Description
This rich and spicy dish pairs tender Cajun-seasoned steak tips with a creamy, cheesy rigatoni Parmesan sauce. It’s the ultimate comfort meal with just the right amount of kick and a satisfying cheesy finish.
Ingredients
1 lb steak tips (sirloin or ribeye), cut into bite-sized pieces
10 oz rigatoni pasta
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (plus more to taste)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp butter (divided)
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or Fontina cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Sear the Steak: Season steak tips with Cajun seasoning. Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear steak until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, boil salted water and cook rigatoni until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Make the Sauce Base: In the same skillet, add remaining butter. Sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add the Cheese: Stir in Parmesan until melted. If using, add mozzarella or Fontina. Season with salt, pepper, and more Cajun seasoning if desired.
- Combine: Toss cooked rigatoni into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to thin. Fold in steak tips gently.
- Serve: Plate immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and cracked black pepper.
Notes
The key to perfect steak tips is not overcrowding the pan, which causes steaming rather than searing. Cook in batches if necessary to maintain proper heat distribution. Room temperature steak cooks more evenly than cold steak straight from the refrigerator.
Fresh Parmesan cheese makes an enormous difference in sauce quality compared to pre-grated varieties. The texture and flavor are incomparably superior, and it melts more smoothly into the sauce.
Don’t skip the pasta water reservation the starch content helps bind the sauce to the pasta and can rescue a sauce that becomes too thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 875 kcal
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 52g
- Saturated Fat: 28g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
Keywords: cajun steak tips, rigatoni pasta, parmesan sauce, cheesy pasta, steak pasta, cajun seasoning, creamy pasta