how long to cook filet mignon on grill
For a typical 1–1½ inch thick filet mignon, plan on about 10–15 minutes total on the grill, but always cook to temperature , not just by time.
Quick Scoop
- For medium-rare on a gas grill at around 450°F, a 1‑inch filet usually takes about 10–11 minutes total cooking time.
- Thicker steaks (about 1½ inches) often need 2–3 extra minutes.
- Many grill guides suggest around 4–5 minutes per side over high heat for medium-rare, sometimes followed by a few minutes over lower heat to finish.
- Rare will be a few minutes shorter; medium and above will be a few minutes longer per side.
- Use internal temperature as your main guide: about 120–125°F for rare, 130–135°F for medium-rare, 140–145°F for medium, 150–155°F for medium‑well, and 160°F+ for well‑done.
Simple step‑by‑step timing example (medium‑rare, 1–1¼ inch)
- Preheat grill to high (about 450°F).
- Sear 4–5 minutes on the first side.
- Flip and sear another 4–5 minutes on the second side.
- If not at 125–130°F yet, move to a cooler zone and cook 2–4 more minutes, checking with a thermometer.
- Pull around 130°F and rest 5 minutes so it carries over to about 130–135°F.
Quick time-and-temp reference (approximate)
| Doneness | Target internal temp (°F) | Typical grill time* |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | 120–125°F | 2–4 minutes per side over high heat |
| Medium- rare | 130–135°F | 4–5 minutes per side over high heat, plus a few minutes over lower heat if needed |
| Medium | 140–145°F | 5–7 minutes per side |
| Medium-well | 150–155°F | 7–9 minutes per side |
| Well-done | 160°F+ | About 10 minutes per side |
Bottom line: use these minutes as a starting point, but let your thermometer and preferred doneness be the final judge.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
