Description

Satisfy your comfort food cravings with this bold and flavorful dish — Garlic Butter Steak Bites & Creamy Chipotle White Cheddar Shells. Perfect for an easy dinner or an elevated weekend meal, this recipe brings together juicy, golden-seared steak in a luscious garlic butter sauce, paired with creamy, smoky chipotle cheese shells. Whether you’re looking for dinner ideas to impress or a quick recipe that delivers rich flavor, this one hits all the right notes. Packed with protein and bold seasoning, it’s a show-stopping option for food lovers who crave indulgence without the fuss.

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds sirloin or ribeye steak, cubed

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

8 ounces medium pasta shells

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk, warmed

1 ½ cups white cheddar cheese, freshly grated

1 chipotle pepper in adobo, minced (add more if preferred)

1 tablespoon adobo sauce

½ teaspoon garlic powder

salt, to taste

Instructions

1. Trim the steak, cut into bite-sized cubes, and pat dry. Season generously with salt and pepper. Mince garlic, chop chipotle, and shred cheese.

2. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.

3. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat. Add steak bites in batches, searing for 1–2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

4. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add minced garlic and stir until golden and fragrant. Return steak to the skillet and toss in garlic butter. Turn off heat.

5. In a medium saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour. Cook for 1 minute, then gradually whisk in warm milk. Stir until sauce thickens.

6. Lower heat and stir in white cheddar until melted. Add chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Adjust spice level to taste.

7. Add drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to combine. Use reserved pasta water to thin sauce if needed.

8. Serve pasta in bowls, topped with garlic butter steak bites. Drizzle remaining butter over top and garnish with parsley or a squeeze of lime.

Notes

Use freshly grated cheese for the creamiest sauce — it melts better and avoids clumps.

Don’t skip resting the steak in the garlic butter — this step helps the flavor absorb and keeps it juicy.

If the sauce thickens too much, loosen it with warm milk or a splash of pasta water for the perfect texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stove-top
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 710
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 620mg
Fat: 44g
Saturated Fat: 22g
Unsaturated Fat: 18g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 43g
Cholesterol: 160mg

Keywords: garlic butter steak, creamy chipotle pasta, quick dinner, easy recipe, dinner ideas