare beef is usually cooked to 125-135°F, and medium-rare is up to 140°F. Feel free to download my meat temperature chart for easy reference!
Yes! Preheat the oven to 285°F, season the beef, and cook on a rimmed baking sheet for 50-60 minutes, or until the beef registers 115°F internally. Cover tightly with foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the sauce.
If your tenderloin is tough, it’s likely that either the heat was too high or the beef is overcooked. I recommend cooking on low heat and not letting the meat get above 140°F.
The main difference between a hollandaise and a béarnaise is flavor. The base of the sauce is the same, but a béarnaise sauce includes tarragon and shallots in a wine reduction.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crockpot beef tenderloin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store leftover béarnaise sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat béarnaise sauce gently in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, and whisk in 1 egg yolk to restore the emulsion.
How to Freeze
Freeze crockpot beef tenderloin in an airtight container for up to 3 months and béarnaise sauce in a Ziplock bag for up to 1 month. Allow beef and sauce to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve this delish dish with a multitude of yummy sides, like Three Cheese Asparagus Gratin, Garlic Mashed Cauliflower, Air Fryer Mushrooms, Classic Green Bean Casserole, or Chantilly Potatoes.
Crockpot Beef Tenderloin Recipe
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Ingredients
For the Beef Tenderloin
- 3 pounds center cut beef tenderloin trimmed and tied
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup unsalted butter room temperature (½ stick)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced rosemary
- 1 cup low sodium beef broth
For the Shortcut “Béarnaise” Sauce
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 large egg yolks
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted (1 stick)
- 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon minced
- ½ lemon juiced, optional (see note)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
For the Beef Tenderloin
- Season the beef tenderloin generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.3 pounds center cut beef tenderloin, Salt and pepper
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, garlic and rosemary. Rub the butter mixture over the beef tenderloin, making sure to cover all of the sides.¼ cup unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh minced rosemary
- Sear tenderloin on all sides in a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
- Transfer seared tenderloin to the crockpot and cover with beef broth.1 cup low sodium beef broth
- Cook on low for 1½-4 hours, or until 135°F internally. Check the beef every 30 minutes after 1½ hours have passed. Temperature is VERY important with this recipe and each cut of meat is different.
- Remove the meat and allow it to rest for 10 minutes tented with foil.
- When you’re ready to serve the tenderloin, remove the strings with scissors and slice the beef into ½-inch thick pieces.
For the Shortcut “Béarnaise” Sauce
- Add the white wine vinegar, shallots, and garlic to a small saucepan set over medium heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until it has reduced by half.¼ cup white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced shallot, 1 clove garlic
- Add the dijon and egg yolks to the pan and whisk vigorously to combine– you don’t want the eggs to scramble.1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 large egg yolks
- Next slowly drizzle in the melted butter, whisking constantly.½ cup unsalted butter
- Once all of the butter has been added, cook the sauce for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring often, or until the sauce thickens just enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the tarragon and lemon (if desired). Season with salt and pepper to taste.1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, ½ lemon
- Serve immediately.
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
- Lemon: If you prefer a more Dijon-forward sauce, leave out the lemon and the sauce will be more mustard-herb. For a more subtle flavor (closer to a true béarnaise), add the juice of half of a lemon (about 1-2 tablespoons) and whisk to combine.
- You can use 1½ teaspoons of dried tarragon in place of fresh.
- If your béarnaise sauce is not thickening, you likely added the butter a bit too quickly. This is easily fixed, though! Rinse out a mixing bowl with hot water. Put in a teaspoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of the runny béarnaise sauce. Beat with a wire whisk for a moment until the sauce creams and thickens, then stir back into the runny sauce.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon of very hot water and whisk to combine. Keep adding hot water until you achieve your desired consistency.
- If the sauce seems curdled, use the above instructions for a sauce that is too thin.
Nutrition Information
Sounds Aaaaamazing! Wasn’t sure if you could (or should) cook a Beef Tenderloin in a slow cooker but my oven isn’t working so I started searching and came upon your recipe! So excited to try this, I’m making it for dinner RIGHT NOW! I’ll letcha know if it’s as fabulous as it sounds! Thanks!…