Flavorful Steak Caesar Pasta (Printable version)
Hearty salad with grilled steak, romaine, pasta, and creamy Caesar dressing for a filling lunch or dinner.
# What you need:
→ Meat
01 - 12 oz sirloin steak
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Pasta
05 - 8 oz short pasta (penne or rotini)
→ Vegetables
06 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Dressing
09 - ⅓ cup Caesar dressing
10 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
→ Toppings
12 - ½ cup croutons
13 - ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How To:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool. Set aside.
02 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Pat steak dry and rub with olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper evenly.
03 - Grill steak for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness, adjusting time as needed for preferred doneness. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes.
04 - Slice rested steak thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness. Set aside.
05 - In a large salad bowl, add cooled pasta, chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced red onion.
06 - Drizzle Caesar dressing over salad, add grated Parmesan and lemon juice. Toss gently until evenly combined.
07 - Top with sliced steak, croutons, and shaved Parmesan. Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate 15 minutes for a chilled salad.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get that hit-the-spot satisfaction of a steak dinner but in a form that feeds a crowd without the fuss
- The temperature contrast between warm steak and chilled salad makes every bite interesting
- It holds up beautifully for hours, so you can prep it ahead and actually enjoy your own party
02 -
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water isn't optional unless you want warm, mushy salad vegetables
- Letting the steak rest is non-negotiable unless you want all those juices running onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat
- The salad actually gets better after sitting for 15 minutes as the flavors meld together
03 -
- Slice the steak as thin as you possibly can without shredding it
- Use room temperature ingredients so the cold pasta doesn't immediately cool down your warm steak