Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni: A Restaurant-Quality Meal at Home

Introduction & Inspiration

As a food enthusiast, I’m always searching for recipes that are both flavorful and satisfying. This Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni is a winner on both fronts! It combines the richness of steak with the comfort of pasta, all brought together with a creamy, cheesy sauce that’s infused with the flavors of garlic, herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes. The inspiration for this dish came from my love of Italian-American cuisine and my desire to create a meal that’s both elegant and approachable.

Homemade Focus

While you can certainly use pre-made ingredients like jarred minced garlic or pre-shredded Parmesan cheese, I encourage you to embrace the freshness and flavor of homemade ingredients whenever possible. This recipe is straightforward, and using quality ingredients will elevate the taste of your dish. Plus, making it from scratch allows you to control the quality of ingredients and customize the flavors to your liking.

Flavor Goal

The goal here is to create a dish that’s bursting with flavor and richness. We’re talking tender steak tips infused with garlic butter, perfectly cooked rigatoni pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce that’s both cheesy and savory. The combination of garlic, herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes creates a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you feeling satisfied.

Ingredient Insights

Let’s explore the key players in this delicious dish:

• Strip Steaks: Strip steaks are known for their tenderness and rich flavor. Cutting them into bite-sized pieces allows for quick and even cooking.
• Olive Oil and Butter: The combination of olive oil and butter adds richness and flavor to the steak and helps to create a beautiful crust.
• Garlic: Minced garlic adds a pungent and aromatic flavor that complements the steak and the sauce.
• Kinder’s Buttery Steak Seasoning: This seasoning blend adds a delicious buttery flavor and enhances the natural flavors of the steak. You can substitute with your favorite steak seasoning.
• Kinder’s The Blend Seasoning: This seasoning blend is a versatile mix of salt, pepper, and garlic powder that adds a savory depth of flavor to the steak. You can use individual spices if you don’t have this blend.
• Chicken Broth: Chicken broth adds depth of flavor to the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream creates a rich and velvety sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty flavor and helps to thicken the sauce.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Red pepper flakes add a touch of heat to the sauce.
• Oregano and Thyme: Dried oregano and thyme add an earthy and herbaceous flavor to the sauce.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Chopped sun-dried tomatoes add a concentrated sweetness and a chewy texture that complements the creamy sauce.
• Rigatoni: Rigatoni is a tubular pasta shape that’s perfect for holding the creamy sauce.

Equipment

You’ll need just a few essential tools to whip up this easy and delicious dish:

• Large skillet
• Medium saucepan (for cooking pasta)

For the Steak:

• 2 strip steaks, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• Kinder’s Buttery Steak Seasoning (or your favorite steak seasoning)
• Kinder’s The Blend Seasoning (or salt, pepper, and garlic powder)

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

For the Pasta:

• 16 oz rigatoni

Instructions

1. Prepare the Steak: Season the steak pieces with Kinder’s Buttery Steak Seasoning and Kinder’s The Blend Seasoning (or salt, pepper, and garlic powder).
2. Cook the Steak: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the steak bites and cook for 5 minutes per side, or until desired doneness. Baste with melted butter while cooking. Remove the steak from the skillet and let it rest under foil.
3. Cook the Pasta: While the steak cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
4. Make the Sauce: In the same skillet used for the steak, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
5. Simmer the Sauce: Lower the heat and add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly.
6. Combine: Toss the drained rigatoni with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the consistency.
7. Serve: Slice the steak against the grain and serve it over the pasta. Garnish with fresh Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Troubleshooting

• Steak overcooked: Be careful not to overcook the steak bites, as they can become tough. Cook them just until they are browned on the outside and still slightly pink in the center. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
• Sauce too thin: If the sauce is too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken. You can also add a slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of cold water to thicken it quickly.
• Sauce too thick: If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water or a splash of heavy cream to thin it out.

Tips and Variations

• For a richer flavor, you can use a combination of butter and olive oil for searing the steak bites.
• Feel free to add other vegetables to the sauce, such as sliced mushrooms, diced bell peppers, or spinach.
• You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce for an extra kick of heat.
• If you don’t have fresh parsley, you can substitute it with dried parsley or another herb, such as thyme or oregano.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

This Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni is a hearty and satisfying meal that can be enjoyed on its own or with a side salad and crusty bread. It’s also great for a special occasion or a romantic dinner.

Nutritional Information

(Per serving, approximate)

• Calories: ~700
• Fat: ~40g
• Cholesterol: ~120mg
• Sodium: ~1000mg
• Carbohydrates: ~50g
• Protein: ~40g

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Recipe Summary and Q&A

Recipe Name: Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

Q: Can I use a different cut of beef for this recipe?

A: Yes, you can use other tender cuts of beef, such as filet mignon or New York strip steak.

Q: Can I make this dish ahead of time?

A: While this dish is best enjoyed fresh, you can cook the steak bites and make the sauce ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator and reheat them together when ready to serve.

Q: Can I use a different type of cheese?

A: Yes, you can experiment with other cheeses, such as Gruyère, Asiago, or Romano.