Smoked Beef Tenderloin

When you’re ready for INSANELY good flavor in a dish that’s easy and impressive, check out this Smoked Beef Tenderloin. Imagine meat so tender it practically melts in your mouth. With a sweet and boozy marinade and the subtle smoke flavor, this is a restaurant-worthy dish you can make on your back deck, and you can trust me, Chef Jenn, to show you how!

This post may contain affiliate link(s). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure.

Smoking usually takes hours and hours, but the tender nature of this cut of meat makes the process a whole lot shorter. In fact, when starting from room temperature, it only takes about 2 hours for this roast to take on a lovely smoky flavor and be cooked to perfection.

I use my Traeger pellet smoker for this job. It gives everything a lovely flavor and lets me control the temperature at the same time.

I promise you – invest in this cut of meat and smoke it. You’ll never look back!

What You’ll Love About this Recipe

• It’s easy and impressive – perfect for special occassions
• Beef tenderloin is melt-in-your-mouth tender and juicy when smoked
• Leftovers are great served chilled in sandwiches, on a salad, or in apptizers

Ingredients to Make Easy Smoked Beef Tenderloin

• Tenderloin roast – see my tips below about how to buy a beef tenderloin
• Brown sugar – Light or dark brown sugar both work. The sugar helps form a caramelized crust.
• Brandy, whisky, or cognac – Use whatever you have on hand. The alcohol cooks off, leaving behind depth and complexity. Don’t skip it.
• Dijon mustard – Yellow mustard works in a pinch, but Dijon has better tang and won’t make the coating watery.
• Worcestershire sauce – Adds umami and helps the rub stick to the meat.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic only. Jarred garlic has a harsh, metallic taste. Mince it very fine or use a microplane so it distributes evenly in the rub.

How to Buy Beef Tenderloin

Beef tenderloin is expensive, there’s no doubt about it. BUT, there are ways to make this a bit cheaper.

1. Purchase beef tenderloin when it’s on sale. Beef tenderloin often goes on sale around the holidays. Buy it when it goes on sale and wrap it tightly in foil then put it into a freezer-friendly zipper-top bag and freeze it for up to six months.
2. Buy beef tenderloin whole and butcher it yourself. Not only is this the most economical way to buy a beef tenderloin, but you get the added bonus of having all the amazing beef tenderloin to work with, including prized filet mignon steaks.
3. My favorite way – buy the WHOLE tenderloin when it is on sale. I’ll buy a few of them this way, and they’re cryovaced so they’ll freeze fine for quite a few months.

How To Make Traeger Beef Tenderloin

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

Start by preheating your Traeger smoker to 180°F. I like using oak or hickory pellets for beef tenderloin because they add rich smoky flavor without overpowering the meat.

In a small bowl, combine the Dijon mustard, minced garlic, brown sugar, whisky, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well blended.

Pat the beef tenderloin dry with paper towels, then coat the outside evenly with the Dijon mixture. Use a silicone brush or spatula to spread the glaze over the entire surface of the meat.

Place the tenderloin directly onto the smoker grates and smoke at 180°F for 1 to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 125°F for medium-rare. Use a reliable digital thermometer for the most accurate reading because beef tenderloin can overcook quickly.

Remove the tenderloin from the smoker and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Resting helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat so every slice stays tender and juicy.

Slice and serve warm.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

• Do not freestyle this smoked beef recipe without a digital thermometer. There’s nothing that’ll make me cry faster than overcooking a beef tenderloin roast.
• Pull your roast out to rest when it hits 125-F for medium rare, or 130-F for medium. I don’t recommend cooking this roast beyond 130-F.
• Don’t reheat this roast if you have some leftover, as it’ll probably overcook.

What To Serve with Easy Smoked Beef Tenderloin

Is This Easy Smoked Beef Recipe Freezer Friendly?

Well, you can freeze it, but smoked beef tenderloin doesn’t heat up as nicely. You run the risk of overcooking it. So, if you freeze it, let it thaw in the fridge and serve chilled, or just enjoy this dish fresh without freezing it.