Description
This creamy steak pasta recipe combines juicy, seared steak with a rich, garlicky parmesan cream sauce and perfectly cooked pasta for a luxurious yet easy dinner in just 30 minutes. It’s the ultimate comfort food that feels like a restaurant treat, perfect for weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
- 10–12 oz ribeye or sirloin steak (room temperature, patted dry)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for searing)
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 8 oz pasta (fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni)
- Salt (for boiling water)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half and half for lighter sauce)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (freshly grated preferred)
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Extra parmesan (for serving)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Pat steak dry with paper towels. Slice onion, mince garlic, and grate parmesan. Let steak sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Season steak with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak and sear for 2-3 minutes without moving. Flip, add 1 tbsp butter, and cook another 2-4 minutes for medium-rare. Remove steak to a plate, tent with foil, and let rest.
- In the same skillet, lower heat to medium. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, onion, and a pinch of salt. Sauté until soft and golden (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream, stir, and let simmer for 2-3 minutes. Mix in parmesan, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and more salt and pepper. Stir until cheese melts and sauce thickens slightly. (Optional: Blend sauce for extra smoothness.) If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water.
- Slice steak thinly against the grain. Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Add sliced steak and any juices from the plate. Adjust with more pasta water if needed. Taste and season as desired.
- Plate pasta, top with extra steak slices, sprinkle with fresh parsley and more parmesan. Serve immediately.
Notes
Let the steak rest after cooking for juiciness. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. For gluten-free, use GF pasta; for dairy-free, use coconut cream and vegan parmesan. Don’t overcook steak for best texture. Sauce thickens as it stands. Add veggies or swap proteins for variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (1 heaping bowl per serving)
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 33
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 53
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 38
Keywords: steak pasta, creamy steak pasta, easy steak pasta, weeknight dinner, Italian pasta, comfort food, quick pasta recipe, parmesan cream sauce, ribeye pasta, sirloin pasta