High-Protein Dinner Ready in 30 Minutes! 🥩🍝✨ Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Creamy Pasta

This is a quick, indulgent one-pan (mostly) dinner that combines juicy, garlicky steak bites with a rich, creamy pasta sauce. The steak is seared to perfection in garlic butter, then the pasta is tossed in a luscious Parmesan cream sauce that clings beautifully. Ready in about 30-35 minutes, perfect for weeknights or date nights. Ingredients (Serves 4) For the Garlic Butter Steak Bites: 1.5 lbs (680g) sirloin steak (or ribeye/New York strip), cut into 1-inch cubes 4-5 tablespoons unsalted butter 6-8 garlic cloves, minced (divided use) 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (plus more for garnish) Optional: ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes for heat For the Creamy Pasta: 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni work great) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (or 2 shallots) 4 garlic cloves, minced (from the total above) 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter version) ½ cup (120ml) beef or chicken broth 1 cup (100g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning Salt and black pepper to taste Optional: 2-3 cups fresh spinach or baby arugula for greens Juice of ½ lemon (to brighten) Nutmeg Garnish: Extra Parmesan, chopped parsley, freshly cracked black pepper Instructions 1. Prep the steak: Pat the steak cubes dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. 2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain. (Start this while searing the steak.) 3. Sear the steak bites: Heat a large skillet (cast iron preferred) over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Once melted and hot, add the steak in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Sear for 1-2 minutes per side until browned and cooked to your liking (medium-rare is about 130-135°F internal). Remove to a plate. In the same skillet, add remaining butter, most of the minced garlic (reserve some for sauce), and red pepper flakes. Cook 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Return steak to the skillet, toss in the garlic butter, and finish with parsley. Set aside (tent with foil to keep warm). 4. Make the creamy sauce: In the same skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion/shallot until softened (3-4 minutes). Add remaining garlic and cook 30 seconds. Pour in broth to deglaze, scraping up browned bits. Stir in heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan until melted and smooth. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if too thick. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. 5. Combine: Add cooked pasta (and spinach if using) to the sauce. Toss to coat. Gently fold in the steak bites with all the garlic butter juices. Heat through for 1 minute. Adjust consistency with more pasta water if needed. 6. Serve: Plate immediately. Garnish with extra Parmesan, parsley, and black pepper. Pair with a simple green salad or garlic bread. Pro Tips: Don’t overcook the steak — it continues cooking off-heat. Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-shredded. For a lighter version: Use half-and-half + a bit more broth, or add more veggies. Make it ahead: Cook components separately and combine just before serving. Spice it up: Add Cajun seasoning to the steak or sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce. Storage: Leftovers keep 2-3 days in the fridge. Reheat gently with a splash of cream or broth. Grocery Store Shopping List Meat: 1.5 lbs sirloin steak (or ribeye) Dairy: 4-5 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup (or small block) Parmesan cheese (for grating) Produce: 1 bulb garlic (or pre-minced if preferred) 1 small yellow onion (or 2 shallots) 1 bunch fresh parsley 1 lemon Optional: Baby spinach or arugula (2-3 cups) Pantry / Pasta: 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, etc.) Olive oil Kosher salt & black pepper Smoked paprika (if not in pantry) Italian seasoning Optional: Red pepper flakes, beef/chicken broth #GarlicButterSteak #SteakBites #CreamyPasta #EasyDinner #SteakAndPasta #ComfortFood #WeeknightMeals #DateNightDinner #OnePanMeals