Description
Bring steakhouse comfort home with this one-pan creamy Cajun butter steak pasta. Tender, juicy steak bites are seared in garlicky butter, then tossed with al dente pasta in a silky Cajun-spiced cream sauce that clings to every strand. It’s a fast easy dinner that tastes gourmet—big on bold flavor, low on dishes, and perfect for busy nights. Great for weeknight dinner ideas, date night in, or when you just need a cozy bowl of creamy pasta. Try it for a quick dinner that satisfies, and file it under food ideas that always get requested again.
Ingredients
12 oz penne pasta
1 lb sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, divided
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain.
2. Pat steak dry. Toss with 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear steak in a single layer 1–2 minutes per side until browned but still tender. Transfer to a plate.
4. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tbsp butter to the skillet. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Sprinkle in remaining 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (and cayenne, if using).
5. Pour in heavy cream; simmer 1–2 minutes. Whisk in Parmesan until smooth.
6. Add cooked pasta and steak (with juices). Toss, loosening with reserved pasta water as needed until sauce coats everything.
7. Finish with lemon juice and parsley. Taste and adjust salt/pepper. Serve hot.
Notes
For ultra-tender steak, pull it from the pan when it’s just shy of your preferred doneness; it will finish in the sauce.
Control heat: start with the Cajun seasoning amount listed, then add cayenne or extra Cajun to taste at the end.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1⅓ cups (about 350 g)
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 870
- Fat: 33
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 66
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 39
- Cholesterol: 155
Keywords: cajun pasta, steak pasta, skillet dinner, one pan, weeknight dinner, creamy pasta, spicy pasta