Description
Tender Cajun-spiced steak tips meet creamy Parmesan rigatoni in this comforting and flavorful pasta dish that balances spice, richness, and heartiness in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ pounds steak tips, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and bring a pot of salted water to boil for pasta.
- Combine Ingredients: Toss steak tips with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Heat olive oil in the skillet, then sear steak tips in batches until browned and just cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Assemble the Dish: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant. Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream, letting it simmer gently. Add Parmesan until smooth and creamy.
- Cook to Perfection: Boil rigatoni until al dente, then drain while reserving 1 cup pasta water. Add pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat. Use reserved water if sauce needs thinning.
- Finishing Touches: Return steak tips to the skillet, folding them gently into the pasta and sauce. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy: Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately while creamy and hot.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce.
- Cook steak in batches to avoid crowding the pan.
- Keep sauce over low heat when adding cheese to prevent curdling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: Cajun pasta, steak tips pasta, cheesy rigatoni, Cajun Parmesan sauce, comfort food recipe