Flavorful Steak Caesar Pasta (Print)
Juicy grilled steak with crisp romaine, pasta, and creamy Caesar dressing for a fresh, hearty salad.
# 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 Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Pat steak dry and rub with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill steak for 3–4 minutes per side for medium-rare, or until desired doneness. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine cooled pasta, chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
05 - Drizzle with Caesar dressing, add grated Parmesan and lemon juice, and toss gently to combine.
06 - Top salad with sliced steak, croutons, and shaved Parmesan. Finish with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
07 - Serve immediately, or chill for 15 minutes for a colder salad.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between warm, juicy steak and cool, crisp vegetables makes every bite interesting
- It transforms ordinary pasta salad into something that feels like a restaurant quality meal
- You can assemble everything ahead and just grill the steak right before serving
02 -
- Letting the steak rest is not optional, it is the difference between juicy and dry meat
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water prevents it from becoming a gummy, overcooked mess
- The salad needs to be dressed right before serving or the lettuce will wilt and lose its crispness
03 -
- Slice the steak as thinly as possible so it distributes evenly throughout the salad
- Toast store-bought croutons in a dry pan for 2 minutes to revive their crunch