Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Shells

 

Creamy • Garlicky • Comfort in Every Bite

If you’re craving a restaurant-quality pasta dish that’s bursting with flavor, this Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Shells skillet will be your new weeknight favorite. Tender seared steak cubes, perfectly cooked pasta shells, and a rich, velvety garlic butter cream sauce come together in one irresistible pan. It’s comforting, indulgent, and incredibly easy to make — the kind of dinner everyone will ask for again and again.

Ingredients

For the Pasta

• 12 oz pasta shells
• Salt (for boiling)

For the Steak

• 1 lb steak (sirloin, ribeye, or your favorite cut),
  cut into bite-sized cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika — to taste

For the Garlic Butter Sauce

• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup whole milk
• ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Optional Garnishes

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Extra Parmesan

Directions

1 Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add pasta shells and cook until al dente according to package directions.

Drain the pasta and set aside, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water for later.

Tip: Don’t overcook — the shells will continue to absorb sauce in the skillet.

2 Sear the Steak

1. Pat steak cubes dry with paper towels for the best sear.
2. Season generously with:
   • Salt
   • Black pepper
   • Garlic powder
   • Smoked paprika
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add the steak cubes in a single layer and sear for 3–5 minutes, until browned and cooked to your preferred doneness.

Remove steak from the skillet and set aside.

Don’t overcrowd the pan — sear in batches if needed for caramelized edges.

3 Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

Using the same skillet (don’t wash it — keep the flavor!):

1. Reduce heat to medium.
2. Add butter and melt.
3. Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Pour in heavy cream and whole milk.
5. Stir gently and bring to a low simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.

4 Add the Parmesan

Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan until the sauce becomes smooth, silky, and creamy.

Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or garlic powder if needed.

5 Combine Everything

Add the cooked pasta shells and seared steak back into the skillet.

Toss until everything is well coated in the rich garlic butter sauce.
If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.

6 Serve & Enjoy

Serve immediately, garnished with:

• Fresh parsley
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Extra Parmesan

Enjoy every creamy, garlicky, steak-filled bite!

Recipe Time

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Servings: 4

Tips for the Best Steak & Pasta

• Use a hot skillet to get a golden crust on the steak.
• Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded.
• Adjust creaminess by adding more pasta water as needed.
• Ribeye gives the richest flavor, but sirloin works beautifully too.
• Add mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra texture.

Optional Variations

• Spicy Cajun Version: Add 1–2 tsp Cajun seasoning to the steak.
• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Shells: Swap steak for chicken.
• Four-Cheese Sauce: Mix Parmesan with mozzarella, white cheddar, and Romano.
• Lemon Garlic Twist: Add a squeeze of lemon to brighten the sauce.