Beef Wellington for Two
An elegant British classic–but make it for two! Beef Wellington is a show-stopping dish that is both impressive and delicious. Perfectly seared filet mignon wrapped in herby mushrooms and prosciutto baked in golden, flaky puff pastry. Are you drooling yet?
While Beef Wellington is usually quite expensive and meant for a crowd, this easy Beef Wellington recipe is all the elegance and indulgence for a fraction of the cost and work. Beef Wellington for two is the perfect luxe meal for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or any night that calls for a romantic dinner.
Table of Contents
- Beef Wellington: A British Classic
- What is Beef Wellington?
- Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- How to Make Beef Wellington for Two
- Selecting the Right Beef for Beef Wellington
- Tips for the Perfect Sear
- How to Avoid Overcooking Beef Wellington
- Prepping Beef Wellington for Two Ahead of Time
- What to Serve with Beef Wellington for Two
- More Entertaining Recipes to Try Now
Beef Wellington: A British Classic
The meals at and around Christmastime are honestly my favorites of the year! We have our traditions that we stick to pretty stringently like Prime Rib on Christmas eve and homemade bagels and gravlax on Christmas morning. But we also love to mix it up depending on whether or not we have company. When it’s just me and Erik, I love an elegant dinner that I can make for just the two of us that doesn’t break the bank and doesn’t feel wasteful.
Enter: Beef Wellington for two! This incredible recipe has all the glitz and glam while still feeling approachable. Because the Beef Wellingtons are individually wrapped, it’s easy to scale this recipe up as needed! This would also be a great recipe for a dinner party for 6-8.
The best part about this recipe? You can make the components ahead of time and assemble the Beef Wellingtons a day in advance! I love a make-ahead recipe that allows me to feel in-control and stress-free when entertaining.
What is Beef Wellington?
Beef Wellington is an iconic British dish, consisting of beef tenderloin encased by mushrooms or paté (usually foie gras) & puff pastry.
The dish was created in celebration of the first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, and his victory at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. While it’s most well-known as a traditional British dish, it’s likely that it was originally derived from a classic French dish (boeuf en croute).
Typically Beef Wellington is made as a large roast, which is sliced into individual portions before serving. But today, we’re making individual beef wellingtons!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Rich & Decadent – Beef Wellington for two is perfection – perfectly seared filet mignon is wrapped in herby mushrooms and prosciutto and baked until golden brown in flaky puff pastry. Every bite of Beef Wellington is filled with flavor.
Impressive – If there is ever an occasion to look like a culinary genius, it’s during the holidays! Whether you’re looking to impress family or friends, or even just yourself, this recipe pulls out all the stops.
Economical – Making a full-size Beef wellington is both a culinary and financial undertaking. Making beef wellington for two ran me about $55–you can’t dine out for one at that price! This recipe is elegant and beautiful without a massive price tag.
Make-Ahead Friendly – You can make the components and assemble the beef wellington a day in advance! This leaves you stress-free and prepared any time you want to entertain.
How to Make Beef Wellington for Two
You’re going to be shocked at how simple this recipe is to put together! Don’t be intimidated by its fanciness–beef wellington is really just a handful of ingredients. It takes a little time to prep, but most of it is hands-off time.
Tools Needed
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Filet Mignon. When purchasing, you’re looking for 2 8oz filets with nice marbling that are 1 3/4″ thick. Read below for my tips on purchasing filet mignon for Beef Wellington.
- Cremini Mushrooms. I love using cremini mushrooms, sometimes called baby bella, because they’re so hearty. However, you could swap in button mushrooms also.
- Shallots. The best onion to use here! It has the perfect delicate flavor that isn’t overwhelming.
- Garlic. The combination of garlic and shallot is heavenly!
- Butter. Butter truly makes everything better, but you could use a little olive oil if that’s what you prefer.
- Cognac. Optional, but adds amazing flavor to the mushrooms. We aren’t big cognac drinkers so I just keep a teeny tiny bottle on hand for cooking.
- Thyme. Fresh thyme is best, but you can use dried. If you’re planning to use dried, use much less.
- Dijon Mustard. Opt for some high quality dijon mustard. My favorite, favorite dijon mustard is the dijon from Trader Joe’s.
- Prosciutto. Also something I purchased at Trader Joe’s! Their prosciutto is great. You only need about 6 slices, so purchase a small pre-packaged amount.
- Puff Pastry. You could make your own if that’s your thing, but I’m 100% pro-store bought here. I used the all-butter puff pastry from Trader Joe’s and it’s the best! I stock up on it every year and always have a stash in my freezer.
The Process
- Sear the beef: Pat your filet mignon pieces dry with a paper towel to remove extra moisture. Season all over with salt and pepper. Heat a heavy bottomed cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef for 2-3 minutes per side until deeply browned. Transfer to a plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Make the mushroom duxelles: Finely chop your mushrooms. If you want an easy shortcut, pulse the mushrooms in your food processor until finely chopped. Melt the butter in the skillet you used to sear the steak and add the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms start to release their liquid. Add the shallot, garlic, thyme, and cognac and continue to cook until all the liquid is gone and the mushrooms are browned. Set aside to cool.
- Wrap the steak: Lay down two pieces of plastic wrap. Lay 3 slices of prosciutto down on both pieces of plastic wrap and spread the mushrooms evenly between them. (See step by step photos). Lay the steak in the center and brush the steak with a thin layer of dijon mustard. Use the plastic wrap to help you wrap the mushrooms and prosciutto tightly around the steak, then discard the plastic wrap once the steak is tightly wrapped in the prosciutto.
- Wrap the steak in puff pastry: Make sure to defrost your puff pastry ahead of time! Pull one sheet of puff pastry out of the fridge and lightly dust a work surface with flour. Cut the puff pastry sheet into 4 even squares. Stack two squares together and roll them out into two larger 8×8 squares. Wrap the steak in the puff pastry, pressing the seams together to seal. Place the beef wellingtons on a baking sheet and transfer to the freeze for 20 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Bake. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Brush the beef wellingtons all over with egg wash and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake for 20 minutes, until the outside is golden brown. Let the beef wellingtons rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Selecting the Right Beef for Beef Wellington
Choosing the right filet for beef wellington for two is the most important step! In an effort to cut down on cost, we aren’t buying a whole beef tenderloin. Instead, we’re going for two nice 8 oz filet mignons.
Follow these tips when you’re selecting your filet mignon for beef wellington:
- Head straight to the meat counter. Don’t you dare even mess with pieces of filet that have already been cut! For a meal like this, make sure you’re getting exactly what you need. Head straight to your butcher or meat counter and have them cut the filet for you. You’ll have the most control here!
- Choose the right grade. When you’re paying for a high-quality cut of meat, it’s important to get the best! Talk to your butcher and see what they have on hand and what he would recommend. Opt for at least choice grade, but prime is best. For this recipe, I actually went with grass-fed wagyu beef because it was really nicely marbled and I was able to get it on sale (win!).
- Cut from the right part of the tenderloin. When you ask your butcher or meat counter attendant to cut the filet for you, ask for it to come from the center of the tenderloin. This is the most tender part and it’s the most even in size which means both pieces will cook evenly. Ask them to cut the filet at least 1 ¾” thick. This also helps to avoid overcooking!
- Buy right before you plan to cook. This seems like an obvious one, but this is also why we aren’t selecting pre-cut pieces. Most pre-cut pieces of beef have been sitting for a day or two and have started to oxidize and that is not the play for beef wellington. Buy the beef the day you plan to assemble the beef wellington for optimal flavor and presentation.
When you’re spending money on a high-quality piece of meat, you should get the best! Follow my tips for purchasing and you’re going to end up with the perfect beef wellington.
Tips for the Perfect Sear
Searing the filet is one of the most important ways to add flavor to Beef Wellington! A nice hard sear and a brown crust enhances the beef flavor and makes this recipe even more delicious. Here are my best tips for getting the perfect sear:
- Room temperature meat sears more easily. Pull your filet out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking.
- Pat as much moisture as possible from the surface of the meat. Moisture is the natural enemy of a good, hard sear. Use paper towels to dab the filet really well all over to remove extra moisture before you season with salt and pepper.
- Choose the right oil. Because this is high-temperature cooking, you need an oil that will stand up to high heat. Canola, avocado, and sunflower oils are my favorite for searing at high temperatures. Avoid olive oils as they burn and become acrid at high temps.
How to Avoid Overcooking Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington for two is best served medium-rare or medium. Once it’s overcooked, you can’t un-cook it and since it’s an expensive cut of meat, you don’t want to leave the cooking to chance. Invest in a dependable probe thermometer any time you’re cooking beef.
Keep in mind that the temperature of the meat will rise 5 degrees or so as it rests. For best results, pull at the temperatures listed below.
- Medium-rare roast: 120°F.
- Medium roast: 130°F.
The most important step to avoid overcooking beef wellington is to adequately cool the beef wellington between steps. After searing the filet, refrigerate it for 30 minutes. After you wrap the steak in puff pastry, freeze for 20 minutes. This keeps the internal temperature of the steak cold and prevents it from overcooking before the puff pastry has a chance to cook.
Take your time with this recipe and you’re going to be blown away!
Prepping Beef Wellington for Two Ahead of Time
One of the best things about this individual Beef Wellington recipe is the fact that it can very easily be prepped in advance. Assembled individual Beef Wellington will keep, stored wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator, for 1 day.
You could possibly push it to two days in advance, but you might lose a little of the pink color on the filet.
To prep Beef Wellington for two in advance: Assemble the Beef Wellington all the way through wrapping it in puff pastry. Wrap each Beef Wellington tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
When it’s time to cook, remove the Beef Wellingtons from the plastic wrap and place on a baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake according to the instructions.
What to Serve with Beef Wellington for Two
What is a dinner without sides? Here are my favorite sides to serve alongside Beef Wellington for two for a true show-stopping meal.
- Fluffy Dinner Rolls
- Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes
- Caramelized Onion and Potato Gratin
- Kale Caesar Salad
- Gooey Nutella Lava Cakes
More Entertaining Recipes to Try Now
Tomato Risotto
Red Wine Braised Beef
Flank Steak with Burrata
Herb Roasted Chicken
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Beef Wellington for Two
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 2 – 8 oz center cut filet mignons, 1 3/4" thick
- 2 tablespoons high-quality salted butter
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, very finely chopped
- 1 shallot, finely minced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons cognac (optional)
- 6 slices prosciutto
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 sheet store-bought all-butter puff pastry, defrosted overnight in the fridge
- 1 egg, beaten
- kosher salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- flaky sea salt
Instructions
Searing the Steaks
- Let your filet mignon steaks come to room temperature before cooking. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and season liberally on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat neutral oil in a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, place the steaks in the skillet and let them sear hard for 3-4 minutes on the first side until deeply golden brown. Flip and let the other side sear for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and refrigerate the steaks for 30 minutes.
Preparing the Mushroom Duxelles
- While the steaks are back in the fridge, cook the mushrooms. You can use a food processor to finely chop the mushrooms or mince them by hand. In the same skillet you used to sear the steaks, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once the butter is foamy, add the mushrooms and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the mushrooms, stirring occasionally until the liquid is starting to release. Add the shallot, garlic, and thyme, and reduce the heat to medium. Add the cognac, if using. Cook for another 10-12 minutes until all the liquid is cooked out of the mushrooms and they are dry. Transfer to a bowl to cool to room temperature.
Wrapping the Steaks
- Set up your work station by laying down two pieces of plastic wrap next to each other on a cutting board or directly on the kitchen counter. Lay 3 pieces of prosciutto overlapping (see above images) on each piece of plastic wrap. Spread the mushrooms evenly between them. Place the seared steaks in the middle and brush each steak all over with dijon mustard. Using the plastic wrap to help you, wrap the prosciutto and mushrooms around the steak in a tight package. Discard the plastic wrap and set the wrapped steaks aside.
- Lightly flour your work station and unroll the puff pastry. Cut the puff pastry into 4 equal squares. Arrange them by stacking two pieces of top of each other twice. Using a rolling pin, roll the stacked puff pastry pieces into one large square that measures 8×8". Repeat with the other stack. Place the prosciutto wrapped steaks in the center of each square. Fold the puff pastry around the steak and press the edges together to secure tightly. Transfer to the freezer for 25 minutes.
Baking Beef Wellington
- Preheat an oven to 425 F.
- Remove the beef wellingtons from the freezer and place them on a baking sheet. Brush them all over with the lightly beaten egg and sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt.
- Bake the beef wellingtons for 20-25 minutes, until the internal temperature has reached about 120-125 for medium rare/medium. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Rate & Review This Recipe
I made these last night for Valentines day and this recipe is about as perfect as it gets. I did not change one thing and they turned out amazing and I put a few of my comments. I made them earlier in the day so I never had to freeze them but left them in the fridge until ready to cook. The few notes I will add is one the recipe does not say BUT make sure your baking pan is well greased as the dough will stick and mine did pretty badly to the parchment paper so I kind of lost the bottom. I would not use parchment but grease my pan well next time or use a non-stick baking pan. Second the prosciutto is very salty so be careful not to over salt your mushrooms as you usually would do when making sautéed mushrooms. Lastly, this is personal but we are two guys who love to eat and we found we could each only eat half as it was a lot of food and it’s a rich dish so I would suggest either doing smaller oz filets like 5-6 ounces or you could get away with maybe a 10oz filet and just making one and splitting it and freezing the other one for next time. FIVE STARS for this dish.
Thank you so much for your comments and feedback, Jeffrey! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and I’ll definitely add notes to the recipe regarding your thoughts.
I just want to mention that this doesn’t have to be a super expensive dinner. I don’t “go straight to the butcher/meat counter” and have the steaks cut for me. I make this when I see the odd shaped end cuts that get put out as the “butchers special” because I can cut them or stick them together to make my “steaks.” Under all that pastry and prosciutto, it’s just as delicious as cut fillet mignon but considerably cheaper. Good recipe, BTW. Just use a thermometer!
I made this for Valentine’s Day for my boyfriend and I – I was panicking the whole time but the recipe steps were so easy to follow and it came out perfectly! I didn’t think I’d be able to eat a whole one myself but I totally did because it was so good. Will definitely be repeating in the future, thanks for the great recipe!!
So happy to hear that!