Called by different names worldwide, a beef tenderloin is a cut of beef near the kidneys.
It’s one of the most preferred cuts of meat because it’s tender and juicy.
You can enjoy this piece of meat even with only salt and pepper.
If you plan to serve beef tenderloin, you’ll make everyone happy.
But you have to include some side dishes with it, or it won’t be too exciting even if beef tenderloin is delicious.
So, what to serve with beef tenderloin? There are many items to enjoy with the dish that will complete your meal.
Mushroom sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, simple tossed green salad, and quinoa pilaf are some items you can enjoy with beef tenderloin.
We will list the ten best dishes to serve with beef tenderloin, so don’t go anywhere if you’re also looking for some ideas.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Beef Tenderloin?
First, ask yourself if you like to eat only a single dish.
You said no because neither do we.
Food becomes better when you combine at least a few dishes.
Secondly, beef tenderloin is one of the most expensive cuts of meat.
Hence, your wallet will thin quickly if you serve only one dish.
Last but not least, having big servings of meat is not healthy.
Mixing it with veggies and grains makes the meal healthier and well-balanced.
What to Serve with Beef Tenderloin? 10 BEST Side Dishes
The following are some items you can serve with beef tenderloin.
1 – Tomato Salad with Feta
What better way than to start the list with something fresh and tangy, like tomato salad with feta? It’s a delicious dish you can quickly make in large portions, and it suits well with beef tenderloin.
The dish also has cucumber, so you not only have freshness but also a crunchy texture in the dish.
Besides tomatoes, feta, and cucumber, you can include green onion, basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper with balsamic vinegar.
Cucumbers can get soggy fast, so if you buy in advance, squeeze to check firmness and look for dark green color unless it’s a lighter species.
2 – Grilled Carrots
Carrots are naturally delicious but taste even better when you grill or roast them.
Grilled carrots also work superbly well with beef tenderloin, so it’s one of the dishes which you can serve with the meat.
The veggies taste sweeter when grilled, and adding lemon juice makes them slightly sour, and the flavors balance nicely.
For this recipe, you can use medium-sized carrots and grill them whole.
If you use more giant carrots, slice them lengthwise in half, so they all cook evenly.
Carrots are available in many colors, including white, orange, red and yellow.
Choose any variety depending on availability.
3 – Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Typical mashed spuds are yummy and everyone’s favorite.
Sweet potatoes aren’t far behind in taste, too, so you can serve mashed sweet potatoes with beef tenderloin.
Since they’re naturally sweet roots, you don’t have to add too many ingredients when making mashed potatoes.
You also need to panic even if you have not made the dish before.
It follows the same process as making mashed potatoes.
Sour cream, olive oil, butter, and garlic are the usual ingredients used in the dish.
If you want a sweeter version, you can add maple syrup in small amounts, but that may be necessary.
4 – Tossed Green Salad
Nothing tastes fresher than tossed green salad mixed with a slightly tangy dressing.
It also tastes great with beef tenderloin, tones the richness a bit, and refreshes your palate.
Tossed green salad is an excellent dish because you can add different veggies depending on what you have.
Sometimes you have several leafy greens, while you may have only one at other times.
The popular leafy greens for a tossed salad include arugula, watercress, lettuce, and spinach.
Add some red onions and a simple dressing with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Green leaves like lettuce and spinach are delicate and wilt fast.
So, for instance, when purchasing lettuce, choose bright green with minimal brown coloring.
5 – Mushroom Sauce
Sauces and beef tenderloin work well together too.
For this list, we choose mushroom sauce as it’s one of the tastiest sauces and complements beef tenderloin.
Of course, it isn’t challenging to make the mushroom sauce too.
You can get all the ingredients quickly, and there aren’t too many steps to cook the sauce.
A little lemon juice will make the dish slightly sour, making it perfect for serving with beef tenderloin.
When you buy mushrooms, choose those that are dry and firm and have closed caps.
6 – Quinoa Pilaf
Pilaf and beef tenderloin also pair off nicely.
But instead of using rice, you can make the pilaf with quinoa.
It’s a healthy option with a subtle nutty taste.
Your guests will also have the chance to experience a new dish.
You don’t have to panic about cooking the pilaf because it’s a different grain.
It follows the same steps as rice pilaf except for the time it takes.
You can use vegetable or chicken broth instead of water.
Since beef tenderloin is rich, you can use the former to keep the pilaf light and refreshing.
7 – Caprese Roasted Asparagus
Asparagus is a delicious veggie but doesn’t get much attention.
When you roast it to perfection, it tastes fantastic.
The Caprese roasted asparagus is a lovely dish that complements beef tenderloin.
Traditional Caprese salad is raw and fresh and needs only three main ingredients; tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil.
Caprese roasted asparagus also has these three, along with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Make a simple balsamic glaze with vinegar and honey and add it to the dish before serving.
It’s a guarantee that your roasted asparagus will be perfect.
8 – Horseradish Chive Sauce
If you serve beef tenderloin at a gathering with many people, only one sauce will not be enough.
It will be helpful to have at least two or more; hence we added horseradish chive sauce.
It’s a sauce that enhances the beef’s taste even more, and you’ll love the combo with all your guests.
If you don’t like mushroom sauce, you can eat this variety.
Horseradish sauce is also one of the easiest to make, and it needs only six items.
These are prepared with horseradish, Dijon mustard, sour cream, fresh chives, salt, and pepper.
9 – Creamed Kale
Since beef tenderloin is rich and flavorful, a simple side dish is enough to complete your meal.
Creamed kale is one example; it’s simple yet tasty and works nicely with beef tenderloin.
Moreover, making creamed kale is easy to cook, and you can do it with only some items.
The typical ingredients are kale, heavy cream, nutmeg, unsalted butter, salt, and pepper.
Even with these few items, the dish tastes flavorful, and you won’t want to add anything extra.
Make a significant portion to ensure that all your guests have enough to enjoy.
10 – Apple Fennel Salad
You can also serve a fruit-veggie combo dish alongside beef tenderloin.
How about crunchy apple and fennel salad? It’s not only delicious but looks fresh and bright.
The salad will not only add a balance to your meal but also refresh your palate, which can get overwhelmed from eating the beef.
Adding crunchy toasted walnuts will make your salad tastier and more exciting.
The dish also includes Parmigiano Reggiano and celery stalk.
So, your salad will have sweet, sour, and salty flavors with a crunchy texture.
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