Description
Indulgent Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Spicy Cajun Pasta is a decadent and flavorful dish featuring tender sirloin steak cubes seared to perfection, combined with a rich, creamy Parmesan and garlic butter sauce infused with Cajun spices. This meal perfectly balances the heat from the Cajun seasoning with the silky smoothness of heavy cream and cheese, served atop rotini pasta that captures every bit of the luscious sauce. Ideal for a comforting dinner that feels gourmet yet is easy to prepare within 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak Bites
- 1 lb sirloin steak, cut into cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Cajun Pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Steak: Pat the sirloin steak dry with paper towels, then cut into bite-sized cubes. Season evenly with Cajun seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Let the steak sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to enhance flavor penetration.
- Sear the Steak Bites: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned steak cubes and sear for 1-2 minutes per side or until a nicely browned crust forms. Remove the steak bites from the skillet and set aside to rest.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Make the Cream Sauce: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic butter. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the cream to thicken slightly. Whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Adjust Sauce Seasoning: Taste the sauce and add additional salt or Cajun seasoning if needed to balance the flavors.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained rotini pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Toss to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Combine Steak and Pasta: Fold the seared steak bites back into the skillet with the pasta and sauce. Heat everything together for 1-2 minutes until the steak is warmed through and flavors meld.
- Serve and Garnish: Plate the steak bites and spicy Cajun pasta. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and, if desired, a sprinkle of extra Parmesan cheese for added richness.
Notes
- Using fresh Parmesan cheese is key to achieving a smooth, rich sauce.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning amount to control the heat level of the dish.
- Letting the steak rest after searing helps retain its juices.
- Reserved pasta water helps loosen the sauce for perfect coating consistency.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice color contrast and brightness but is optional.
