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We grill all summer long, and for those special occasions when the whole family gathers, I often select beef tenderloin steaks to toss on the barbecue. Wrapped in bacon and topped with garlic herb butter, this exquisite Grilled Steak with Garlic Butter will become your go-to recipe for company.

Plus, scroll down to see my Tips for Grilling the Perfect Steak. A grilled steak with butter will change your BBQ routine!

Grilled Steak with Garlic Butter wrapped in bacon on a white platter.
Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Must Make
2 Ingredient Notes
3 Recipe and Grilling Tips
4 Frequently Asked Questions
5 You May Also Like:
6 Grilled Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Butter

Why You Must Make

My youngest was home from college for the summer, and when I ask what he’d like for dinner, he invariably answered “steak” with a sheepish grin. So since his time at home is limited, I’ve indulged him on more than one occasion. His carnivore father has no complaints, either, especially when I  prepare this family favorite, grilled tenderloin with garlic herb butter.

  • The flavor imparted by wrapping bacon around the steaks, plus topping with garlic butter and herbs push the flavor of these divine fillets over the top.
  • Plus, it’s such an easy way to jazz up a simple grilled steak.
  • My recipe inspiration is from a restaurant in Des Moines, IA. It was on their menu for decades!

And for Father’s Day, I’m going to swap out the tenderloin for another cut of beef–I can’t think of one that wouldn’t be amazing smothered in garlic butter! Flank steak or rib eyes are at the top of the list.

Ingredient Notes

  • Kitchen Staples – Kosher Salt, Pepper
  • Beef Tenderloin Steaks – 6-8 ounce filets depending on your appetite, well marbled
  • Butter – Salted is OK. If you use unsalted add a little salt to your garlic butter
  • Garlic Cloves – thinly sliced
  • Bacon – Keeps the filets moist and adds flavor
  • Fresh Oregano – Chopped; you can often pull the small leaves off the stems by stripping them with your fingers from top to bottom.
  • Fresh Basil – Chopped; Stack and roll a few leaves like a cigar, then slice into strips.
  • Cognac – Optional. Alcohol is a flavor enhancer like salt.
Grilled Steak with Garlic Butter on a square white plate garnished with herbs.

Recipe and Grilling Tips

  • The cut of steak is important. My husband prefers rib eyes and New York strips. Although I love a great fillet, the leanness of this cut is not always ideal for grilling unless you select a brand that’s known for marbling. Plus look for a recipe that adds some needed fat. Wrapping your fillet in bacon and finishing with garlic butter will do the trick.
  • Season early. I like the first salting up to 3 hours before grilling, then again right before cooking. I prefer to use (affiliate link) kosher salt over table salt.
  • PRO-Tip: Bring your steaks out of the fridge about ½ hour before grilling so they don’t go on the grill cold. This allows for more even cooking.
  • Use charcoal if available and make a hot fire. The smokiness from the charcoal adds wonderful flavoring
  • Move only 2-4 times during the cooking process, twice if just flipping but twice per side to make cross-hatch marks.
  • Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature. My husband and sons prefer a very rare steak, but I’d rather have mine a little more well done.
  • PRO-Tip: Allow the beef to rest at least 5 minutes and up to 10 minutes before serving. Just cover the (affiliate link) serving platter with foil and finish getting all the other dishes to the table.
  • This additional time gives the meat juices a bit of time to redistribute. Topping the steaks with garlic herb butter also gives the delicious richness of fat and flavor from the herbs and garlic.
Overhead view of Grilled Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Butter on a square white plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Grill a Perfect Steak?

Buy the best beef you can afford. Good marbling (fat distribution) makes for a tender, juicy steak. If it’s in your budget, buy prime beef as it’s higher quality.
Bring your beef out of the refrigerator about an hour before grilling to get the chill off. Then use a meat thermometer so you cook your steak to your desired doneness. Finally, let your steak rest, covered with foil for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

What Are the Degrees of Doneness for Steaks?

Pull the beef off the grill or out of the oven when it’s 5-10 degrees less than your goal temperature. The residual heat will continue cooking the meat.
Rare is 125° with a cool red center (pull it off at 115-120°)
Medium Rare is 135° with a warm red center.
Medium is 140° with a warm pink center.
Medium Well is 150° with a slightly pink center.
Well Done is 160° with little to no pink in the center.

You May Also Like:

How do you like your beef cooked? I’m a medium-rare girl, but the guys in the family love very rare beef! Let me know in the comments.

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Grilled Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Butter
The Recipe:

Grilled Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Butter

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 4 servings

A company worthy grilled steak recipe!

Ingredients

  • 4 8-ounce beef tenderloin steaks
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ cup (one stick) butter
  • 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 4 slices good-quality bacon
  • ¼ cup oregano, chopped
  • ¼ cup basil, chopped
  • 1½ teaspoons Cognac, optional

Instructions

  1. A few hours before grilling, sprinkle steaks with kosher salt and return to the refrigerator. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add the garlic, then remove from heat. Set aside for a couple of hours.
  2. A half-hour before grilling, remove steaks from the refrigerator, re-season with salt, and add a bit of freshly ground pepper to taste.
  3. Grill to desired internal temperature, about 4 minutes per side for medium rare. Rewarm the garlic butter, and add Cognac if desired.
  4. Plate steaks. Drizzle with garlic butter, then sprinkle with herbs.

Notes

Cooking time varies depending on how thick and how well done you like your beef cooked.

Adapted from Bon Appetit. Recipe from a Des Moines, IA, restaurant, Steak de Burgo was originally served at Vic's Tally-Ho in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 810Total Fat: 60gSaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 204mgSodium: 399mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 59g

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Beef