Description
This hearty and flavorful dish combines juicy garlic butter steak bites with spicy Cajun Alfredo twisted pasta. The rich, creamy Alfredo sauce with a Cajun kick perfectly complements the tender, flavorful steak bites, making for a satisfying and indulgent meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Garlic Butter Steak Bites:
- 1 lb sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- For the Spicy Cajun Alfredo Twisted Pasta:
- 12 oz twisted pasta (cavatappi or rotini)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper (optional for extra spice)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or pasta water (reserved)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Garlic Butter Steak Bites: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the steak cubes with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Add the steak cubes to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked to your desired level of doneness. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Return the steak bites to the skillet and toss in the garlic butter until evenly coated. Set aside to keep warm.
- Prepare the Spicy Cajun Alfredo Twisted Pasta: Cook the twisted pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water or chicken broth and drain the rest of the water.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook, whisking, until the sauce thickens and the cheese is fully melted.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing it in the creamy Cajun Alfredo sauce until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water or chicken broth to achieve the desired consistency.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and top with the garlic butter steak bites. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- If you prefer a different cut of steak, ribeye or filet mignon work wonderfully for this dish as well.
- Adjust the level of spiciness in the Cajun Alfredo sauce by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne pepper and Cajun seasoning.
- This dish is rich and indulgent, so a simple side salad with a tangy vinaigrette would complement it well.
- You can use shrimp or chicken instead of steak for a variation of the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-fry, Boil
- Cuisine: American, Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (steak bites and pasta)
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 95mg