Quick Christmas Stuffed Beef Tenderloin

If you’re looking for a show-stopping holiday main dish that doesn’t keep you in the kitchen all day, this Quick Christmas Stuffed Beef Tenderloin is exactly what you need. Tender beef tenderloin meets a festive herb-butter stuffing that is creamy, flavorful, and styled for your Christmas table.

Best of all? You’ll prep in under 20 minutes and have the oven do the work. It’s elegant, cozy, and perfect for gathering with family or friends without the stress. Golden crust, juicy center, vibrant festive stuffing: this dish brings Christmas cheer and a taste of indulgence, fast.

What Is / Why It’s Special

A Stuffed Beef Tenderloin involves butter-letting or slicing a tenderloin and filling it with a flavorful stuffing (herbs, butter, cheese, maybe nuts or dried fruit) before roasting. The result is a rich, celebratory dish that sits at the center of the holiday table. What makes this version Quick Christmas is the streamlined prep, simplified stuffing, and timing optimized for busy festive evenings.

Why It’s Special

• Festive and impressive looks dinner-party worthy.
• Quick to prepare less than 20 minutes active work.
• Combines tender beef + rich stuffing + herb butter crust.
• Holiday flavors: herbs, garlic, festive accents like cranberries or pistachios.
• Great for smaller gatherings or bigger groups (easy to scale).

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Beef Tenderloin

• 2 lb beef tenderloin, trimmed
• Salt & cracked black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil

For the Festive Herb-Butter Stuffing

• ½ cup softened unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
• ¼ cup finely chopped pistachios OR dried cranberries (pick one)
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For Roasting

• 1 onion, quartered
• 4 carrots, cut into large pieces
• 1 cup beef broth
• Optional: fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Prep the Tenderloin

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Pat tenderloin dry, season generously with salt and pepper. In a hot skillet, sear all sides in olive oil until golden (2-3 minutes each side).

Step 2 – Make the Herb-Butter Stuffing

In a bowl, mix softened butter, garlic, parsley, thyme, rosemary, pistachios or cranberries, and Parmesan.

Step 3 – Stuff the Tenderloin

Slice tenderloin lengthwise (but not all the way through) or butterfly it open. Spread herb-butter mixture inside, then fold or tie to secure.

Step 4 – Roast to Perfection

Place on top of onion and carrots in a roasting pan. Pour beef broth into pan. Roast for ~25-30 minutes (for medium-rare) or until internal temperature reaches 135-140°F. Let rest 10 minutes.

Step 5 – Slice & Serve

Remove tie, slice into thick medallions, plate with veggies and pan juices.

Tips / Variations / Why You’ll Love It

Tips

• Use a meat thermometer for accurate doneness.
• Let beef rest before slicing to keep juices.
• Use softened butter (not cold) for stuffing ease.
• Choose either pistachios or cranberries both give unique festive twist.

Variations

• Cheese-Lover Version: Add goat cheese or blue cheese inside.
• Spicy Kick Version: Add red pepper flakes or chipotle powder.
• Vegetarian Spin: Use portobello caps stuffed with the same herb butter.
• Make-Ahead Version: Prepare stuffing and tenderloin up to Step 3, refrigerate, roast later.

Why You’ll Love It

• Show-stopping holiday main dish that looks gourmet.
• Quick prep suits busy festive season.
• Big flavor, minimal stress.
• Every slice offers tender beef + flavorful stuffing.

15-Minute Prep Hack for Holiday Tenderloin

Prep your tenderloin in 15 minutes:

• Use pre-trimmed tenderloin.
• Use softened butter, pre-chopped herbs.
• Sear simultaneously while prepping veg in another pan.
• With roasting, total time ~40 minutes to table.

This hack makes high-end dish realistic even for weeknight holiday meals.

Flavor-Fusion Holiday Stuffing Twist

For extra wow factor:

• Cranberry-Pistachio Herb-Butter: Mix dried cranberries + green pistachios for festive color.
• Apple-Sage Stuffing: Replace pistachios with finely chopped apple + fresh sage.
• Truffle Butter Version: Swap butter with truffle-infused butter for luxury.

These twist variants allow you to personalize the dish while keeping the core technique.

FAQs

Conclusion

This Quick Christmas Stuffed Beef Tenderloin delivers festive elegance and rich flavor without hours of prep. With tender, juicy beef, herb-butter stuffing, and roasted vegetables, you’ll impress your guests and spend less time in the kitchen. Make this the centerpiece of your holiday table your comfort, your style, your dinner.