Garlic Butter Steak With Creamy Parmesan Rigatoni Recipe

Juicy Garlic Butter Steak with Creamy Parmesan Rigatoni Recipe

Whipping up a mouthwatering garlic butter steak with creamy parmesan rigatoni feels like culinary magic waiting to happen.

Seared beef and silky pasta create an irresistible dance of flavors on your plate.

Each tender slice promises a rich, indulgent experience that melts in your mouth.

Home cooks crave comfort dishes that spark immediate excitement and deliver restaurant-quality results.

Precise seasoning and simple techniques turn this recipe into a weeknight masterpiece that impresses without complicated steps.

Professional chefs know the secret is balancing robust meat with creamy pasta textures.

Fresh ingredients and careful preparation make this dish shine brighter than traditional dinner options.

You can create a restaurant-worthy meal that makes everyone at the table ask for seconds.

Garlic Butter Steak Meets Creamy Rigatoni in Style

  • Transform simple ingredients into a luxurious dish that tastes like it came from a high-end restaurant, impressing dinner guests with minimal culinary skills required.
  • Easily adjust steak doneness, swap proteins, or modify sauce thickness to suit individual preferences, making this recipe wonderfully adaptable for different tastes and dietary needs.
  • Minimize kitchen cleanup by preparing everything in a single skillet, reducing washing time and streamlining the cooking process for maximum convenience and efficiency.

Ingredients to Cook Garlic Steak Rigatoni at Home

Protein:
  • Steak: Juicy, tender meat as the main protein, best with sirloin or ribeye cuts.
  • Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance steak's natural flavors.
Pasta and Sauce Base:
  • Rigatoni: Large tube-shaped pasta perfect for holding creamy sauce.
  • Olive Oil: Used for searing steak and providing base flavor.
  • Butter: Adds rich, creamy texture and helps develop garlic flavor.
Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Garlic, Parsley: Fresh ingredients that bring brightness and aromatic depth.
  • Heavy Cream: Creates smooth, luxurious sauce base.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Provides sharp, salty flavor and helps thicken sauce.
  • Italian Seasoning: Blend of dried herbs adding complexity to the sauce.

Cooking Garlic Butter Steak with Pasta Done Right

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Grab a big pot and fill it with water. Sprinkle in some salt and bring it to a rolling boil. Toss in the rigatoni and cook until it’s perfectly tender. Drain the pasta and set it aside, ready for its flavor adventure.

Step 2: Prepare Delectable Steak Bites

  • Steak pieces
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

Shower the steak pieces with a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat up a skillet with olive oil until it’s blazing hot. Carefully place the steak pieces in a single layer, letting them sear and develop a gorgeous golden-brown crust. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until they reach your perfect level of doneness. Scoop out the steak and keep it warm and waiting.

Step 3: Create Magical Garlic Butter

Lower the skillet’s heat and drop in some butter. Toss in minced garlic and let it dance around for a minute until it releases its aromatic magic. Gently coat the steak bites in this heavenly garlic butter, then set them aside.

Step 4: Whip Up Dreamy Parmesan Sauce

  • Butter
  • Minced garlic
  • Heavy cream
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Italian seasoning
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

Melt butter in the skillet and add garlic, letting it sizzle briefly. Pour in the heavy cream and let it simmer softly. Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, stirring until the sauce becomes gloriously smooth and thick. Season with a touch of salt and pepper to make the flavors pop.

Step 5: Unite Pasta and Sauce

Slide the cooked rigatoni into the creamy sauce. Toss and twirl until every single pasta tube is luxuriously coated. Sprinkle in some fresh chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness.

Step 6: Serve and Celebrate

Pile the creamy pasta onto plates and crown it with the sizzling garlic butter steak bites. Garnish with an extra handful of parsley. Dive in while it’s hot and enjoy every single bite of this mouthwatering masterpiece!

Tricks to Make Garlic Steak Pasta Even Better

  • Master Searing Technique: Create a golden-brown crust on steak by ensuring the skillet is hot and not overcrowding the pan, which prevents steaming and promotes perfect caramelization.
  • Pasta Perfection Trick: Cook rigatoni just until al dente to maintain a slight firmness, preventing mushy texture and helping the sauce adhere better to the pasta's ridges.
  • Flavor-Boosting Hack: Use the same skillet for cooking steak and making sauce to capture delicious browned bits, adding depth and richness to the final dish.
  • Sauce Consistency Secret: Stir Parmesan cheese gradually and keep heat low to prevent separation, creating a smooth, creamy sauce that clings beautifully to rigatoni.
  • Herb Enhancement Tip: Chop fresh parsley right before adding to preserve vibrant color and maximize its aromatic, fresh flavor profile in the final presentation.

Best Way to Keep Garlic Steak Rigatoni Fresh

  • Store leftover steak and pasta separately in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking. This prevents moisture buildup and maintains taste quality.
  • Let the dish cool completely to room temperature before sealing containers to prevent condensation and potential bacterial growth.
  • Warm pasta in a skillet with a splash of cream or water over medium-low heat, stirring gently to restore creamy texture and prevent drying out.
  • Microwave steak in short 30-second intervals at 50% power, checking temperature to avoid overcooking and preserve tenderness.

Delicious Pairings for Garlic Butter Steak and Pasta

  • Choose a bold red like Cabernet Sauvignon to complement the rich, savory steak and creamy Parmesan sauce. Its robust tannins cut through the buttery texture while enhancing the meat's deep flavor profile.
  • Sprinkle fresh basil or thyme alongside the parsley to introduce subtle aromatic notes that brighten the dish's richness and add a layer of garden-fresh complexity.
  • Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to counterbalance the dish's heaviness. The peppery greens and tangy dressing will provide a refreshing contrast to the creamy pasta and succulent steak.
  • Select an amber ale or brown ale with malty undertones that harmonize with the garlic butter and provide a smooth, complementary drinking experience that doesn't overpower the delicate steak flavors.

Fresh Ways to Tweak Garlic Steak Rigatoni

  • Vegetarian Pasta Delight: Replace steak with grilled portobello mushrooms or crispy tofu cubes, maintaining the creamy Parmesan sauce and garlic butter essence.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Swap rigatoni with gluten-free pasta like chickpea or brown rice pasta, ensuring the same rich, creamy texture and flavor profile.
  • Low-Carb Alternative: Substitute pasta with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice, keeping the garlic butter sauce and using lean protein like chicken or shrimp.
  • Dairy-Free Version: Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream, nutritional yeast in place of Parmesan, and plant-based butter for the garlic sauce while maintaining the original recipe's depth of flavor.
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Garlic Butter Steak With Creamy Parmesan Rigatoni Recipe

Garlic Butter Steak With Creamy Parmesan Rigatoni Recipe


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4.8 from 23 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Succulent garlic butter steak with creamy parmesan rigatoni delivers an irresistible Italian-inspired comfort dish that marries tender beef and rich pasta. Seared steak and silky rigatoni promise a restaurant-quality meal waiting to elevate home cooking with minimal effort.


Ingredients

Scale

Protein:

  • 1 lb (450 g) steak (sirloin, ribeye, or filet), cut into bite-sized pieces

Seasonings and Fats:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Pasta and Sauce Ingredients:

  • 300 g (10 oz) rigatoni pasta
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream
  • ¾ cup (75 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (plus extra for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Select high-quality rigatoni and prepare a generously salted water bath, cooking the pasta until tender yet firm. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
  2. Season beef cubes liberally with kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Sear protein in hot olive oil, creating caramelized exteriors within a scorching skillet. Achieve desired internal temperature while developing rich golden crusts.
  3. Reduce skillet temperature and introduce butter, allowing it to melt gracefully. Infuse the fat with finely minced garlic, releasing aromatic compounds and creating a fragrant foundation. Gently tumble seared beef through this luxurious garlic-butter emulsion.
  4. Craft a velvety sauce by melting butter and sweating garlic until translucent. Stream heavy cream into the pan, allowing gentle simmering to concentrate flavors. Incorporate freshly grated Parmesan, whisking until sauce transforms into a silky, luxurious coating.
  5. Unite pasta with the creamy Parmesan sauce, ensuring each rigatoni tube becomes lavishly enrobed. Scatter freshly chopped parsley throughout for vibrant color and herbaceous notes.
  6. Arrange creamy rigatoni on warmed plates, strategically positioning garlic-kissed beef bites atop the pasta. Garnish with additional parsley and serve immediately to preserve optimal temperature and texture.

Notes

  • Select high-quality, well-marbled steak cuts like ribeye or sirloin for maximum tenderness and flavor.
  • Pat steak pieces dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear and prevent steaming.
  • Use fresh garlic instead of pre-minced for a more robust, authentic taste that elevates the entire dish.
  • Customize the dish for different dietary needs by substituting dairy-free cream and nutritional yeast for a lactose-free version.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 820
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 800 mg
  • Fat: 45 g
  • Saturated Fat: 25 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 70 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 40 g
  • Cholesterol: 150 mg
Daves Miller

Daves Miller

Contributing Chef & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • American Southern cuisine with a modern twist.
  • Instruction in culinary fundamentals and advanced techniques.
  • Development of recipes that highlight seasonal and local produce.​
  • Mastery of artisanal bread and pastry techniques, from laminated doughs to decorative sugar artistry.

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Degree: Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Specialized in cooking techniques and culinary sciences, hands‑on externships, professional kitchen lab training, and career preparation for restaurants, entrepreneurship, and global culinary opportunities.

White Mountains Community College, Berlin, New Hampshire

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Arts degree
  • Focus: Specialized in comprehensive baking and pastry arts, including bread making, artisan breads, cake decorating and design, chocolates, confections, and decorative centerpieces; product development and baking theory; and career preparation for baker and pastry chef roles in many places.

Daves is the friendly face guiding you through flavorful, fuss-free recipes at Picture Perfect Meals. 

He studied culinary arts at Sullivan University and embraced Baking and Pastry Arts at White Mountains Community College. Daves specializes in comforting meals with vibrant flavors, highlighting fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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