The Ultimate Two-Bite Beef Wellington Appetizer
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Beef Wellington is one of those elegant dishes that immediately makes an at-home date night or dinner party feel elevated. While the esteemed dish is often served as a main course, this beef Wellington bites recipe — brought to us by recipe developer Patterson Watkins — reimagines the pastry-wrapped beef into bite-sized appetizer form. You still get all of the buttery, savory sophistication of classic beef Wellington, from the tenderloin steak to the mushroom duxelles to the flaky pastry exterior, but in a snackable, poppable format that will instantly make your appetizer spread feel ultra-fancy.
Considering how delicious classic beef Wellington is, it's not much of a surprise that these little bites are just as rich, tender, and tasty. They're so tasty, in fact, that Watkins feels confident that she could eat dozens (or possibly already has). "This is a hearty appetizer," Watkins says, describing "... the seasoned steak nestled in flaky puff pastry and accented with sherry and herb-spiked mushrooms." The recipe also comes with a Dijon dip, and Watkins tells us, "The zesty creamy Dijon dip balances those meaty-buttery elements nicely — almost like a tasty palate reset." Serve these bites at an hors d'oeuvre-heavy party where the wine is flowing, and you'll no doubt have a crowd-pleaser on your hands.
Gather the ingredients for beef Wellington bites
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
For the bites themselves, you'll start with beef tenderloin steak, cut into 24 pieces, along with salt and pepper for seasoning and olive oil for giving the steak pieces an initial sear. From there, you'll build a mushroom duxelles-inspired filling with salted butter, minced cremini mushrooms, minced shallot, minced garlic, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, cooking sherry, and Worcestershire sauce. A package of puff pastry and a beaten egg round out the ingredients needed for the bites. Then, all that's left to make is the creamy Dijon dip, which consists of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, prepared horseradish, and chives.
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Preheat the oven to 425 F.
Step 2: Prepare a mini muffin tin
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Spritz a 24-cup mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
Step 3: Dry the steak
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Pat the steak pieces dry with paper towels.
Step 4: Season the steak
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Season the steak with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Heat the olive oil in a skillet
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat.
Step 6: Sear the steak pieces
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Once hot, working in batches if necessary, add the steak, and sear on all sides until brown.
Step 7: Remove the steak from the skillet
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Remove the steak from the skillet and set it aside. Reduce the heat to medium.
Step 8: Add the butter
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Add the butter to the skillet.
Step 9: Saute the mushrooms
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Once the butter has melted, add the mushrooms, and saute until tender and dry-looking, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Step 10: Add the aromatics and saute
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Add the shallot, garlic, rosemary, and thyme to the skillet and stir to combine with the mushrooms. Saute for 2 minutes more.
Step 11: Deglaze the pan
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Deglaze the skillet with sherry and Worcestershire and bring to a simmer.
Step 12: Cook until the wine has evaporated
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the wine has mostly evaporated. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Step 13: Roll out the puff pastry
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Dust a clean work surface with a little flour and roll the puff pastry sheet into a large square.
Step 14: Slice the puff pastry sheets
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Cut each sheet into 12 even portions (24 portions total).
Step 15: Press the pastry into the muffin tin
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Transfer the puff portions to the prepared muffin pan. Press the dough into the bottom and sides of the tins, making sure to leave plenty of dough hanging over.
Step 16: Spoon the mushroom mixture into each pastry well
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Spoon a heaping teaspoon of the mushroom mixture into the center of each.
Step 17: Top with steak
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Top the mushroom mixture with a piece of steak.
Step 18: Brush the pastry with egg wash
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Brush the exposed puff pastry with egg wash.
Step 19: Fold the pastry over the steak
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Fold the corners of the puff pastry over the steak, concealing the filling.
Step 20: Brush the bites with egg wash
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Generously brush the tops of the Wellingtons with the remaining egg wash and place in the oven.
Step 21: Bake the bites
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Bake the Wellingtons for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and puffy.
Step 22: Add the Dijon dip ingredients to a bowl
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
While the Wellingtons are baking, place mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish, and chives in a medium bowl.
Step 23: Stir to combine the Dijon dip
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Stir to combine and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Step 24: Set the bites aside to cool
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Remove the muffin pan from the oven and set aside to cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.
Step 25: Loosen the bites from the tin
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Using a butter knife or thin metal spatula, loosen and remove the Wellingtons from the muffin pan.
Step 26: Serve the beef Wellington bites with the Dijon dip
Patterson Watkins/Mashed
Transfer the Wellingtons to a serving platter and serve with the creamy Dijon dip on the side.
What can I serve with these little beef Wellingtons?
With perfectly-seared tenderloin steak and umami-rich mushroom duxelles, these sophisticated 2-bite beef Wellington bites are perfect with a glass of wine.

Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- For the bites
- 1 pound beef tenderloin steak, cut into 1-inch pieces (24 pieces total)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, minced
- 1 shallot, peeled and minced
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- ¼ teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon fresh chopped thyme
- ¼ cup cooking sherry
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 package puff pastry
- 1 egg, beaten
- For the creamy Dijon dip
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives
- Preheat the oven to 425 F.
- Spritz a 24-cup mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
- Pat the steak pieces dry with paper towels.
- Season the steak with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat.
- Once hot, working in batches if necessary, add the steak, and sear on all sides until brown.
- Remove the steak from the skillet and set it aside. Reduce the heat to medium.
- Add the butter to the skillet.
- Once the butter has melted, add the mushrooms, and saute until tender and dry-looking, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Add the shallot, garlic, rosemary, and thyme to the skillet and stir to combine with the mushrooms. Saute for 2 minutes more.
- Deglaze the skillet with sherry and Worcestershire and bring to a simmer.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the wine has mostly evaporated. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Dust a clean work surface with a little flour and roll the puff pastry sheet into a large square.
- Cut each sheet into 12 even portions (24 portions total).
- Transfer the puff portions to the prepared muffin pan. Press the dough into the bottom and sides of the tins, making sure to leave plenty of dough hanging over.
- Spoon a heaping teaspoon of the mushroom mixture into the center of each.
- Top the mushroom mixture with a piece of steak.
- Brush the exposed puff pastry with egg wash.
- Fold the corners of the puff pastry over the steak, concealing the filling.
- Generously brush the tops of the Wellingtons with the remaining egg wash and place in the oven.
- Bake the Wellingtons for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and puffy.
- While the Wellingtons are baking, place mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish, and chives in a medium bowl.
- Stir to combine and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Remove the muffin pan from the oven and set aside to cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.
- Using a butter knife or thin metal spatula, loosen and remove the Wellingtons from the muffin pan.
- Transfer the Wellingtons to a serving platter and serve with the creamy Dijon dip on the side.
| Calories per Serving | 371 |
| Total Fat | 31.1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 9.0 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.2 g |
| Cholesterol | 60.6 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 12.4 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.9 g |
| Total Sugars | 1.3 g |
| Sodium | 278.8 mg |
| Protein | 10.3 g |
