Description
This sweet and spicy garlic steak pasta combines juicy seared steak, glossy noodles, and a bold, garlicky sauce with a sweet chili kick. It’s a quick, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner that’s both comforting and exciting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (for marinating steak)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 oz spaghetti or linguine (or rice noodles/fettuccine/ramen)
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 6 large garlic cloves, minced (divided)
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 cups snap peas or snow peas, halved
- 4 green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
- Lime wedges (for serving)
- Salt (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon oil (for searing steak)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss sliced steak with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add noodles and cook according to package directions until just al dente (about 8-10 minutes for spaghetti). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon chili flakes. Taste and adjust sweetness or heat as desired.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add steak in a single layer and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until browned but still tender. Transfer steak to a plate. Work in batches if needed.
- Lower heat to medium. Add 3 minced garlic cloves to the same pan and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add sliced red bell pepper and snap peas. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until just tender but still crisp.
- Add drained pasta to the pan with veggies. Pour in the sauce and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed if the mixture looks dry. Return steak and any juices to the pan. Toss well until everything is glossy and saucy, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Off the heat, stir in the remaining 3 minced garlic cloves and half the green onions. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lime.
- Serve immediately in bowls. Top with sesame seeds, remaining green onions, fresh herbs, and lime wedges.
Notes
Slice steak thinly against the grain for tenderness. Use high heat for searing and avoid overcrowding the pan. Save pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. For gluten-free, use tamari and gluten-free noodles. Add extra veggies or swap steak for tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (1 large bowl)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 13
- Sodium: 1100
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
Keywords: steak pasta, sweet and spicy noodles, garlic steak, weeknight dinner, Asian fusion, noodle recipe, easy pasta, spicy steak pasta