Crockpot Beef Tenderloin Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Crockpot Beef Tenderloin Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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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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Table of Contents

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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Is beef tenderloin a good cut of meat?

Beef tenderloin iswidely 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.

Does beef go tough in the slow cooker?

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.

Is it best to cook beef tenderloin on high heat or low heat?

I recommend cooking this beef on low heat in the crockpot to ensure that it doesn’t cook too quickly and turn out tough.

What’s the ideal temperature for beef tenderloin?

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!

Can I make crockpot beef tenderloin in the oven?

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.

Why is my beef tenderloin tough?

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.

What’s the difference between a hollandaise and a béarnaise sauce?

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.

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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.

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Recipe

Crockpot Beef Tenderloin Recipe

4.68 from 73 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 25 minutes minutes

Cook: 6 hours hours

Total: 6 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

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Serves6 people

Beef tenderloin absolutely shines in the crockpot! The cut comes out pink in the middle with browned edges, loaded with flavor, and super tender. An awesome addition to your holiday menu, plus the easy Béarnaise sauce adds a restaurant level of quality to the dinner. You will love this!

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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)

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

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  • 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.

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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.

Storage:Store crockpot beef tenderloin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store béarnaise in a Ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 858kcal (43%) Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) Protein: 44g (88%) Fat: 74g (114%) Saturated Fat: 36g (225%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 28g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 285mg (95%) Sodium: 608mg (26%) Potassium: 843mg (24%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 857IU (17%) Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) Calcium: 51mg (5%) Iron: 6mg (33%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Crockpot Beef Tenderloin Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Should beef tenderloin be cooked fast or slow? ›

The meat will be almost perfectly cooked from edge to edge. Low-and-slow cooking also gives you a larger window of time between that point at which the meat is perfectly cooked and the point when it's overcooked. Once the meat is done, all you've got to do is put a sear on it.

How to make beef more tender in crockpot? ›

You can do this by placing the beef in a pot or slow cooker with the liquid and heating it until it's heated through and tender. Add some fat: Adding some fat, such as olive oil or butter, can also help make the beef more tender.

Why does beef go chewy in slow cooker? ›

“Beef may be tough in the slow cooker if you haven't added enough liquid, or haven't cooked it for long enough,” Kristen Carli, M.S., R.D., owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, tells SELF. “For cuts of meat, the fattier cuts are often the ones that get juicy and tender.

What would cause a beef tenderloin to be tough? ›

Be careful not to overcook your tenderloin, as that will result in meat that is dry, tough and unappetizing.

Should beef tenderloin be cooked covered or uncovered? ›

Bake uncovered 40 to 50 minutes or until thermometer reads at least 140°F. Cover beef with tent of aluminum foil and let stand about 15 minutes or until thermometer reads 145°F. (Temperature will continue to rise about 5°, and beef will be easier to carve.)

Should you salt beef tenderloin before cooking? ›

Generously season roast with kosher salt. Keep uncovered in refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or up to overnight. About 1 to 1½ hours before planning to cook, remove roast from oven and allow to come to room temperature. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

How do you keep beef from drying out in a slow cooker? ›

To keep a pot roast from drying out, your slow cooker needs liquid to create a moist environment, and that can include meat or vegetable stock, wine or water. This doesn't mean the meat should be submerged; a cup or two of liquid will be enough, since the cooker is covered and liquids stay trapped inside.

Can you overcook beef in a slow cooker? ›

While slow cooker recipes are designed to cook for extended periods of time, they can still become overcooked if left on the wrong setting for too long. In general, it's best to stick to the indicated cook time on the recipe you're following.

Do I add water to a slow cooker for beef? ›

If your slow cooker is 3/4 full, no extra liquid is required. However, if you're cooking a smaller amount of food, add 1-2cm of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl to ensure there's enough liquid for cooking. Don't add too much liquid, because as the food cooks, it produces its own liquid.

What happens if you don't brown meat before a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you should brown your meat (beef) before. The meat will cook without browning in the slow cooker but it will have a boiled flavor to it. It will also look kind of grey.

Is it better to slow cook on low or high? ›

Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting.

Which cooking method is best for beef tenderloin? ›

The food web and a great many cookbooks (very many of them highly reputable) recommend blasting a tenderloin in a hot oven, 450–500°F (232–260°C), for a relatively short time to cook it, followed by a counter rest.

How long should a beef tenderloin sit out before cooking? ›

Once thawed, remove your roast from the refrigerator at least one hour (but not more than two hours) before cooking to allow the roast to come to room temperature. Season your Beef Tenderloin Roast well.

What liquid makes beef tender? ›

Tea contains tannins, which are a natural tenderiser. Method: Make 1-2 cups of strong black tea, allow it to cool, and then immerse the beef in the liquid for up to 24 hours. The longer you leave the beef to marinade, the more tender it will be.

How is tenderloin best cooked? ›

For a 2-1/2-pound beef tenderloin, roast the meat uncovered for 20 minutes at 250°F. Then turn up the heat to 425°F. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of meat registers 135°F (about 30 to 40 minutes). Remove from the oven.

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

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Sear the tenderloin in a large skillet using the searing steps above. Place the tenderloin on a baking sheet and move it into the middle of the oven, cooking for 2-4 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 125 degrees.

Is it best to cook beef slow or fast? ›

She starts the roast at a high temperature to get browning for flavor, and then lowers the oven temp and cooks the beef "slow and low" for a couple hours. This slow roasting method at low heat is good for tougher cuts of beef; the lower heat prevents gristle from getting too tough.

Does meat get more tender the longer you slow cook it? ›

Does meat get more tender the longer you cook it in a slow cooker? Not if you're using a leaner cut in the slow cooker, like chicken breast or pork chops. To help keep these cuts moist, decrease the cook time to 2-4 hours.

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