Description
This Steak & Blue Cheese Rigatoni Bake is a sophisticated gourmet experience. Perfectly seared steak strips are combined with a rich, velvety blue cheese cream sauce and al dente rigatoni, then baked under a golden layer of mozzarella for a comforting yet elegant restaurant-quality meal.
Ingredients
The Steak & Pasta
- 1 lb Steak (Sirloin or Ribeye), sliced into strips
- 12 oz Rigatoni pasta
- 2 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 1 medium Bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
The Blue Cheese Cream Sauce
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 4 oz Blue cheese, crumbled (or Gorgonzola)
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
The Golden Topping
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Pasta: Cook rigatoni until al dente; drain and set aside.
Steak: Sear steak strips in olive oil over medium-high heat until caramelized. Remove from pan.
Aromatics: Sauté onion and bell pepper until soft; add garlic for 1 minute.
Sauce: Pour heavy cream into the skillet (deglaze the pan). Stir in blue cheese and spices; simmer until thickened.
Combine: Toss pasta and steak in the sauce until coated.
Bake: Transfer to a dish, top with mozzarella, and bake at 375°F for 15–20 mins until golden.
Notes
The Maillard Reaction: Don’t crowd the pan when searing the steak; this ensures a brown crust rather than steaming.
Deglazing: Scraping the ‘fond’ (browned bits) into the cream is the secret to a deep, savory restaurant-style sauce.
Al Dente: Undercook the pasta slightly during boiling so it maintains a perfect texture after baking in the cream.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing / Baking
- Cuisine: Modern Steakhouse
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Large Bowl
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 840mg
- Fat: 48g
- Saturated Fat: 26g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: steak and blue cheese pasta, gourmet rigatoni bake, blue cheese cream sauce, ribeye pasta recipe, steak casserole, elegant weeknight dinner, cheesy steak pasta