Spicy creamy steak pasta dish (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ For the Steak

01 - 1 pound sirloin or ribeye steak, at room temperature
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
04 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ For the Sauce

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1½ cups heavy cream
08 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
10 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Everything Else

11 - 12 ounces fettuccine pasta
12 - Fresh chopped parsley for garnish

# Instructions:

01 - Rub your steak with olive oil until it's nice and shiny. Then sprinkle that Cajun seasoning all over both sides. Don't forget a good pinch of salt and pepper too! Let it hang out at room temp for about 15 minutes while you get everything else ready.
02 - Fill up a big pot with water for your pasta and get it boiling. Don't forget to add a generous handful of salt to the water - your pasta needs flavor too!
03 - Heat up a cast iron skillet until it's smoking hot. Seriously - HOT! Slap that steak down and listen for that beautiful sizzle. Let it cook undisturbed for about 3-4 minutes before flipping. Another 3-4 minutes on the other side should give you a perfect medium-rare. If you like it more done, add a minute or two.
04 - Take the steak off the heat and let it rest on a cutting board. This is super important! If you cut it right away, all those amazing juices will run out and nobody wants that sad situation.
05 - In the same pan (hello, flavor!), drop in your butter and let it melt. Toss in the minced garlic and let it get all fragrant and golden - about a minute. Don't burn it or you'll have to start over!
06 - Pour in that heavy cream and let it come to a gentle simmer. This is where the magic starts happening! Let it bubble away for about 3 minutes until it starts to thicken up a bit.
07 - Now for the best part - grab handfuls of that Parmesan and sprinkle it in, whisking as you go. Then add the remaining Cajun seasoning and that smoky paprika. Keep whisking until everything is smooth and dreamy.
08 - By now your water should be boiling like crazy. Throw in your fettuccine and cook it until it's al dente - still has a bit of bite to it. Before you drain it, scoop out about 1/2 cup of that starchy pasta water in case you need it for the sauce.
09 - While the pasta's doing its thing, grab your rested steak and slice it against the grain into thin strips. This is what makes it tender, so don't skip this step!
10 - Drain your pasta and toss it right into that creamy sauce. If it seems too thick, splash in some of that reserved pasta water. Swirl everything around until every strand is coated in that velvety goodness.
11 - Twirl that saucy pasta onto warmed plates, arrange those gorgeous steak slices on top, and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Stand back and watch everyone's eyes go wide when you bring this to the table!

# Notes:

01 - This recipe works just as well with chicken or shrimp if you're not feeling the steak tonight.
02 - Like it spicy? Go ahead and add more Cajun seasoning to kick up the heat!
03 - The sauce will thicken as it cools, so serve this dish right away for the best texture.

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