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Cajun Steak Tips in Cheesy Rigatoni Parmesan Sauce – Creamy, Spicy, and Loaded with Flavor
If you love bold Cajun flavor, tender steak, and rich creamy pasta, this Cajun Steak Tips in Cheesy Rigatoni Parmesan Sauce is about to become your new obsession. This recipe brings together melt-in-your-mouth steak bites, perfectly cooked rigatoni, and a decadent parmesan cream sauce that’s seasoned with smoky Cajun spices. It’s the perfect fusion of comfort-food richness and spicy steakhouse energy.
This dish is everything you want in a cozy indulgent dinner — steak for protein, cheese for comfort, pasta for satisfaction, and Cajun seasoning for a kick that keeps every bite exciting. The steak tips get beautifully seared in a hot skillet, creating caramelized edges while staying amazingly juicy inside. The rigatoni, with its ridges and hollow center, catches every drop of the creamy parmesan sauce.
The sauce is velvety, garlic-forward, buttery, and layered with Cajun spices that provide warmth and personality without overpowering the dish. It’s the kind of sauce that hugs every noodle and clings to the steak, making each bite a blend of savory, creamy, spicy, and cheesy goodness.
This recipe feels restaurant-level — but it’s surprisingly easy to make at home. You only need about 30–40 minutes, one pot for pasta, and one skillet for the steak and sauce. Whether you’re cooking for your family, a date night, or simply treating yourself, this dish delivers show-stopping flavor without complicated steps.
Let’s dig into what makes this pasta truly irresistible.
Why This Cajun Steak Pasta Works So Well
1. The Cajun seasoning brings the heat.
It adds smoky warmth, peppery bite, and depth of flavor that cuts through the richness of the sauce.
2. Steak tips are fast, flavorful, and tender.
They cook quickly and develop gorgeous browning.
3. Rigatoni is the perfect pasta for heavy sauces.
Its ridges grip the cheesy sauce better than smooth pasta shapes.
4. Parmesan cream sauce = pure luxury.
Cream, butter, garlic, parmesan — you can’t go wrong.
5. The flavor balance is perfection.
Creamy + spicy + savory + cheesy = the kind of dish people ask you for the recipe for.
Ingredients
– Cajun Steak Tips in Cheesy Rigatoni Parmesan Sauce Ingredients –
- 1 lb sirloin or ribeye steak, cut into bite-sized tips
- 1 ½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 3 tbsp butter
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup pasta water or chicken broth
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or white wine (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional garnish: extra parmesan, red pepper flakes
Instructions
1. Cook the rigatoni.
Boil in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water.
2. Season the steak tips.
In a bowl, toss steak with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Sear the steak.
Heat olive oil in a hot skillet. Sear steak tips 1–2 minutes per side until browned. Remove and set aside.
4. Make the parmesan cream sauce.
In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
5. Add spices.
Stir in smoked paprika and onion powder.
6. Add cream and milk.
Pour in cream and milk, stirring until smooth.
7. Melt the parmesan.
Add parmesan and stir until melted. Add pasta water to thin as needed.
8. Combine everything.
Add cooked rigatoni and steak tips back to the pan. Toss to coat.
9. Garnish and serve.
Top with fresh parsley, extra parmesan, and red pepper flakes.
Cajun Steak Tips in Cheesy Rigatoni Parmesan Sauce
Tender Cajun-seasoned steak tips tossed with rigatoni in a creamy, cheesy parmesan sauce. Bold, rich, spicy, and irresistibly comforting.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook rigatoni until al dente and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Season steak tips with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and sear steak tips until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Melt butter in the skillet and sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Stir in smoked paprika and onion powder.
- Add heavy cream, milk, and parmesan, stirring until melted.
- Add pasta water to thin sauce as needed.
- Add rigatoni and steak tips back to the skillet. Toss to combine.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For a thicker sauce, add 3 oz cream cheese.
Pro Tips for Perfect Cajun Steak Pasta
1. Slice the steak across the grain.
This keeps it tender.
2. Use freshly grated parmesan.
Pre-grated cheese won’t melt smoothly.
3. Don’t overcook the steak.
It will finish in the sauce.
4. Let pasta water be your secret weapon.
It creates a silky sauce texture.
5. Serve immediately.
Cream sauces thicken as they cool.
Variations
Extra Spicy Version
Add cayenne or hot sauce when searing the steak.
Add Vegetables
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
- Bell peppers
- Sun-dried tomatoes
Creamier Version
Add 3 oz cream cheese for ultra-thickness.
Protein Swaps
- Chicken breast
- Shrimp
- Sausage
Serving Suggestions
- Garlic bread
- Caesar salad
- Roasted asparagus
- A squeeze of lemon for brightness
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator:
Store up to 4 days.
Reheat:
Warm on low heat with added milk or broth to loosen.
Freezing:
Not recommended due to the dairy base.
Cooking Inspiration
Cajun cuisine is beloved for its unapologetically bold flavors — smoky, spicy, aromatic, and comforting. Pairing these flavors with creamy pasta creates a fusion of Southern heat and Italian comfort that just works. This dish celebrates indulgence, richness, and seasoning without being complicated. It’s equally great for weeknights or special occasions and always delivers unforgettable flavor.
