Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream
Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream is a quick, better-than-takeout dinner that’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly cooked steak bites every time. The crispy edges and creamy Parmesan sauce make this dish irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken and Tropical Mango Cookies.
Why This Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy steak bites with a rich garlic butter sauce
- Creamy Parmesan pasta that's better than takeout
- Easy, 30-minute dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights
- Customizable with your favorite veggies and seasonings
What You'll Need for Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Steak (flank or sirloin)
- Pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic
- Butter
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Optional: Mushrooms
- Optional: Bell peppers
- Optional: Spinach
- Optional: Cherry tomatoes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Steak: Flank or sirloin steak works best for these bites. You can also use strip steak or ribeye.
- Pasta: Spaghetti or linguine work well. You can also use fettuccine or even egg noodles.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing → See on Amazon
- Meat tenderizer — Ensures tender steak bites every time → See on Amazon
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream
- Prepare steak: Freeze steak for 15 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook steak: Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat. Add steak, cook until browned, then remove from skillet. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in butter until melted and combined.
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Make sauce: Add Parmesan cheese to the skillet, stirring until melted and creamy. Gradually add pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Combine: Toss cooked pasta in the skillet with the steak bites and sauce. Add optional veggies if desired. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream
- Common mistake and fix: Overcooking steak leads to tough bites. To prevent this, use a meat thermometer and remove steak from skillet at 125°F (52°C).
- Pro tip: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the garlic butter sauce.
- Pro tip: To make this dish ahead, cook steak and pasta separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
Storing & Reheating Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Cook steak and pasta separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
Freezing Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream
Freeze cooked steak bites for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan meal, cook pasta directly in the skillet after removing steak. Add more water as needed.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken or tofu for the steak for a different protein option.
- Make-ahead: Cook steak and pasta separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If sauce is too thick, add more pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked steak every time → Check price on Amazon
Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Steak (flank or sirloin)
- Pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic
- Butter
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Optional Toppings
- Mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Spinach
- Cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare steak: Freeze steak for 15 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook steak: Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat. Add steak, cook until browned, then remove from skillet. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in butter until melted and combined.
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Make sauce: Add Parmesan cheese to the skillet, stirring until melted and creamy. Gradually add pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Combine: Toss cooked pasta in the skillet with the steak bites and sauce. Add optional veggies if desired. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan meal, cook pasta directly in the skillet after removing steak. Add more water as needed.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken or tofu for the steak for a different protein option.
- Make-ahead: Cook steak and pasta separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If sauce is too thick, add more pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked steak bites for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: Cook steak and pasta separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 20g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream FAQs
Yes, cook steak and pasta separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
Overcooking steak leads to tough bites. Use a meat thermometer and remove steak from skillet at 125°F (52°C).
Yes, cook steak bites in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 5-7 minutes, then proceed with the recipe.
Freeze steak for 15 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
Garlic Butter Steak Bites is an evergreen dish that's perfect for busy weeknights, regardless of the season.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Pasta & Parmesan Cream and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
