Cajun Steak Rigatoni with Parmesan Cream Sauce
Creamy, cheesy rigatoni tossed in a rich Parmesan sauce with Cajun-seared steak tips—bold, comforting, and restaurant-style at home.
Pin Share Print Servings: 4
Calories: 860kcal
Cost: $30
Equipment
- 1 Large pot (for boiling pasta)
- 1 Large skillet (for searing steak + making sauce)
- 1 Cutting board (for steak prep)
- 1 Sharp knife (for cubing steak)
- 1 Whisk (for sauce)
- 1 Colander (to drain pasta)
- 1 measuring spoon set (spices & sauce consistency)
Ingredients
Cajun Seasoning
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper - mild/medium; reduce to ¼ teaspoon for very mild
- ½ teaspoon salt
Steak
- 1.5 lb sirloin steak tips - cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon butter
- salt - to taste
- black pepper - to taste
Pasta
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- water - for boiling
- salt - for pasta water
Parmesan Cream Sauce
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic - minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1.5 cups Parmesan cheese - grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese - shredded
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt - to taste
- black pepper - to taste
- fresh parsley - garnish
Instructions
- Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, pepper, cayenne, and salt.
- Pat steak dry, toss with Cajun mix. Rest 15 minutes.
- Cook rigatoni in salted water until al dente. Drain (reserve a splash of pasta water).
- Heat olive oil in a hot skillet. Sear steak tips 2 minutes per side until browned; remove. Add 2 tablespoon butter, let it melt.
- In the same skillet, melt 3 tablespoon butter, add minced garlic, cook 30–60 seconds (don’t brown).
- Add heavy cream; simmer gently. Stir in Parmesan and mozzarella until smooth. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Add rigatoni to sauce; loosen with a splash of pasta water if needed.
- Return steak tips to the pan and toss 2 minutes to heat through.
- Top with parsley (and optional sesame seeds/green onions if you like). Serve hot.
Nutrition
Serving: 1recipe | Calories: 860kcal (43%) | Carbohydrates: 62g (21%) | Protein: 45g (90%) | Fat: 48g (74%) | Saturated Fat: 24g (150%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 190mg (63%) | Sodium: 980mg (43%) | Potassium: 720mg (21%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 6g (7%) | Vitamin A: 900IU (18%) | Vitamin C: 6mg (7%) | Calcium: 520mg (52%) | Iron: 5mg (28%)