Hey everyone! So, let me tell you about my latest kitchen adventure. It all started on one of those super blah Tuesdays, you know the kind, where you just stare blankly into the fridge hoping dinner will magically appear. I had some steak that needed using up, a block of cheese, and a box of rigatoni. My first go at throwing them together was… fine. Edible, but not exciting. But the idea stuck with me. It took four more attempts, playing around with the garlic, figuring out how to get that perfect crust on the steak, and concocting the absolute creamiest, dreamiest cheese sauce, but I finally cracked the code. And now? This Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni is my absolute go-to for a fancy-feeling meal that’s secretly easy. It’s all about those juicy, savory steak bites mixed with pasta that’s literally swimming in a rich, cheesy sauce. Seriously, it’s so good, you’ll find any excuse to make it again.

Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni

What You’ll Need (Ingredients)

Here’s the simple rundown for this amazingness. I’m a big fan of using what you’ve got, so don’t be afraid to improvise, but this is the combo that I found works perfectly.

For the Steak:
- 1.5 lbs sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (or more if you’re a garlic fiend like me!)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- A good pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Cheesy Rigatoni:
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk (it just makes it creamier!)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- A tiny pinch of nutmeg (this is a secret weapon, trust me)
- Salt and white pepper to taste
For Topping (because why not?):
- Fresh parsley, chopped up

Let’s Talk Timing

I know we’re all busy and just want to get to the eating part, right? Here’s the quick and dirty on how long this will take. I’ve got it down to a science, but I swear it’s totally manageable for anyone.

Prep Time: Maybe 15 minutes? Mostly just chopping garlic and cubing the steak.
Cook Time: About 25 minutes.
Total Time: You’re looking at a breezy 40 minutes from start to finish. Totally doable on a weeknight!

This Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni comes together way faster than you’d expect, which means more time for you to kick back and enjoy your masterpiece.

Step-by-Step to Perfection

Alright, grab your apron, let’s do this! Just follow along, and you’ll be diving into a bowl of pure comfort food before you know it.

Step 1: Get That Pasta Cooking

First up, the pasta. Get a big pot of water, salt it like the ocean, and bring it to a rolling boil. Toss in your rigatoni and cook it until it’s al dente – you know, cooked through but still has a little bite. Before you drain it, scoop out and save about a cup of that starchy pasta water. It’s like liquid gold for making sauces super creamy. Drain the pasta and just let it hang out for a bit.

Step 2: Sear Those Steak Tips

While the pasta is boiling, let’s get the steak ready. Pat the steak cubes totally dry with a paper towel. This is my number one tip for getting a killer sear! Season them up really well with salt and pepper. Get a big skillet (I love my cast iron for this) nice and hot over medium-high heat with the olive oil. Once it’s shimmering, lay your steak tips in a single layer. Don’t crowd them! If you need to, cook them in two batches. Let them sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until they’re beautifully browned. In the last minute, toss in 2 tablespoons of butter and half the minced garlic. Oh my gosh, the smell! Once it’s fragrant, pull the steak out of the pan and set it aside.

Step 3: Let’s Make the Cheesy Sauce

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT wash that skillet! All those little brown bits stuck to the bottom are pure, unadulterated flavor. Turn the heat down to medium, melt the other 2 tablespoons of butter in there, and add the rest of the garlic. Let it cook for just 30 seconds or so until it smells incredible. Now, whisk in the flour and let it cook for a minute – this step gets rid of any raw flour taste.

Slowly, and I mean sloooowly, pour in the milk, whisking like crazy the whole time to keep it from getting lumpy. Once the milk is in, stir in the heavy cream. Let the sauce bubble away gently and thicken up for a few minutes. Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the cheese! Stir in the Parmesan, mozzarella, and cheddar, along with the garlic powder and that little pinch of nutmeg. Keep stirring until every last bit of cheese is melted and the sauce is velvety smooth. Give it a taste and add salt and white pepper as needed. If it gets a little too thick, just splash in some of that pasta water you saved.

Step 4: Bring It All Home

Time for the grand finale! Dump your cooked rigatoni right into the skillet with that glorious cheese sauce. Give it a good stir until every noodle is coated in cheesy goodness. Now, gently fold in your amazing cooked steak. Just let everything hang out together in the pan for a minute or two so the flavors can get to know each other. The result is the most incredible Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni you’ve ever had.

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How to Serve It Up

Honestly, you could just eat this straight out of the pan with a fork (I’ve done it, no shame!), but if you want to make it look a little more put-together, here are some thoughts:

The Classic Way: Scoop it into big, cozy bowls and shower it with fresh parsley. Simple, perfect.
Add Some Green: This is a rich dish, so a side of roasted broccoli or a simple green salad with a sharp, lemony dressing is a fantastic way to balance it out.
Garlic Bread is a Must: I mean, come on. You need something to mop up every last drop of that cheese sauce. It’s non-negotiable in my house.
Spice it Up: If you like a little heat, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes over the top is chef’s kiss.

Why This Recipe Has My Heart

Okay, I’m genuinely obsessed with this recipe, and I have a feeling you’re going to be too. It’s the ultimate answer for those nights when you crave something incredibly comforting and delicious but don’t want to spend forever cooking. Every single time I make this Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni, it feels like a treat, even on a boring weeknight. It’s a guaranteed hit for a reason – that combo of juicy steak, garlic butter, and all that melted cheese is just pure magic. I really, really hope you try it! If you do, pop down to the comments and tell me what you think. I absolutely love hearing from you guys!

Yield: 6 servings

Garlic Butter Steak Tips with Cheesy Rigatoni

The ultimate comfort food! Juicy, seared steak tips and rigatoni folded into a dreamy, creamy three-cheese sauce. A restaurant-quality meal at home.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

1.5 lbs sirloin steak cut into bite-sized 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic minced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
A good pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lb rigatoni pasta
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
A tiny pinch of nutmeg
Salt and white pepper to taste
Fresh parsley chopped up

Instructions

Step 1:

get your pasta going boil up some salty water and toss in the rigatoni cook it till its got a little bite save a mug of that pasta water its liquid gold then drain the pasta and let it chill

Step 2:

while the pasta cooks pat your steak cubes totally dry this is the secret to a killer sear season them good with salt and pepper get a skillet super hot and sear the steak until its nice and brown in the last minute add butter and half the garlic your kitchen will smell amazing then take the steak out

Step 3:

dont wash the pan turn the heat down and melt more butter and the rest of the garlic whisk in the flour then slowly pour in the milk and cream whisking like crazy so its not lumpy let it bubble a bit then stir in all the cheeses the garlic powder and that secret pinch of nutmeg keep stirring till its a smooth velvety sauce

Step 4:

time for the magic dump the cooked pasta into that glorious cheese sauce and stir it all up gently fold in your steak and let everything hang out in the pan for a minute so the flavors become friends then serve it up

Notes

Notes:

Pat your steak totally dry with a paper towel for the best sear ever its a game changer
Dont skip the tiny pinch of nutmeg in the cheese sauce sounds weird but trust me it makes the cheese taste even better
This dish is so good with garlic bread on the side you need something to mop up all that extra sauce
For a little kick try a sprinkle of red pepper flakes on top when you serve it

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 960Total Fat: 64gSaturated Fat: 33gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 230mgSodium: 742mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 53g

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