This Cowboy Butter Steak Tortellini is an easy one-pot pasta recipe that’s hearty and filling. An easy dinner that’s big on flavor and the whole family will love any night of the week.
This delicious Cowboy Butter Steak Tortellini Dish is restaurant-worthy and a total crowd pleaser, but is incredibly easy to make! It is the most rich, creamy, and out of this world pasta recipe out there. Best of all, it only requires one pot. Everything is combined and cooks in the same pot, making cleanup simple and weeknight dinners effortless.
This dish is the perfect dinner for all of your family and friends. If you enjoy this dish, make sure you try my Slow Cooker Tortellini and Cheese
or my Tortellini with Sausage recipes, both fan favorite pasta recipes. Feel free to also use my Garlic Steak Bites recipe when you cook your steak for some extra flavor!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One pot dinner – super east cleanup.
- Rich and creamy comfort food – the whole will love this recipe
- Tender steak paired – the perfect pasta flavor.
- Ready in about 30 minutes – great for a weeknight dinner.
What Is Cowboy Butter?
Cowboy butter is a flavorful butter mixture that pairs well with steak and seafood. It provides an elevated flavor by combining butter with spices such as red pepper flakes, paprika, dijon mustard, and sometimes other pepper seasonings. it is a tangy, spicy, more delicious version of plain old butter to spice up your dinner time!
Ingredients:
- Steak of Choice – I prefer Top Sirloin.
- Cheese Tortellini (fresh) – I get mine from Sam’s Club or Costco.
- Butter – I use salted grass-fed for better flavor.
- Minced Garlic – I use jarlic — jarred garlic — for ease.
- Garlic Powder – Perfect flavors with little effort.
- Smoked Paprika – Adds a small kick of flavor that isn’t overpowering.
- Black Pepper – Simple yet essential.
- Red Pepper Flakes – Use these according to your spice preferences.
- Chicken Broth – This will keep the dish moist and flavorful.
- Heavy Cream – Adds a rich, creamy texture.
- Zest from Small Lemon – Won’t need very much so no need for a large lemon.
- Juice from 1/2 Lemon – Adds a nice tang to cut into the heavy flavors.
- Dijon Mustard – Adds another tangy yet spicy component.
- Grated Parmesan (optional garnish)
- Parsley (optional garnish)
How To Make Cowboy Butter Steak Tortellini:
- Season the steak pieces with salt and pepper.
2. Sear the steak on the grill or in a large skillet or pot with butter until browned; remove and set aside.
3. In the same pot, sauté butter, garlic until fragrant.
4. Add beef broth, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and spices to create the sauce.
5. Add the cream to the sauce.
6. Stir in the tortellini and simmer until tender.
7. Return the steak to the pot and toss everything together.
8. Finish with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley before serving.
Substitutions and Variations:
- Swap steak for grilled chicken or shrimp.
- Add spinach or kale for extra greens.
- Use spicy pepper jack tortellini for more heat.
- Stir in sautéed mushrooms for extra depth of flavor.
- Top with crispy bacon for an indulgent twist.
Expert Tips:
- Use a well-marbled steak like ribeye or sirloin for the best flavor.
- Make sure not to overcook the steak.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for a smoother, richer sauce.
- If the sauce thickens too much, add a bit of water or broth.
- Let the steak rest briefly before adding it back to the sauce.
What to Serve With Cowboy Butter Steak Tortellini:
- Garlic bread or crusty bread
- Simple green salad
- Roasted broccoli or asparagus
- Caesar salad
- Grilled vegetable
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions:
This recipe can be stored in the fridge and freezer for later use and reheating. Just make sure when storing this dish it is kept in an airtight container at a steady cold temperature. Refrigerating will only keep it fresh for less than one week, but freezing this dish can keep it delicious for months. To reheat you can use a microwave or put the food in a pot over the stove and slowly reheat, adding water or chicken broth to rehydrate as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use frozen tortellini?
Yes but fresh is recommended because of the better texture and it takes less time.
What cut of steak works best?
Top sirloin (or any sirloin) and ribeye would be my top picks.
Can I make this dish lighter?
While it is naturally quite heavy, you can use low fat ingredients or a lean cut of steak to lighten this meal.
Is cowboy butter spicy?
It is definitely spicier than regular butter, but you can cut back on the red pepper flakes and paprika to your liking. ‘
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. While it is best served fresh, it can also be stored cold and reheated in the microwave or on the stove!
More Delicious Pasta Recipes To Try:
Cowboy Butter SteakTortellini
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs steak of choice
- 24 oz these tortellini(fresh)
- 8 oz butter
- minced garlic
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- zest from small lemon
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- Grated Parmesan(optional)
- Parsley(optional)
Instructions
- Season steaks with salt/pepper/garlic and cook to desired temp then set aside.
- In a large saute pan add butter on med low heat.
- Once melted add minced garlic and stir until fragrant.
- Stir in seasonings then add chicken stock and heavy cream.
- Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and dijon mustard. Stir until combined.
- Add tortellini, bring to a simmer.
- Cover and allow tortellini to plump up(about 10 min) stirring every few min.
- Cut up steak into chunks once rested and add to tortellini. Stir until well coated.
- Top with grated parm and parsley, enjoy!
Looks wonderful, my husband will love this