Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin - Pellet grill recipe for perfect tenderloin (2024)

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Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin goes on the grill as a long, sort of terrifying raw hunk of meat, and in less than an hour turns into something really incredible. This cut of steak is so tender and so full of rich beefy flavor, you’re going to keep this one on deck anytime you want to feel a little fancy, but also have a simple dinner on the table.

Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin - Pellet grill recipe for perfect tenderloin (1)

Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin Recipe

I know. You guys, I totally get it. I freaked out for like a solid hour the first time I cooked a prime rib. I don’t like experimenting with expensive cuts of meat. But don’t be nervous! Use some cool tools and tricks and you’ll have a perfectly cooked piece of steak that might just be the best thing you eat this fall and this whole holiday season.

More Easy Traeger Recipes here!

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What is beef tenderloin?

The beef tenderloin comes from the same muscle that the filet mignon comes from, it just isn’t cut into individual steaks. This particular cut of beef gets very little movement, so it stays super tender on the animal. It is one of my favorite cuts of beef, and if you can find a sale on it BUY BUY BUY.

I picked up this big beauty at my local tiny grocery store, and got it for a song at $7.99 a pound. If you find it that low, buy all they have because that’s a great deal!

More Traeger Beef Recipes here!

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How to cook beef tenderloin

There are a lot of great ways to cook beef tenderloin. You can roast it in the over, you can cook it in a pan on the stovetop, you can grill it, or you can cook it my favorite way, and that is to smoke it!

Smoking beef gives it such a deep flavor, that beautiful smoke ring, and leaves it tender and at the perfect temp.

One thing I would suggest is to cut the beef tenderloin into large segments, according to how thick it is. You’ll want to pull those off of your grill at different times, and if you have separate temperature probes that’ll monitor the doneness, you’ll want to make sure that they have their own.

Speaking of temperature probes, we ran our grill for well over a year without any kind of fancy thermometers, and then I finally broke out the ThermoPro that wirelessly tells me what temp my meat is at, and I’m now firmly on the GET ONE train. My next upgrade will be one that hooks up to my iPhone, somehow, and will yell at me when I forget I have something on the grill.

You can find the link for one of the thermometers down in my recipe below!

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The Spice Guy Rubs and Sauces

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Some of our most heavily utilized rubs and spices in the kitchen. Get some! Highly recommend the Midnight Toker and Roasted Garlic Blend!

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Thermoworks Thermometers

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I use my Thermoworks favorites EVERY time I grill or griddle. Get one, and up your bbq game! This page links you to all of my "must haves". Use the code OWYD at checkout for 10% off!

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Grill Masters' Club

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The Grill Masters' Club is a monthly subscription box FULL of grilling favorites. Last month I got a killer hot sauce, bbq sauce, and rub. I have been a member of this club for several months now and have found some real winners! I can't wait for you guys to check it out.

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Butcherbox

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We have been monthly ButcherBox subscribers for a couple of years now, and LOVE it! Hit the easy button for your beef, pork, chicken, fish, and seafood!

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Spiceology Rubs and Spices

Photo Credit:spiceology.com

We LOVE Spiceology and use a ton of their products! This gift pack is a great way to sample some of their most popular blends.

What should you serve with smoked beef tenderloin?

This is such an easy meal to match sides with! My first suggestion for steak is always my Perfect Grilled Asparagus. It is fast and easy, and everyone raves about it. A freshly tossed Greek Salad would also we great!

You’ll already have the grill fired up, so once you pull your beef, just crank up the heat again for a few minutes and throw these on the grill while your tenderloin rests.

Next, you’ll want to do some Creamy Noodles or Scalloped Potatoes.

Want to go a little fancier? Try our Smoked Parmesan Potato Stacks.

Homemade Rolls would also take this all kinds of cool places!

Personally, I prefer this smoked tenderloin to even the best prime rib, but both of them are a great option for a family gathering or a special holiday meal.

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More great recipes to love

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  • Grilled London Broil
  • Poor Man’s Burnt Ends
  • Chashu Pork Belly
  • Gyro Sandwich
  • Smoked Mac and Cheese
  • Traeger Salmon
  • Blackstone Tomahawk Ribeye
  • Smoked Brisket
  • Cioppino (Seafood Soup)
Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin - Pellet grill recipe for perfect tenderloin (11)

Yield: 6 people

Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin - Pellet grill recipe for perfect tenderloin (12)

Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin is easy to make but ultra impressive to serve.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time45 minutes

Total Time55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 - 4 pound beef tenderloin
  • 3 tablespoons steak rub of your choice (or make your rub using the recipe here!
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your pellet grill to HIGH, following factory instructions.
  2. Trim excess fat from the tenderloin, and cut into evenly sized pieces if your tenderloin tapers significantly. Two or three are usually enough to ensure even cooking. If your tenderloin is equal thickness throughout you can skip this part.
  3. Coat the tenderloin in steak rub and salt and place into the preheated grill.
  4. Close the lid and cook for 10 minutes. Flip the tenderloin, and close the lid for another 10 minutes.
  5. Turn the temperature down to smoke, and leave the grill lid open for 2-3 minutes to drop the temperature of the grill down to about 200-225 degrees. Close the lid, and smoke until the internal temperature is at 130°.
  6. Pull from the grill and let sit for 15 minutes before slicing.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 750Total Fat: 57gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 198mgSodium: 925mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 56g

Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.

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Nicole Johnson

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Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.

Traeger Smoked Beef Tenderloin - Pellet grill recipe for perfect tenderloin (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to smoke a beef tenderloin at 225 degrees? ›

Setup smoker for cooking at about 225°F (107°C) using indirect heat. If your smoker uses a water pan, fill it up. Cook the meat for about 2 hours or until it reaches 130°F (54°C) or your desired level of done.

Should you wrap beef tenderloin in foil when smoking? ›

smoking process

Wrap the meat in NON-COATED butcher paper or aluminum foil and let meat rest for about 5-10 minutes or until temperature reaches 125° F and juices are all redistributed. Unwrap meat, place on a cutting board and slice into individual filet mignon steaks.

How to smoke a tenderloin on a pellet grill? ›

Set Traeger temperature to 225℉ and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes. For optimal flavor, use Super Smoke if available. Place the tenderloins directly on the grill grate and smoke until the internal temperature registers 145℉, about 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Remove from grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

What is the best binder for beef tenderloin? ›

Olive oil makes for a good all-around binder that will hold in the seasonings and is great for steak. Olive oil: Perfect for beef cuts, olive oil will not only hold those seasonings to the meat, it will help dramatically crisp up the outside of the cuts.

Do you smoke a tenderloin fat side up or down? ›

For the best flavor, you should cook it fatty-side up. If you place your pork loin lean-side up, the fat will simply drip onto and through your smoker's cooking grate.

What is the best temperature for beef tenderloin? ›

Rare: 115°F. Medium-Rare: 125°F. Medium: 135°F. Medium-Well: 145°F.

What does aluminum foil do when smoking meat? ›

If you're a fan of braised-like smoked meat, foil is the way to go. Foil is not breathable and tends to trap in all the juices and fat from the meat. Once your meat is cooked and taken off the smoker to rest, those fats and juices are then reabsorbed, locking in all that goodness and flavor.

What is the best wood to smoke beef tenderloin? ›

I prefer to use oak wood; it pairs beautifully with beef. Finally, sear the smoked beef tenderloin roast over high direct heat to lock in the juices and flavor and add a beautiful exterior crust.

Is beef tenderloin the same as filet mignon? ›

To sum up: Filet mignon is part of a beef tenderloin, but a beef tenderloin is not a filet mignon. Instead, it houses the filet mignon, which comes from the end portion of the tenderloin. The rest of the tenderloin can create other steak cuts or a delicious tenderloin roast to feed the family.

How long to smoke tenderloin at 225? ›

Important Information
  1. Prep Time: 15 minutes.
  2. Cook Time: 2 hours.
  3. Smoker Temp: 225°F (107°C)
  4. Meat Finish Temp: 145°F (63°C)
  5. Recommended Wood: Peach, apricot or other light fruit wood.

What internal temperature should tenderloin be smoked to? ›

Smoked pork tenderloin needs to be cooked until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. I prefer to cook mine to 135 degrees F, baste on all sides with my favorite BBQ sauce, then allow the sauce to tighten while the pork tenderloin climbs those last 10 degrees.

Can you use ketchup as a binder? ›

This was really surprising, but shows that most of the flavor from binders is cooked out. Takeaway #2: Ketchup was shockingly my favorite (both visually and by taste). Though subtle, it had an extra dimension of flavor. More than anything, I think this shows that briskets cooked on a pellet grill just need more flavor.

Why is my beef tenderloin tough? ›

Overcooking it.

Tenderloin is lean and one of the most tender cuts around, but the lack of fat means that overcooking it will result in dry, tough meat. Follow this tip: Tenderloin is best served rare or medium-rare, so use a thermometer to make sure it doesn't get cooked past 140°F in the center.

What can I use as a binder instead of mustard? ›

Olive oil – This is another suitable binder if you are concerned about flavours mixing. Olive oil is great as a binder, particularly on vegetables, chips, chicken, and lamb. Mayonnaise – Mayo is an easy way to add a little extra moisture to the meat, and it will keep the integrity of your spice rub.

How long to smoke a tenderloin at 225? ›

Important Information
  1. Prep Time: 15 minutes.
  2. Cook Time: 2 hours.
  3. Smoker Temp: 225°F (107°C)
  4. Meat Finish Temp: 145°F (63°C)
  5. Recommended Wood: Peach, apricot or other light fruit wood.

How many minutes per pound for beef at 225 degrees? ›

As a general rule of thumb, at 225°F, cook your roast for about 30 minutes per pound, after the initial browning (for a medium rare). But be sure to check at least 30 minutes before it should be done, just to make sure.

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