Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin (Crock Pot)
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Nov 17, 2025 Crock-Pot Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze – A Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin Recipe cooked in a Slow Cooker? Say What?!? Yep, this Whole Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze in cooked to perfection low and slow.
Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin… In the Crock Pot?
What comes to mind when you think about your Crock Pot?
Weeknight dinners? Chili? Nostalgic memories of walking in the house on a cold winter day, to the wafting aroma of savory stew?
I bet you don’t think of an elegant bacon wrapped beef tenderloin recipe.
Although our first thoughts of Crock-Pot cooking lead to lovely meals, it’s a common misconception that Crock-Pots are strictly for soup and cheap cuts of meat.
Yes, you can make hearty soups in a Crock Pot. And yes, you can cook a roast until it falls apart in tender strands. But that’s not all a Crockpot can do.
Crock Pot Beef Tenderloin
I’d like to challenge you to rethink your Crock-Pot.
You can use a Crock-Pot for ANY dish that you want to cook very low and slow.
We don’t eat beef tenderloin all the time. As an expensive cut of beef, it’s definitely a special occasion meal. But I have cooked whole tenderloin in the oven (and on the grill) often enough to experiment with cooking temperature and time.
Although you can cook a beef tenderloin recipe on rather high heat for less time, I find you get a better overall texture if you cook in low and slow.
This Crock-Pot beef tenderloin was uniform in color and so tender you could pull it apart with your fingers, at MEDIUM- RARE!
Ingredients Needed
- Beef tenderloin
- Thick-cut pepper bacon (or applewood bacon)
- Onion – sliced thin
- Garlic – peeled
- Fresh rosemary
- Beef stock
- Balsamic vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Sugar
- Flour
- Salt and black pepper
Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin Recipe Tips
After browning the bacon, I started the beef tenderloin recipe in the Crock-Pot with only a little bacon grease to ensure it roasted, not steamed.
Then I added the liquid ingredients later, so the bacon grease and balsamic vinegar could create a lovely rich balsamic glaze.
This bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin recipe with balsamic glaze would make a jaw-dropping dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas night!
While you’re busy entertaining relatives, wrapping presents, and baking Christmas cookies, your perfect whole tenderloin will be gingerly roasting on the countertop, freeing up the oven for cookies and other dishes.
Plus roasting low and slow, means you don’t have to hover. If you forget to check the temperature for a few minutes, your whole beef tenderloin won’t be ruined!
I highly suggest trying this.
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker
- Salt and pepper the whole tenderloin thoroughly. Lay the bacon slices out on a clean work surface, touching each other, creating a rectangular sheet of bacon.
- Lay the whole tenderloin across the bacon and carefully wrap the bacon ends over the top. Secure the bacon strips by “sewing” toothpicks through the ends.
- Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Place the whole tenderloin, toothpick-side-down, in the skillet. Sear the bacon on all sides, turning as needed—10 minutes.
- Place the beef tenderloin in a Crock-Pot and pour the pan drippings over the top. Place the sliced onion, garlic cloves, and rosemary sprigs around it. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer in the thickest part of the whole tenderloin, then cover and turn the Crock-Pot on low. A crock-pot beef tenderloin will be perfectly medium-rare when the temperature reaches 130 degrees F—2-4 hrs, depending on weight and thickness.
- Once the temperature reaches 100 degrees on the instant-read thermometer, mix the flour and sugar together in a medium bowl. Whisk in the balsamic vinegar and mustard into the sugar until there are no clumps. Then whisk in the beef stock. Pour the mixture around the tenderloin, cover, and continue cooking until 130 degrees F is reached.
- At 130 degrees F, remove the whole tenderloin and cover with aluminum foil for at least 10 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise to 135 degrees as it rests. If needed, allow the balsamic glaze to continue simmering with the bacon fat until thick.
- To serve, remove the toothpicks and slice the tenderloin into thin rounds. Top with rich balsamic sauce!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this fantastic fool-proof recipe with…
- Green Bean Almondine Recipe
- Green Bean Salad with Peppadew Peppers
- Buttermilk Drop Biscuits with Whipped Honey Butter
- Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts
- Pomme Puree (French Mashed Potatoes)
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- The Ultimate Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Texas Roadhouse Rolls (+ Cinnamon Butter)
Crock Pot Beef Tenderloin Recipe with Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds beef tenderloin 10 inches long (the thick end of a whole tenderloin)
- 12 strips thick pepper bacon
- 1 small onion sliced thin
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3/4 cup beef stock
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Have the butcher cut a whole tenderloin in half so that you can purchase the thick end (they will usually cut the rest into steaks) or buy a “butt beef tenderloin.”
- Salt and pepper the whole tenderloin thoroughly. Lay the bacon strips out on a clean work surface, touching each other, so they create a rectangular sheet of bacon.
- Lay the whole tenderloin across the bacon and carefully wrap the bacon ends over the top. Secure the bacon strips by “sewing” toothpicks through the ends.
- Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Place the whole tenderloin, toothpick-side-down, in the skillet. Brown the bacon on all sides, turning as needed—10 minutes. *This can be done ahead and the seared tenderloin, can be refrigerated for a 1-2 days if needed.
- Place the beef tenderloin in a 5-6 quart Crock-Pot and pour the pan drippings over the top. Place the sliced onion, garlic cloves, and rosemary sprigs around it. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer in the thickest part of the whole tenderloin, then cover and turn the Crock-Pot on low. A crock-pot beef tenderloin will be perfectly medium-rare when the temperature reaches 130 degrees F—2-4 hrs, depending on weight and thickness.
- Once the temperature reaches 100 degrees, mix the flour and sugar together in a medium bowl. Whisk in the balsamic vinegar and mustard into the sugar until there are no clumps. Then whisk in the beef stock. Pour the mixture around the tenderloin, cover, and continue cooking until 130 degrees F is reached.
- At 130 degrees F, remove the whole tenderloin and cover with foil for at least 10 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise to 135 degrees as it rests. If needed, allow the balsamic glaze to continue simmering until thick.
- To serve, remove the toothpicks and slice the tenderloin into thin rounds. Top with rich balsamic glaze!
can this method be used with a cheaper cut of meat?
Looks pretty amazing. Are there any other cuts of meat this would work for?
The pictures are amazing – but it looks like prime rib / standing rib roast.
Tenderloin has very little, if any fat around the outside. Because of the bacon, I bet it would work with either cut. Can’t wait to try it. Less expensive cuts of meat are usually cooked low and slow so they are not tough.
Could I use this recipe with a Sirloin Tip Roast instead of a Beef Tenderloin?
Hi Megan, Of course! Let me know how it turns out. :)
This filet beef tenderloin roast was amazing. I was cooking for 35 people and needed the oven space. It was perfectly cooked and the glaze was delicious. Would make again.
Excellent!!! Our beef lovin’ college boys loved it! Only change – – I used brown sugar, not white (personal preference). The sauce/glaze is amazing!!! It enhances the meat – – – – although the meat is excellent on its own! The meat thermometer is key (I had to borrow one!). Don’t “guess” at the temp!! Our 2# was done to temp in just an hour – – – I was skeptical – – – – but shouldn’t have been!!! I’m not sure there will be any leftovers!! This is a keeper!!!!
This dish turned out fantastically well and looked exactly like the photo! I was slightly hesitant placing such a prime cut of meat in my slow cooker but I say now, after making the dish that this is my new favourite roast beef method, even better in texture and flavour than a traditional prime rib roast, and so much easier and stress free! The balsamic glaze was remarkable, just simmer till thick and everyone will be demanding this recipe!
Best thing I ever made. Actually- the BEST thing I have EVER tasted!
This looks amazing. Any advice on cooking a much smaller cut of beef this way? I havea1.7 lb butt tenderloin and want to try this!
Hi Danielle! I would cook it exactly the same, just watch the meat thermometer closely. It should take less than half the time to reach the desired interior temp.
I made this for Thanksgiving dinner, and it got rave reviews. Very tender and amazing flavor. It was also fun to prepare.
About how long does it take?
can i still try it but with one lb of beef tenderloin?
Yes, Just watch the internal temperature closely so you don’t overcook it. :)
Made this on a bitter cold night, after unsuccessfully grilling one half of a huge beef tenderloin (weather was below 10 and had hard time keeping grill consistent). Not having an oven and not wanting to “ruin” the other half, we searched for a crock pot recipe and decided to give it a try. I must say, as picky as we are with our red meats and “proper” cooking processes, hands down this was an excellent alternative. I followed the instructions to the T ,(almost) in addition to the onion I used sweet red/yellow/orange peppers sliced. and, at the end, I strained the juices and saved the onions/peppers, sautéed some fresh mushrooms, added those to the onions and set them on a serving dish. Simmered the juices down so that the balsamic gravy got a little more thick. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I have already shared it with all my meat grilling loving friends and, knowing my high standards on meats, none has questioned that this is worth trying and doing!