This 30 minute or less Mexican Beef Tenderloin recipe is fantastic for a weeknight dinner. It’s delicious, healthy, tender and packed with flavor!

A black tray with two bowls with rice topped with beef tenderloin, onions & peppers. Two forks, and two glasses with water on the side

Do you ever cook a meal that makes your kitchen smell like heaven? When you sear beef tenderloincovered in spices like this dish, that will do it.  I guarantee you will want to devour this dish as you cook it.

The aroma is so intense (in a good way) and it’s packed with lots of flavor, and so delicious!

A black tray with two bowls with rice topped with beef tenderloin, onions & peppers. Two forks, and two glasses with water on the side

Ingredients for recipe

The list of ingredients are very simple and your biggest expense will be the beef tenderloin. But it’s worth it! I think a little midweek splurge is good here and there.

  • For the spices we’ll use each chili powder, dried oregano and ground cumin, kosher salt and black pepper (more if needed to taste)
  • beef tenderloin
  • Avocado or vegetable oil for searing the meat and veggies
  • Sliced red bell peppers, yellow bell pepper, red onion & roma tomatoes
  • Minced garlic (fresh or from the jar will work)
  • Then we’ll finish it up with fresh cilantro leaves and a fresh lime juice
A cutting board with vegetables and a knife and on the side: cooking the beef tenderloins in a iron skillet.

How to cook beef tenderloin

  1. We’ll start by combining the chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add beef and toss to coat well.
  2. In a medium skillet (I prefer a cast iron skillet for this since it sears the meat very well!) heat the oil over medium high heat.
  3. Add the beef and sear 2-3 minutes. Remove beef to a plate and set aside. It’s important not to overcook the beef tenderloin in order to keep it tender and juicy.
  4. Then we’ll heat the additional 1 tablespoon oil over medium high.
  5. Add peppers, onion, and garlic and stir for about 2 to 3 minutes until just tender.
  6. Add tomatoes and beef back to skillet and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro.
  7. Serve over cooked rice with lime wedges.
Browned beef cubes with onions & peppers inside a cast iron skillet. Two bowls with white rice on the side.

This is a restaurant quality meal that you can complete in less than 30 minutes! Seriously, it can’t get better than that!

Like this beef tenderloin recipe? You should try my Red Beef Pozole! It’s not for winter only, I think it’s good any time of year if you ask me 🙂

Recipe adapted from magazine Cuisine at Home 

A black tray with two bowls with rice topped with beef tenderloin, onions & peppers. Two forks, and two glasses with water on the side

Mexican Beef Tenderloin

Servings 4 servings
Ana Frias
5 from 12 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
This 30 minute or less Mexican Beef Tenderloin is fantastic for weeknight dinners.  It's delicious, healthy, tender and full of flavor!
4 servings

Ingredients  

  • 1 teaspoon each chili powder dried oregano and ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon each kosher salt and black pepper more if needed to taste
  • 1 pound beef tenderloin cubed
  • 2 tablespoon avocado or vegetable oil divided
  • 1 /2 small red bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1/2 medium red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 3 roma tomatoes thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
  • Lime wedges

Instructions 

  • Combine chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add beef and toss to coat well.
  • In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat.
  • Add the beef and sear 2-3 minutes. Remove beef to a plate and set aside
  • Heat additional 1 tablespoon oil over medium high.
  • Add peppers, onion, and garlic and stir for about 2 to 3 minutes until just tender.
  • Add tomatoes and beef to skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro.
  • Serve over cooked white rice with lime wedges.

Muy Delish Notes:

For the minced garlic, fresh or from the jar will work.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 325mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

The nutritional information and US conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this is important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or unit conversion tool.

This recipe was originally published in Sept 2014 and was updated in May 2019 to include newer photos and more instructions.  

A black tray with two bowls with rice topped with beef tenderloin, onions & peppers. Two forks, and two glasses with water on the side

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Recipe Rating




27 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This looks insanely tasty and I love how fast this all comes together. Beautiful and perfect for serving up a delicious quick dinner!

  2. 5 stars
    This Mexican beef tenderloin sounds fabulous and packed with such great flavours! Beautifully done pictures.

  3. 5 stars
    I absolutely love this type of meal and how simple it is to make! Thank you for sharing such a great recipe! I need to add this to my dinner plan for the week!

  4. 5 stars
    This looks so delicious. I love a simple recipe like this, it’s perfect for weeknights. Even though you use just a few seasonings, they work really well together and add so much flavor to the meat

  5. YUM! This is like all of my favorite flavors in one pan. I love that the whole dish only takes 30 minutes and includes ingredients I almost always have in my refrigerator or freezer. Can’t wait to make this.

  6. 5 stars
    Ahhh this looks soooo yummy!! I love Mexican dishes and this looks extra delicious! Can’t wait to make this, my husband is going to love it!

  7. 5 stars
    My husband is always asking me to make more recipes with meat and I think this one might be the best of both worlds! Enough meat to satisfy him and enough colorful veggies to keep me happy! Thanks for sharing another great recipe!

  8. 5 stars
    Not only it’s packed with flavor but it is superinviting and colorful! I love when my food looks as good as it tastes, so I am really looking forward to trying your beef tenderloin because it looks amazing!

  9. 5 stars
    I made this dish the other night and it was wo delicious! You were right about how fast it is to cook the meat! My hubby loved it and it’s a keeper.

    1. Hi Krista how are you? I’m so lucky to have photographed the Bat Mitzvah….such great people! Thanks so much for your comment and for stopping by!