Description
Succulent garlic butter steak tips marry perfectly with creamy cheesy rigatoni in this irresistible comfort meal. Hearty flavors and rich textures create a delightful dinner sensation you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds sirloin or ribeye steak, cut into bite-sized pieces
Pasta and Cheese:
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Sauce Components:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge rigatoni and cook until perfectly tender yet firm, following package guidance. Carefully drain the pasta, setting it aside for later assembly.
- In a mixing vessel, massage steak pieces with a blend of seasonings, ensuring each morsel is thoroughly coated. Ignite a skillet to medium-high temperature and introduce a gloss of olive oil.
- Strategically place steak tips in the sizzling pan, avoiding overcrowding. Allow each piece to develop a rich, caramelized exterior by searing approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer the beautifully browned morsels to a temporary resting plate.
- Reduce skillet heat and introduce butter, which will melt and create a fragrant base. Tumble minced garlic into the golden liquid, stirring until its aroma permeates the kitchen. Splash Worcestershire sauce and sprinkle red pepper flakes for depth.
- Reunite the steak tips with the aromatic butter, gently tossing to ensure complete flavor integration. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a separate saucepan, melt butter and quickly introduce garlic. Pour heavy cream and season with salt, black pepper, Italian herbs, and a whisper of red pepper flakes.
- Allow the cream mixture to simmer gently, then gradually incorporate mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Stir consistently until a luxurious, velvety sauce emerges.
- Fold the reserved rigatoni into the cheese sauce, ensuring each pasta tube is lavishly coated.
- Artfully plate the cheesy rigatoni, crown with the garlic-kissed steak tips, and garnish with delicate parsley and a snowfall of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while flavors are at their peak.
Notes
- Swap steak for plant-based alternatives like portobello mushrooms or seitan to create a vegetarian version that maintains the rich, savory flavor profile.
- Experiment with gluten-free rigatoni or zucchini noodles for those with dietary restrictions, ensuring the dish remains deliciously satisfying.
- Reduce cooking time for steak tips to create a more tender texture by using a meat tenderizer or choosing a more marbled cut of beef.
- Control spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or omitting them entirely for a milder dish that appeals to sensitive palates.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 150mg