Description

This Creamy Ranch Steak & Mozzarella Garlic Butter Pasta is a comforting and rich dish combining tender seared steak bites with al dente penne pasta, tossed in a luscious garlic butter ranch sauce enriched with melting mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner, this recipe blends simple ingredients to create a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Steak & Pasta

1 pound steak (sirloin or ribeye), cut into bite-sized pieces
12 ounces penne pasta
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce

4 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet ranch seasoning mix (about 1 ounce)
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Prepare the Steak: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bite-sized steak pieces to the pan, seasoning them with salt and black pepper. Sear the steak bites until they are browned and cooked to your preferred level of doneness. Once cooked, remove the steak from the skillet and set aside.
Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet used for the steak, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
Make the Sauce: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic butter. Stir in the packet of ranch seasoning mix. Let the sauce simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
Add Cheese: Add the shredded mozzarella cheese to the sauce and stir continuously until it melts completely, forming a creamy, smooth sauce.
Combine: Return the drained pasta and seared steak back into the skillet. Toss everything together thoroughly to coat the pasta and steak with the creamy ranch mozzarella sauce.
Serve: Serve the pasta hot, optionally garnished with extra shredded cheese or fresh herbs like parsley for added flavor and presentation.

Notes

For steak doneness, cook longer for well done or less for medium-rare as preferred.
Use freshly minced garlic for best flavor.
If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of milk or more heavy cream to loosen it.
You can substitute mozzarella with provolone or a cheese blend for variation.
Adding fresh herbs like parsley or chives adds brightness to the dish.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: steak pasta, ranch pasta, creamy pasta, garlic butter pasta, mozzarella pasta, one skillet dinner