Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Cheesy Rigatoni in Mozzarella Cream
Ingredients:
1½ lbs sirloin or ribeye steak, cut into steak tips
1 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Cajun seasoning (optional)
Salt & black pepper, to taste
12 oz rigatoni pasta
1½ cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2 cups shredded mozzarella
½ cup grated Parmesan
½ tsp Italian seasoning
Parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Directions:
1. Cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, saving ½ cup pasta water, and set aside.
2. Pat steak tips dry. Season well with salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning if using.
3. Heat olive oil and 2 tbsp butter in a skillet over med-high. Sear steak tips 2–3 min per side until browned with crisp edges. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely.
4. Lower heat to med. Add remaining 2 tbsp butter, then stir in garlic. Cook 1 min until fragrant.
5. Pour in heavy cream and milk. Stir and let it simmer gently.
6. Add mozzarella and Parmesan slowly, stirring until melted and smooth. Mix in Italian seasoning plus a little salt and pepper. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
7. Toss rigatoni in the sauce until fully coated and creamy.
8. Serve pasta on one side of a dish, steak tips on the other. Drizzle steak with pan juices, sprinkle parsley, and add red pepper flakes if you like a kick.
Cooking Time: 35 min
Servings: 4
Calories: 890 per serving