Cracked Garlic Steak Tortellini in Creamhouse Sauce (Print)

Tender steak and cheese tortellini in a rich, creamy garlic sauce—ready in 45 minutes for an elegant weeknight dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Steak

01 - 12 oz sirloin steak, trimmed
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

→ Tortellini

05 - 18 oz fresh cheese tortellini

→ Creamhouse Sauce

06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 5 large garlic cloves, cracked and finely chopped
08 - 1 medium shallot, finely diced
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
13 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
17 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Optional Garnishes

18 - Extra Parmesan, for serving
19 - Fresh cracked black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Remove steak from the refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking. Pat dry and season all sides with salt and cracked black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear steak 3-4 minutes per side until medium-rare or desired doneness. Transfer to a plate, tent loosely with foil, and rest.
03 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain.
04 - In the same skillet (wipe out excess oil, but keep browned bits), melt butter over medium heat. Add cracked garlic and shallot; sauté 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
05 - Stir in heavy cream, chicken broth, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened.
06 - Slice rested steak thinly against the grain.
07 - Add cooked tortellini and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss gently to coat in sauce.
08 - Fold in sliced steak, parsley, and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning if needed.
09 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and cracked black pepper.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cracked garlic technique creates layers of flavor you cannot get from minced alone
  • Restaurant quality results in under 45 minutes without any fancy techniques
02 -
  • Reserving pasta water is the secret to perfectly silky sauce consistency
  • Slicing against the grain keeps the steak tender in every bite
03 -
  • Keep the browned bits in the pan after cooking steak for extra depth
  • Grate your own Parmesan because pre-grated resists melting