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Garlic Butter Steak Bites and Cheese Tortellini Skillet

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Tender steak bites seared in garlic butter and tossed with cheesy tortellini for a comforting, crowd-pleasing skillet dinner. Ready in 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights or cozy gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb sirloin steak or ribeye, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 9 oz cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated preferred)
  • 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
  • 1 cup baby spinach (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut steak into 1-inch cubes and pat dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and black pepper.
  2. Mince garlic, chop parsley, and zest lemon if using.
  3. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add tortellini and cook according to package directions (3-4 minutes for fresh, 6-7 for frozen). Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, drain tortellini, and set aside.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add steak cubes in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Sear for 2-3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until browned but still pink in the center. Transfer steak bites to a plate and cover loosely with foil.
  5. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet and let it melt, scraping up any brown bits. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add red pepper flakes if using.
  6. Add cooked tortellini to the garlic butter sauce; toss gently to coat. Pour in reserved pasta water and stir.
  7. Return steak bites (and any juices) to the skillet. Add parsley, lemon zest, and spinach if using; stir until spinach wilts.
  8. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the skillet. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  9. Serve immediately, straight from the skillet.

Notes

Let steak come to room temperature before cooking for best results. Don’t overcrowd the pan when searing steak bites. Save a splash of pasta water to help the sauce cling to the tortellini and steak. For gluten-free or dairy-free adaptations, use appropriate tortellini and butter substitutes. Leftovers reheat well and taste even richer after a day or two.

Nutrition

Keywords: steak bites, garlic butter, cheese tortellini, skillet dinner, easy dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal, family recipe

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/garlic-butter-steak-bites-and-cheese-tortellini-skillet-easy-30-minute-dinner/