Pan-Seared Beef Medallions with Garlic and Thyme Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-07 · Updated 2026-05-07

Juicy beef medallions seared to perfection and finished with a fragrant garlic-thyme butter sauce, perfect for a quick yet elegant dinner. This French-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs beef tenderloin medallions, unsalted butter, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 pieces, about 6 oz each beef tenderloin medallions
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 cloves, smashed garlic cloves
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

The instant-read thermometer we’d check this beef with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season 4 beef tenderloin medallions with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper on both sides. Let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the medallions and sear without moving for 3 minutes until a deep brown crust forms.
3. Step 3: Flip the medallions and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter, 3 smashed garlic cloves, and 3 fresh thyme sprigs to the pan. Spoon the melted butter over the beef continuously for 2-3 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 130°F for medium rare.
4. Step 4: Remove medallions from the pan and rest for 5 minutes. Discard garlic and thyme from the pan, then drizzle the garlic-thyme butter sauce from the pan over the beef before serving.