Description
Delicious Cajun steak tips served over creamy cheesy rigatoni pasta. This dish combines spicy steak and a velvety parmesan sauce for a perfect meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb sirloin steak tips, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni in a large pot of salted water according to the package instructions. Be sure to reserve about half a cup of the starchy pasta water before draining—it will help bring the sauce together later.
- In a bowl, toss the steak tips with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak tips in a single layer and sear for about 2-3 minutes on each side until browned and just cooked through. Remove them from the skillet and set aside to rest.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant (about 1 minute). Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously to form a roux, cooking for about 1-2 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking to prevent lumps, and allow the mixture to thicken slightly. Once the sauce has thickened, stir in the onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Lower the heat and fold in the parmesan cheese, stirring until completely melted and velvety.
- Add the drained rigatoni to the skillet, tossing to coat in the cheesy sauce. If needed, use the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. Return the Cajun steak tips to the pan, gently folding them in so they’re evenly distributed.
- Spoon the Cajun steak tips and cheesy rigatoni into bowls, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve hot. Every bite should be creamy, cheesy, and perfectly spiced with the kick of Cajun flair.
Notes
- This dish is perfect for a special occasion or a comforting weeknight dinner.
- Feel free to adjust the level of Cajun seasoning to suit your taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 100mg