Description
Honey Garlic Beef is a flavorful, tender beef tenderloin glazed with a sweet and savory honey soy sauce infused with fresh herbs and spices. This easy-to-make recipe involves searing the beef to perfection, then coating it in a luscious honey garlic glaze that’s both aromatic and slightly tangy from fresh orange juice. Perfect for a special weeknight dinner or entertaining, it serves 4 and takes under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasoning
- 1 pound beef tenderloin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
Honey Garlic Glaze
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup light soy sauce
- â…“ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Pat the beef tenderloin dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, minced fresh thyme, minced fresh rosemary, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Rub this seasoning mix evenly over the beef. Allow the beef to sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes to absorb the flavors and take off the chill.
- Make the Glaze Base: In a medium saucepan, combine honey, light soy sauce, fresh orange juice, minced garlic, and brown sugar. Place over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally until the brown sugar dissolves completely. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Thicken the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a smooth slurry. Gradually pour the slurry into the simmering glaze while whisking constantly. Continue whisking and cooking for 1-2 minutes until the glaze thickens to a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Sear the Beef: Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the seasoned beef tenderloin and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side to achieve a medium-rare doneness and a nice crust.
- Glaze the Beef: Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low. Pour half of the prepared glaze over the beef in the skillet. Continuously spoon the glaze over the beef for 2-3 minutes to coat and infuse it with the sweet garlic flavor.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the beef from the skillet and place it on a cutting board. Tent loosely with foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes to redistribute the juices. Slice against the grain into desired thickness, arrange on a serving platter, and drizzle with the remaining warm honey garlic glaze before serving.
Notes
- Allowing the beef to rest after seasoning helps the flavors penetrate and tenderizes the meat.
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness; medium-rare is about 135°F (57°C).
- If you prefer a thicker glaze, you can increase cornstarch slightly but add slurry gradually to avoid lumping.
- This recipe works well with other cuts like sirloin or flank steak but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- For a spicier glaze, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes when simmering the glaze.
