Description
This Indulgent Cajun Garlic Butter Rigatoni with Tender Beef Strips is a rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring perfectly seared beef strips tossed in a creamy, smoky Cajun garlic butter sauce. The ridged rigatoni holds the luscious sauce beautifully, enhanced with parmesan cheese and a finishing touch of fresh parsley and smoked paprika. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight dinner that delivers comforting indulgence with a spicy kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz Rigatoni Pasta
- Salt, to taste
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Beef
- 1 lb Beef Sirloin or Ribeye, thinly sliced
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp Cajun Seasoning (divided)
- Splash of oil (for searing)
Sauce
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 4 cloves Garlic, freshly minced
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season and Sear Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a splash of oil until shimmering. Season the beef strips with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Place the beef in the hot skillet and sear for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked to your preferred doneness. Remove beef and set aside.
- Cook Rigatoni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add rigatoni and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10–12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining and set pasta aside.
- Prepare Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce: Using the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add unsalted butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle in the remaining 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and stir to combine.
- Add Cream and Simmer: Pour in the heavy cream while increasing heat to medium-high. Stir continuously and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until it slightly thickens.
- Toss Pasta and Beef in Sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Return seared beef strips to the skillet and mix in freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Garnish the pasta with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika. Serve immediately while hot for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For extra spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best texture and flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Beef can be substituted with chicken strips or shrimp for variation.
- To reduce calories, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, although sauce richness will vary.
