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    Framed Cooks ยป Recipes ยป Appetizers

    Filet Mignon Pesto Crostini

    Published: Dec 16, 2022 ยท Modified: Oct 28, 2024 by Kate Morgan Jackson ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    These decadent little filet mignon pesto crostini make the perfect dinner party appetizer, or even a light supper all on their own!

    plate of filet mignon crostini
    Jump to:
    • Why we love this recipe
    • What is crostini?
    • Ingredients you need to make this fancy appetizer
    • How to make this easy crostini recipe
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other crostini recipes we love
    • Could you leave us a review?
    • Filet Mignon Pesto Crostini

    Why we love this recipe

    Picture this: You are holding a small, golden brown toasted circle of bread, slathered with some creamy whipped cream cheese, topped with a sublimely tender slice of filet mignon and drizzled with a smidge of garlicky pesto.

    Picture a glass of chilled prosecco in your other hand.

    And with that, welcome to appetizer heaven! These little filet mignon bites are definitely a special occasion treat…even if that special occasion is a Tuesday night where you just need to be pampered by a decadent nibble or two.

    What is crostini?

    An excellent question! Crostini means “little toasts” in Italian, and they are small slices of toasted bread, usually from a small round baguette, topped with anything from cheese and fruits and vegetables to, well, filet mignon.

    filet mignon crostini

    They are the little cousin of Bruschetta, which is also toasted bread…but the slices are larger and usually from Italian bread, also topped with anything from seafood to veggies and everything in between.

    I like lobster bruschetta, personally!

    lobster bruschetta

    That is your delectable toasted bread appetizer lesson of the day!

    Ingredients you need to make this fancy appetizer

    • French or Italian Bread: Look for this in the bakery section of your supermarket – and ask if they will slice it for you! One less step for you to do.
    • Olive Oil: Use the best kind you have.
    • Beef Tenderloin: These are usually right in the meat case – otherwise ask the butcher at your supermarket.
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Prepared Pesto: You can find this in the pasta sauce aisle.
    • Whipped Cream Cheese: You can find this in the dairy aisle right next to the regular cream cheese.

    How to make this easy crostini recipe

    STEP 1: Line a rimmed baking pan with foil and preheat the oven to 350.

    STEP 2: Arrange 24 slices of your favorite French or Italian bread in a single layer on the pan, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.  Bake until they are just turning golden, about 10 minutes.  Set ‘em aside while you cook up the beef.

    STEP 3: Pour a little more olive oil into a heavy skillet (a cast iron skillet is perfect for this!), turn up the heat to high and when the oil is starting to smoke, add a couple of filet mignon steaks and cook for 4 minutes per side for medium rare. 

    STEP 4: Pop the steaks on a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes.  Slice them up into 24 slices.

    STEP 5: Spread each toasted bread slice with some whipped cream cheese, top with a piece of filet, and dollop on a teeny bit of pesto.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use a different kind of beef for this recipe?

    I know, tenderloin is spendy, but that is because it is the tenderest, most perfect cut of beef for these crostini. The next best choice is actually rare roast beef from the deli counter, which is less expensive and will also save you the step of cooking the beef. (Just promise me that once you will try it with the tenderloin!)

    What is pesto and where can I find it?

    Pesto is a thick sauce made of pureed basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese, and it’s usually used as a pasta sauce…but it is also the perfect topping for these crostini. You can find prepared pesto near the pasta sauces in your supermarket.

    Can these crostini be made ahead of time?

    You can definitely prepare the different parts (toasting the bread, cooking the beef) ahead of time, but assemble them right before you serve them so they don’t get soggy from sitting too long.

    Have a question that I didn’t cover?

    Pop your question in the comments section below and I will answer pronto!

    easy filet mignon crostini

    Arrange on your prettiest platter and serve!

    You might find you want to go directly from appetizers to a decadent chocolate dessert and declare it a deliciously successful day.

    Other crostini recipes we love

    Fig and Blue Cheese Crostini
    This incredibly easy recipe for fig and blue cheese crostini makes a perfect flavorful appetizer, or even a light lunch or supper.
    Fig and Blue Cheese Crostini
    This incredibly easy recipe for fig and blue cheese crostini makes a perfect flavorful appetizer, or even a light lunch or supper.
    Shrimp and Tarragon Crostini
    This easy recipe for shrimp and tarragon crostini is the perfect fancy appetizer or even a light lunch. Quick, simple and delicious!
    Shrimp and Tarragon Crostini
    This easy recipe for shrimp and tarragon crostini is the perfect fancy appetizer or even a light lunch. Quick, simple and delicious!

    Could you leave us a review?

    If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.

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    Filet Mignon Pesto Crostini

    Filet Mignon Pesto Crostini on a plate.
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    These decadent little filet mignon pesto crostini make the perfect dinner party appetizer, or even a light supper all on their own!

    • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: 24
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 24 slices of French or Italian bread
    • 1/4 cup olive oil
    • Two 8 ounce pieces of beef tenderloin
    • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
    • 1/4 cup prepared pesto
    • 4 ounces whipped cream cheese

    Instructions

    1. Line a rimmed baking pan with foil and preheat the oven to 350.
    2. Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on the pan, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.  Bake until they are just turning golden, about 10 minutes.  Set aside while you cook up the beef.
    3. Pour the remaining olive oil into a heavy skillet, turn up the heat to high and when the oil is starting to smoke, add the steak and cook for 4 minutes per side for medium rare.  Pop the steaks on a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes.  Slice them up into 24 slices.
    4. Spread each toasted bread slice with some whipped cream cheese, top with a piece of filet, and dollop on a teeny bit of pesto.
    5. Arrange on your prettiest platter and serve!

    Notes

    Beef Tenderloin: Yes, this is the most expensive cut of beef…but it is also the tenderest!  If you want to save a little time and money, you can swap out the tenderloin for slices of rare roast beef from your deli counter.  (But honestly?  The tenderloin is worth it – and so are you!)

    Pesto: You might have frozen some of this delectable basil spread from last summer, but if you didn’t, you can find it in the pasta sauce section of your supermarket.

    Cream Cheese: We highly recommend the whipped variety of cream cheese because it is so light and airy and spreadable, but you can use the regular kind if you need to – just go a little lighter on it.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @FramedCooks on Facebook or Instagram…we want to see it!

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    Comments

    1. Serena says

      December 26, 2024 at 12:52 pm

      I used some leftover filet from our holiday dinner for this appetizer and it was so easy and so delicious – next time I will make sure I have more leftover beef because they were gone in five minutes!

      Reply

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