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Individual Beef Wellington

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The British classic, but make it mini – Individual Beef Wellington! This show-stopping dish is the epitome of elegance & indulgence: seared filet mignon is encased in herbed mushrooms & prosciutto then wrapped into individual pockets of flaky, golden-brown puff pastry. This mini Beef Wellington recipe is the perfect luxe touch for your most special occasions.

Make-ahead & freezer instructions provided.

Individual Beef Wellington, cut in half, one half facing up, on a white ceramic plate, served with mashed potatoes and roasted mushrooms. The plate is on a black surface, next to a black plaid linen napkin, gold flatware, a glass of wine and twinkly lights.
Photography by Rachel Cook

A Classic Showstopping Dinner, Made Mini!

Over the years we’ve loved making our favorite restaurant-worthy dinners at home! From Red Wine Braised Beef to Cast Iron Steak or Prime Rib – each serve as an elegant, indulgent, and totally luxurious main course perfect for Valentine’s Day, Christmas dinner, or even a romantic date night in!

It only felt right to add another showstopping beef dinner to the line up with a fun PWWB twist.

Say hello to our Individual Beef Wellington! This iconic British dish typically consists of single large beef tenderloin roast encased by mushrooms or paté and covered in puff pastry, sliced into individual portions before serving. But today, we’re making minis! 🥰

Golden brown and flaky puff pastry wraps up perfectly portioned medium-rare beef tenderloin in this fun and fancy take on a classic!

These Mini Beef Wellington are perfection – beautifully seared filet mignon is encased in an herby mushroom duxelles and prosciutto and baked into individually-portioned pockets of crispy, golden-brown puff pastry.

They’re rich and savory and because we are making them mini – completely scalable and shareable too. While it’s easy to get intimidated by the fanciness of the dish, we’ve broken down step-by-step instructions (with photos!) to guide you through the entire process with confidence.

Not to mention, they are make-ahead and freezer-friendly too. Filet mignon + puff pastry…there’s so much to love!

How to Make Individual Beef Wellingtons

Beef Wellington is the type of dish that feels really fancy, but you’d never guess that it’s made just a handful of simple, flavor-forward ingredients and a series of straightforward steps.

This recipe leans on 10 primary ingredients, many of which are staples you probably already have on hand and can be broken down into 4 main steps: searing the beef tenderloin, preparing the mushroom duxelles, assembly, and baking.

Just like a larger Beef Wellington, making mini Beef Wellington is a really fun kitchen project. Pour yourself a glass of wine, roll up your sleeves, and have fun with it!

Seared beef tenderloin, in a large skillet atop a white surface.
Sear the tenderloin until each side is encased in a beautiful, golden-brown crust, which creates deeper, richer flavor by way of a chemical process known as the Maillard reaction.
1

Sear the beef. Heat up some oil in a large skillet and sear the beef tenderloin until its entire surface is deeply browned, about 2-3 minutes per side. Set it aside to rest for 20-25 minutes before slicing into individual steaks.

A few tips for the perfect sear…

  • Room temperature meat sears more easily. Pull your beef tenderloin out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you start cooking to let it warm up to room temperature.
  • Pat as much moisture as possible from the surface of the meat. Moisture is the natural enemy of a good, hard sear. Just before you season and sear, use paper towel to pat as much moisture from the surface of the meat as possible.
  • Choose your oil wisely. Because this is high-temperature cooking, a high smoke point oil is the best choice for searing meat. I like using avocado oil. Grapeseed oil is another great choice.

A food processor bowl containing finely chopped cremini mushrooms for mushroom duxelles. The bowl sits atop a white surface.
Pulse your mushrooms in the food processor until finely chopped. It’s an easy way to break them down completely so they retain some texture.
Mushroom duxelles in a large skillet atop a white surface.
The mushroom mixture will sautee for about 30 minutes to reduce the moisture.
2

Prepare the mushroom duxelles. Duxelles (pronounced “duhks-elle“) is a fancy French term for the aromatic mixture of mushrooms, shallot, and herbs often found in Beef Wellington recipes. The mixture is sautéed for a long time, all the way to the point that any moisture and water in the veggies is completely cooked out.

An overhead shot of a woman's hands spreading mushroom duxelles over thinly sliced prosciutto on a white surface. A bowl of duxelles, a bowl of dijon mustard and a pink cutting board with beef tenderloin sit alongside it.
An even layer of mushroom duxelles adds a savory umami flavor.
A close-up shot of a woman's hands brushing individual filet mignon steak with Dijon mustard. A bowl of duxelles, a bowl of dijon mustard and a pink cutting board with beef tenderloin sit on a white surface in the background.
Dijon mustard adds tangy acidity that balances out all the richness of the mushrooms and steak.
An overhead shot of a woman's hands wrapping Dijon-brushed filet mignon in prosciutto and mushroom duxelles. A bowl of duxelles, a bowl of dijon mustard and a pink cutting board with beef tenderloin sit on a white surface alongside it.
Arrange these layers on a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper to prevent the delicate prosciutto from sticking to your work surface.
An overhead shot of a woman's hands wrapping Dijon-brushed filet mignon in prosciutto + mushroom duxelles. A bowl of duxelles, a bowl of dijon mustard and a pink cutting board with beef tenderloin sit on a white surface alongside it.
The prosciutto creates a barrier between the beef and the puff pastry to ensure the pastry stays flaky and crisp.
3

Wrap the tenderloin in prosciutto and mushroom duxelles. Arrange 2 pieces of thinly sliced prosciutto side-by-side, slightly overlapping at their edges to create one thin layer of prosciutto. Press the duxelles over top, into a thin, even layer covering the surface of the prosciutto. Generously brush Dijon mustard over the surface of a seared beef tenderloin steak before placing it atop the duxelles and wrapping the prosciutto around it to completely encase the steak.

 

An overhead shot of prosciutto-wrapped beef tenderloin placed atop a piece of puff pastry. A bowl of duxelles, a bowl of dijon mustard and a pink cutting board with beef tenderloin sit on a white surface alongside it.
Place the wrapped tenderloin in the center of the puff pastry to ensure it gets fully encased.
An overhead shot of a woman's hands wrapping puff pastry around prosciutto-wrapped beef tenderloin. A bowl of duxelles, a bowl of dijon mustard and a pink cutting board with beef tenderloin sit on a white surface alongside it.
Brush the edges of the puff pastry with egg wash to help seal as you go.
An overhead shot of a woman's hands wrapping puff pastry around prosciutto-wrapped beef tenderloin. A bowl of duxelles, a bowl of dijon mustard and a pink cutting board with beef tenderloin sit on a white surface alongside it.
Gently tuck the sides and press as you fold for perfectly wrapped mini wellingtons.
Individual beef wellington on a small piece of plastic wrap, surrounded by mushroom duxelles, dijon mustard and a cutting board with more filet mignon.
Store-bought puff pastry works great in this recipe. Find it in the freezer section near the pie crust and phyllo dough.
4

Wrap again in puff pastry. Set the prosciutto-wrapped steak in the center of a piece of puff pastry, brushing the edges with egg wash to help seal the mini Beef Wellington pocket. Fold the corners of the puff pastry over the top of the beef tenderloin, tucking the sides in as you go to completely encase the steak with the puff pastry. Repeat with the remaining steaks, then set the assembled individual wellingtons in the freezer to chill while the oven preheats.

An overhead shot of a woman's hand brushing Beef Wellington with egg wash before roasting.
Brush the wrapped individual wellingtons with egg wash for a golden brown finish.
Individual Beef Wellington, cut in half, one half facing up, on a white ceramic plate, served with mashed potatoes and roasted mushrooms. The plate is on a black surface, next to a black plaid linen napkin, gold flatware, a glass of wine and twinkly lights.
In my oven, a 25-35 minute bake yields the perfect medium-rare. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for your preferred doneness.
5

Bake. Depending on your preferred doneness, these individual Beef Wellington will bake at 425 degrees for 25-35 minutes. Tip! ⇢ Measure doneness by using an instant-read thermometer to probe the side of the Beef Wellington. Look for an internal temperature of 120 degrees for rare, 130 degrees for medium-rare, 140 degrees for medium, and so on. The internal temperature will continue to rise to the final temperature as the wellington rests for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Make-Ahead Tips

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 up to 2 days. Or, you can freeze them for later use. Be sure to check out the Recipe Notes, below, for further instruction.

Serving Suggestions

If you ask me, Beef Wellington practically begs to be served next to a generous pile of creamy mashed potatoes. Creamy mashed potatoes are a forever fave and I love the idea of doubling down on the mushroom goodness by serving alongside some crispy roasted mushrooms.

If mushrooms aren’t your favorite, any other roasted veggies would be great with your individual Beef Wellington, too. Or whip up a quick tangy vinaigrette and toss together a simple salad with your favorite greens for some freshness.

You simply can’t go wrong!

Straight on angle of Mini Beef Wellington, cut open to show the inside of the pastry, on a white ceramic plate, served with mashed potatoes and roasted mushrooms. The plate sits atop a black surface. In the foreground are gold flatware and twinkly lights. In the background are a glass of white wine and a plaid linen napkin.
A perfectly portioned and restaurant-worthy dinner – no sharing necessary!

I truly cannot wait for you to try this Individual Beef Wellington recipe. It’s impressive, festive, and so fun to make. This is truly one of the most special recipes we’ve ever published on PWWB and I know you will love it as much as we do!

If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡

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Straight on angle of Mini Beef Wellington, cut open to show the inside of the pastry, on a white ceramic plate, served with mashed potatoes and roasted mushrooms. The plate sits atop a black surface. In the foreground are gold flatware and twinkly lights. In the background are a glass of white wine and a plaid linen napkin.

Individual Beef Wellington {+ Step-by-Step Photos}

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 38 reviews
  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (includes inactive time)
  • Total Time: 3 hours (includes inactive time)
  • Yield: serves 4
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: British, French

Description

The traditional British classic made mini – Individual Beef Wellington! This showstopping dish is the epitome of elegance and indulgence: seared filet mignon is encased in herbed mushrooms and prosciutto then wrapped into individual pockets of flaky, golden-brown puff pastry. Make-ahead and freezing instructions provided.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.75 pounds (28 ounces) center cut beef tenderloin (see Recipe Notes, below)
  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (or other high smoke point oil)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup Dijon mustard
  • 4 ounces prosciutto (8 pieces thinly sliced)
  • mushroom duxelles (below)
  • 14 ounces puff pastry, homemade or thawed from frozen
  • 1 large egg, beaten for egg wash
  • for serving, as desired: extra flaky sea salt and fresh herbs

for the Mushroom Duxelles:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 16 ounces cremini mushrooms, cleaned and trimmed
  • 1 large shallot, finely diced
  • pinch kosher salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves (approx. 1012 sprigs)
  • ½ cup dry white wine


Instructions

An overhead shot of ingredients arranged on a white surface: prosciutto, white wine, beef tenderloin, Dijon mustard, shallot, fresh thyme, puff pastry and cremini mushrooms.

PREP: This individual Beef Wellington recipe isn’t particularly difficult, but success lies in paying attention to the details. Before you start cooking, take the time to read this recipe entirely and watch the video included below. Then, prep the following:

  • Bring the beef to room temperature: 20-30 minutes before you’d like to begin cooking, pull the beef tenderloin out of the refrigerator to come to room temperature before searing. 
  • Thaw the puff pastry: Similarly, if using frozen, thaw the puff pastry, if frozen. You can thaw frozen puff pastry overnight in the refrigerator or set it on the counter at room temperature 20-30 minutes before you’d like to begin cooking.
  • Chop the mushrooms: Working in batches as necessary, place the cleaned and trimmed mushrooms in a food processor and pulse, scraping down the sides as needed, until finely chopped. 

For the Individual Beef Wellington:

  1. Sear the beef tenderloin: Add the oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use paper towel to pat the surface of the beef tenderloin as dry as possible, then season with the kosher salt and ground black pepper. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add in the beef tenderloin. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until deeply browned. Transfer the seared beef tenderloin to a plate or cutting board and set aside to rest for 20-25 minutes before slicing into 4 individual steaks, roughly 7 ounces each. Seared beef tenderloin, in a large skillet atop a white surface.
  2. Make the mushroom duxelles: Use paper towel to carefully wipe out the skillet used in Step 1, above, then return to the stove over medium heat, adding the butter. Once melted, add in the chopped mushrooms and shallot. Season with kosher salt and fresh thyme, stirring to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, until all of the water is cooked out of the mixture. Slowly add in the wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits that may have formed on the bottom of the skillet. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 10-15 minutes more, until all of the wine is cooked out of the mixture. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Mushroom duxelles in a large skillet atop a white surface.
  3. Individual Beef Wellington assembly: Gather the remaining ingredients and assemble the mini Beef Wellington:
    1. Roll out the puff pastry: Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Carefully unfold the puff pastry, then slice in half vertically and horizontally, creating 4 equal pieces of puff pastry. Gently roll out each piece into a roughly 7×7 square. Set aside. 
    2. Layer the prosciutto and mushroom duxelles: Arrange 2 pieces of prosciutto side-by-side, slightly overlapping at their edges to create one thin layer of prosciutto. Press the duxelles over top, into a thin, even layer covering the surface of the prosciutto. Since prosciutto is so delicate, it can be helpful to arrange these layers on a piece of plastic wrap (pictured above) or parchment paper to prevent it from sticking to your work surface.
    3. Brush the seared beef tenderloin generously with Dijon mustard, then place it atop the mushroom duxelles on the prepared layer of prosciutto.
    4. Wrap the beef tenderloin with the prosciutto and duxelles: Fold the sides of the prosciutto up towards the steak, then roll the steak forward as tightly as possible, completely encasing the steak in the prosciutto and duxelles. (See photos, above.) The prosciutto acts as a protective barrier between the juicy steak and mushrooms and the crispy puff pastry, so take your time to carefully ensure the entire surface of the steak and mushrooms are covered by prosciutto. 
    5. Fold the prosciutto-wrapped beef tenderloin into puff pastry: Set the prosciutto-wrapped steak in the center of a piece of puff pastry. Brush the edges of the puff pastry with egg wash to help seal the mini Beef Wellington pocket. Fold the corners of the puff pastry over the top of the beef tenderloin, tucking the sides in as you go to completely encase the steak with the puff pastry. (See photos, above.)
    6. Repeat Steps 3.1-6 with the remaining steaks.
    7. Chill: Place the assembled individual Beef Wellington on a sheet pan. Transfer to the freezer to chill for 25-30 minutes. 
  4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup, then arrange the chilled Beef Wellington over top. Generously brush egg wash over the surface of each individual Beef Wellington, then finish with a generous sprinkling of coarse sea salt, as desired. An overhead shot of a woman's hand brushing Beef Wellington with egg wash before roasting.
  5. Bake the individual Beef Wellington for 25-35 minutes, until the puff pastry is golden brown and the steak has reached your preferred doneness. The best way to measure doneness is to probe an instant-read thermometer into the side of the Beef Wellington. Look for an internal temperature of 120 degrees for rare, 130 degrees for medium-rare, 140 degrees for medium, and so on. Remove from the oven and set aside to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving – the internal temperature will continue to rise to the final temperature as the Beef Wellington rest.
  6. Serve the individual Beef Wellington with desired side dishes – mashed potatoes, crispy mushrooms, etc. Enjoy! Individual Beef Wellington, cut in half, one half facing up, on a white ceramic plate, served with mashed potatoes and roasted mushrooms. The plate is on a black surface, next to a black plaid linen napkin, gold flatware, a glass of wine and twinkly lights.

Notes

  • Beef tenderloin: I opt for center-cut beef tenderloin for this individual Beef Wellington recipe. Compared to the butt or tail ends, center-cut tenderloin has a pretty uniform width, which allows for better control in managing doneness. For similar reasons, I suggest using a whole roast for this recipe rather than individual filet mignon steaks.
  • Make-Ahead Beef Wellington: These individual Beef Wellington are very easily be prepped in advance. A couple of options and considerations:
    • Make-Ahead Beef Wellington (prepping up to 2 days in advance): To make ahead of time, prep the individual Beef Wellington through assembly, Steps 1 – 3.6 of Recipe Directions, above. Tightly wrap each assembled and puff pastry-wrapped individual Beef Wellington in plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The day you’d like to serve the individual Beef Wellington, bake as directed in Steps 4 – 6 of Recipe Directions, above.
    • Freezer Beef Wellington (prepping up to 3 months in advance): Assembled Beef Wellington will also keep for up to 3 months in the refrigerator. Prep the individual Beef Wellington through assembly, Steps 1 – 3.6 of Recipe Directions, above. Tightly wrap each assembled and puff pastry-wrapped individual Beef Wellington in plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. . Thaw frozen individual Beef Wellington in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed in Steps 4 – 6 of Recipe Directions, above.
    • Note: Make-ahead bake times will vary, as make-ahead individual Beef Wellington are cool throughout due to longer chilling time. Bake as directed, checking for doneness around 25 minutes. Again, the best way to measure doneness is to probe an instant-read thermometer into the side of the Beef Wellington (look for an internal temperature of 120 degrees for rare, 130 degrees for medium-rare, 140 degrees for medium, and so on). If needed, simply pop the Beef Wellington back into the oven for a few more minutes until desired temperature is reached. 
Straight on angle of Mini Beef Wellington, cut open to show the inside of the pastry, on a white ceramic plate, served with mashed potatoes and roasted mushrooms. The plate sits atop a black surface. In the foreground are gold flatware and twinkly lights. In the background are a glass of white wine and a plaid linen napkin.

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Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

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Comments

  1. 3.2.25
    Rick said:

    Delicious. We made as a celebration of the finale of Top Chef. Much easier than I had feared and they turned out great. Tonight we are making again for the Oscars!

    • 3.3.25
      Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      What a fun way to celebrate the Top Chef finale! Hope the Wellington turned out great again and that you enjoyed the Oscars, too!

  2. 12.23.24
    Leslie Rogers said:

    I just made the mushrooms ahead (hope that’s ok!). I got individually sliced 6oz filets though, how should I adjust my sear time?

    • 12.23.24
      Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Hi Leslie, the 2-3 minutes of searing for each side should still be just fine! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you! 🙂

  3. 12.23.24
    Leslie Rogers said:

    Making this for Christmas and I just made the mushrooms ahead (hope that’s ok!). I got individually sliced 6oz filets though, how should I adjust my sear time?

  4. 12.15.24
    Janelle Barber said:

    How thick do you cut the steaks? You sear the entire tenderloin but cut it later? No bleeding into dough?

    • 12.16.24
      Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Hi Janelle, you’ll cut the tenderloin after searing it, into 4 steaks that are roughly 7oz each. Allowing the tenderloin to rest before slicing will prevent any bleeding into the dough. Hope that answers your question!

  5. 12.6.24
    Ashley said:

    I would like to try for Christmas but wonder what your thoughts are about putting seam of pasty on bottom and on top putting a little cut out of a Christmas tree from extra pastry? Would that work? Thank you!

    • 12.9.24
      Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      That would work great, Ashley!! Sounds so fun and festive!