Creamy Garlic Parmesan Steak Pasta: The Ultimate Comfort Food

This indulgent Garlic Parmesan Steak Pasta combines tender ribeye steak with a velvety, cheesy sauce that clings to perfectly cooked rigatoni. It’s an impressive yet simple dish perfect for date night, special occasions, or anytime you’re craving something truly satisfying.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s something magical about the combination of juicy steak and creamy pasta that feels both indulgent and comforting. This Garlic Parmesan Steak Pasta recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor with surprisingly little effort, making it perfect for both special occasions and weeknight splurges.

The rich, velvety sauce wraps around each piece of ridged rigatoni, while perfectly seasoned ribeye steak adds a savory depth that elevates this dish beyond ordinary pasta recipes. Whether you’re planning a cozy date night dinner, a Valentine’s Day feast, or simply treating yourself after a long week, this creamy steak pasta won’t disappoint.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. Enjoy it during cold winter evenings when you crave something hearty and warming, or make it in summer and cook the steaks on the grill for a delicious twist. The combination of tender steak, creamy sauce, and al dente pasta creates a memorable meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This Garlic Parmesan Steak Pasta combines simple ingredients to create extraordinary flavor:

• Ribeye Steak: The star of the show with its beautiful marbling that ensures each bite is tender and juicy
• Paprika: Adds a warm, smoky depth that complements the steak perfectly
• Dried Parsley: Brings a gentle herbaceous note to the seasoning blend
• Olive Oil: Perfect for creating that beautiful sear on the steak
• Butter: Adds richness while basting the steak and forms the base of our sauce
• Salt & Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance all the other flavors
• Onion: Creates a sweet, aromatic foundation for the sauce
• Garlic Cloves: Infuses the dish with that irresistible garlic flavor
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth and savory notes to the sauce
• Heavy Cream: Creates the luxurious, velvety texture we’re looking for
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds a nutty, salty element while helping to thicken the sauce
• Fresh Parsley: Brightens the finished dish with color and fresh flavor
• Rigatoni: The perfect pasta shape for holding onto our creamy sauce
• White Wine (optional): Adds acidity and depth to the sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Steaks

1. Season the steaks: Generously coat both sides of your ribeye steaks with paprika, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and massage the seasonings into the meat to ensure even coverage.
2. Prep your ingredients: While the steaks absorb those flavors, prepare the remaining ingredients. Finely dice the onion, mince the garlic cloves, chop the fresh parsley, and grate the Parmesan cheese.

Cooking Your Steaks to Perfection

3. Sear the steaks: Heat a large skillet over high heat until it’s screaming hot (about 1 minute). Place your seasoned ribeye steaks in the hot pan and sear for just 1 minute on each side until you’ve got a beautiful golden-brown crust.
4. Butter baste: Add a knob of butter to the pan and spoon the melted butter over the steaks for an additional minute. This adds flavor while helping to create that perfect crust.
5. Rest the meat: Remove the steaks from the pan and set them aside to rest. This crucial step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every bite is moist and flavorful. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm.

Creating the Pasta and Sauce

6. Cook the pasta: While the steaks are resting, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to package instructions until al dente (tender but still with a slight bite).
7. Start the sauce: In the same pan used for the steaks (don’t waste those flavorful drippings!), add a bit more butter. Sauté the diced onion over medium heat for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
8. Optional wine deglazing: If using white wine, add it now to deglaze the pan, scraping up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes to reduce slightly. This is also a good time to add a sprinkle more paprika for extra depth.

Bringing It All Together

9. Create the creamy base: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat, allowing the sauce to begin thickening.
10. Add the cheese: Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese along with salt and black pepper to taste. Continue stirring until the cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
11. Combine with pasta: Once the rigatoni is cooked, drain it (reserving some pasta water) and add it directly to the pan with the sauce. Toss in most of the chopped fresh parsley and stir everything together until the pasta is well coated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
12. Add the steak: Slice the rested ribeye steaks into bite-sized cubes or thin strips. Plate the creamy rigatoni and top each serving with the seared steak pieces.
13. Garnish and serve: Finish with a sprinkle of the remaining fresh parsley and additional Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately, perhaps with some garlic bread on the side for the ultimate comfort food experience.

Expert Tips for Success

• Let the steaks rest: Don’t skip the resting time for your steaks! This 5-10 minute period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring each bite is tender and juicy.