Here’s a rich, restaurant-quality recipe you can easily make at home:
🥩 Garlic Butter Steak Bites & Creamy Parmesan Shells
Ingredients
For the Steak Bites:
- 1½ lbs sirloin steak (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary (optional)
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
For the Creamy Parmesan Shells:
- 8 oz medium pasta shells
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook shells according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Prepare the Steak Bites
- Pat steak cubes dry with paper towels (this helps get a good sear).
- Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat.
- Add steak in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
- Sear 2–3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to your liking.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
- Spoon melted garlic butter over steak for about 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and garnish with parsley.
3️⃣ Make the Creamy Parmesan Sauce
- In the same pan (or separate saucepan), melt butter over medium heat.
- Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute to remove raw taste.
- Slowly whisk in heavy cream and milk.
- Simmer 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Add cooked shells and toss until well coated.
🍽 Serve
Plate creamy shells and top with garlic butter steak bites. Spoon extra garlic butter from the pan over everything for maximum flavor.
🔥 Tips
- Use room-temperature steak for better searing.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded.
- Add spinach or mushrooms to the pasta for extra flavor.
If you’d like, I can also give you a lighter version or a one-pan version!
