Garlic Butter Steak and Pasta Recipe: Creamy Parmesan Rigatoni

The Best Steak and Pasta Recipe for an Easy Dinner

If you’re looking for a stunning dish that feels gourmet but is surprisingly easy, this steak and pasta recipe is it. Forget complicated sauces and endless prep—this is a classic comfort meal elevated with a rich, velvety sauce and perfectly seared garlic butter steak.

This garlic butter steak and pasta dinner combines tender, pan-seared steak bathed in herb-infused butter with a decadent creamy parmesan rigatoni. It’s the ultimate date night meal or Sunday dinner that the whole family will ask for again and again. You can skip the restaurant bill and make this incredible dish right at home!

Ingredients for Creamy Parmesan Pasta with Steak

This meal uses simple ingredients to create maximum flavor. The ingredients are split between the steak and the creamy parmesan pasta with steak.

Part 1: How to Cook the Perfect Garlic Butter Steak

This method ensures a beautiful crust and a juicy interior for your garlic butter steak. (👉 Affiliate opportunity: This is a great place to link to your favorite cast iron pan or instant-read thermometer.)

1. Prep the Steak: Season your steak liberally on both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Sear: Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet (cast iron works best!) over medium-high heat until it just begins to smoke. Sear the steak for 2-3 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms.
3. Baste: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter, smashed garlic, and rosemary/thyme sprigs to the pan. Tilt the pan and use a spoon to continuously baste the melted, herby butter over the steak for about 1-2 minutes.
4. Rest: Remove the garlic butter steak from the pan and let it rest on a cutting board for at least 10 minutes before slicing. This is crucial for keeping the meat juicy!

Part 2: Making the Creamy Parmesan Rigatoni and Combining the Meal

While the steak rests, you can finish your pasta sauce.

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
2. Sauté the Garlic: In a separate large skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Build the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
4. Finish the Pasta: Add the cooked, drained rigatoni to the creamy sauce. Add the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
5. Serve: Slice the rested pasta with steak against the grain. Toss the rigatoni one last time and plate it, arranging the tender steak slices right over the top. Drizzle any remaining pan juices from the steak over the whole dish.

Expert Tips and Variations for Steak Rigatoni

Want to make this dish your own? Here are a few tips and tricks for making the best steak rigatoni at home:

Freezing: This is best eaten fresh! The creamy parmesan rigatoni sauce tends to separate when frozen and reheated.

Steak Substitutions: While we love a New York Strip, this pasta with steak recipe works wonderfully with filet mignon for an extra tender experience or flank steak if you need a more budget-friendly option.

Low-KD Tip (Steak Rigatoni): To enhance this specific steak rigatoni flavor, try deglazing your steak pan with a splash of white wine or beef broth before starting the pasta sauce, then add that liquid to the cream mixture.

Cheese Alternatives: Not a fan of Parmesan? You can substitute Pecorino Romano for a sharper, saltier flavor in your creamy sauce.

Garlic Butter Steak with Creamy Parmesan Rigatoni 🥩🧄🧀

A rich and indulgent steak pasta dish—perfect for a cozy dinner! 🍽🔥

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 750

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• For the Steak:
• 1 ½ lbs steak ribeye, sirloin, or filet, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
• For the Parmesan Rigatoni:
• 12 oz rigatoni pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ cup pasta water reserved
• Fresh parsley and extra Parmesan for garnish

Method

 

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.

Step 2: Sear the Steak

1. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add steak pieces, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness.
3. Add garlic and parsley, stirring for another 30 seconds. Remove steak from the pan and set aside.

Step 3: Make the Creamy Parmesan Sauce

1. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
2. Pour in heavy cream, stirring constantly. Add Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir until smooth.
3. Mix in reserved pasta water to thin the sauce slightly.

Step 4: Combine & Serve

1. Toss cooked rigatoni into the creamy sauce, coating well.
2. Plate the pasta and top with garlic butter steak. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.

Notes

Varies by ingredient prices and location.