Description
This Cajun Garlic Butter Linguine with Tender Beef Strips Rigatoni is a flavorful and creamy pasta dish featuring perfectly seared beef cubes tossed in a rich Cajun-spiced garlic butter cream sauce. Combining tender pasta with bold spices and creamy Parmesan, this dish is perfect for a comforting yet adventurous weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
Beef and Seasoning
- 1 lb beef sirloin or tenderloin, cut into cubes
- 1 ½ tbsp Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil rigatoni in salted water until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Season and Sear Beef: Season the beef cubes evenly with Cajun seasoning. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear beef cubes on all sides until browned and cooked to your preferred doneness, about 4-6 minutes. Remove beef from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce Base: In the same skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, approximately 1-2 minutes. Stir in additional Cajun seasoning and paprika to build the flavor.
- Create Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and let it simmer gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally to combine flavors. Gradually stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the drained rigatoni into the skillet with the cream sauce. Toss the pasta to ensure it is evenly coated. Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Top the sauced pasta with the seared beef strips. Garnish the dish with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of paprika for color and extra flavor. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning to manage the spice level according to your preference.
- Using fresh Parmesan cheese will yield the creamiest sauce texture and best flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining to help loosen and bind the sauce to the pasta.
- For a lighter option, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, though sauce may be less rich.
- Rest the seared beef briefly after cooking to help retain juices and tenderness.
