Tie butcher’s twine around the exterior of the steaks to keep them intact while cooking. Remove the twine before serving.
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet. Process Parmesan, parsley, 3 tablespoons oil, garlic, thyme, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in food processor until smooth paste forms, about 10 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed; set aside.
Pat steaks dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Tie butcher’s twine around middle of steaks. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook steaks until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer steaks to prepared rack. Spread 2 tablespoons herb paste on top of each steak, then top each with 2 tablespoons panko, pressing gently to adhere.
Roast until meat registers 120 to 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 14 to 16 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through cooking. Let steaks cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove twine and serve.
Key Steps: To Perfect Tenderloin Steaks
