Air Fryer Steak Tips & Pesto Parmesan Pasta

A buttery, cozy bowl of pasta with savory steak bites

Tender steak tips paired with pasta tossed in pesto, butter, and Parmesan—a simple, comforting dinner.

Ingredients

For the steak tips

• 1 lb steak tips (sirloin or tenderloin), cut into bite-size pieces

• 1 tbsp butter

• Pam

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning, optional (you can use whatever seasonings)

• Parsley

For the pesto Parmesan pasta

• 8 oz penne or pasta of choice (I use Tinkyada gluten-free penne pasta)

• 2–3 tbsp basil pesto, to taste

• 3 tbsp butter

• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more to finish

• pasta water, as needed to make creamy

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Cook the pasta. Bring salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve some pasta water to make your dish creamy

2. Season the steak. Pat steak tips dry. Season with salt, pepper, and McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning if desired.

3. Pre-heat air fryer to 400 F. I use pam on the bottom of my air fryer to prevent sticking, but you could use your preference of oil. Add a single layer of your steak tips working in batches if needed. Brown and cook to your preferred doneness.

4. Add butter and garlic. Lower heat. Add butter and minced garlic; toss steak briefly to coat. Remove from pan and let rest.

5. Make the buttery pesto pasta. In the pasta pot over low heat, melt butter and stir in pesto. Add pasta and toss.

6. Add Parmesan. Sprinkle in Parmesan and toss. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until sauce lightly coats noodles until your dish is creamy. Season to taste.

7. Plate and finish. Serve pasta with steak tips, you could do on the side or right on top for a delicious dish. Finish with extra Parmesan and black pepper, if desired.

A Little Kitchen Tip

For a tender sear, avoid crowding the skillet. Reserved pasta water helps the butter, pesto, and Parmesan come together into a glossy coating.

Gluten-Free Note

Use gluten-free pasta, my favorite is the brand Tinkyada it cooks very similarly to non-gluten free pasta option and always check that the pesto and other ingredients are suitable for your needs.

Tinkyada Penne Pasta: https://link.amazon/B00gFBjSA

Dish Set: https://link.amazon/B00gFBjSA