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A cozy, one-pot recipe, this ground beef and orzo takes less than 30 minutes to put together and it’s comforting, beefy, and full of flavor!

ground beef and orzo in a large nonstick skillet garnished with fresh basil leaves and grated parmesan cheese with a metal spoon
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Don’t Sleep On This: Ground Beef and Orzo

I will forever say that orzo is a pasta that is overlooked. I have cooked with orzo as my pasta of choice in many one-pot dishes for years because it’s so easy to work with. It’s kind of like a risotto texture but it is much simpler and it doesn’t take nearly as much effort nor time.

This ground beef and orzo features a rich and creamy tomato base and hearty ground beef combined together with the orzo in a one-pot recipe that will absolutely please everyone at the table. The ingredients are simple and there is always room to amp up the flavor and/or add in some more vegetables. Taking less than 30 minutes to make, this ground beef with orzo recipe is going to be a favorite! Serve with Texas Roadhouse Rolls or Honey Butter Rolls.

ground beef and orzo on plates next to garlic bread and a metal spoon

Recipe Tips and Variations

  • Stick with 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef for this recipe so it’s not too greasy.
  • Swap with another ground meat like ground turkey if you don’t have ground beef on hand.
  • Add baby spinach leaves for some added greens. Add the spinach at the end of the cooking process and allow the residual heat to wilt it.
  • If you like spice, add red pepper flakes to the dish or a spoonful of Calabrian chili paste. Alternatively, make this sweet and spicy honey sriracha brussels sprouts to serve on the side!

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Allow ground beef and orzo cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, put into a skillet and reheat on the stovetop until warmed through or put the container into the microwave and heat until warmed through. For both methods, you may need to add a splash of liquid to loosen up the sauce a bit.

ground beef and orzo in a white plate next to a metal spoon and garlic bread next to the pasta
3 from 1 vote

Ground Beef and Orzo

A cozy, one-pot recipe, this ground beef and orzo takes less than 30 minutes to put together and it's comforting, beefy, and full of flavor!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound (454 g) ground beef, 85/15 or 90/10
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 cup (150 g) uncooked orzo
  • 15 ounces (425 g) tomato sauce
  • 2 cups (473 ml) beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • cup (33 g) freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat, add olive oil. Once oil is hot, add ground beef and break it up into small pieces with a spatula or wooden spoon. Allow to cook until there is no longer any pink.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound (454 g) ground beef
    ground beef broken into smaller pieces in a nonstick skillet
  • Add the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
    1 onion, 3 cloves garlic
    ground beef and onions in a nonstick skillet
  • Add the orzo to the skillet and mix together with mixture.
    1 cup (150 g) uncooked orzo
    uncooked orzo pasta is added to a nonstick skillet with ground beef and onions
  • Pour the tomato sauce and beef broth in and stir to incorporate. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
    15 ounces (425 g) tomato sauce, 2 cups (473 ml) beef broth, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, Salt and pepper
    tomato sauce and beef broth added to a nonstick skillet with orzo and ground beef
  • Bring mixture to a boil then reduce to a low simmer. Cook uncovered until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the orzo – you’ll want some liquid. Stir occasionally to make sure the bottom doesn’t burn.
  • Once orzo is done cooking, about 10 minutes, remove from heat and mix in parmesan cheese.
    ⅓ cup (33 g) freshly grated parmesan cheese
    parmesan cheese sprinkled on top of cooked ground beef and orzo in a nonstick skillet with a wooden spoon
  • Serve warm and garnish with more parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (371 grams), Calories: 545kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 88mg, Sodium: 1.176mg, Potassium: 851mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 6g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

Photographs by Eat Love Eat

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3 Comments

  1. Kate says:

    We trying new orzo recipes, but unfortunately found this one to be a bit bland. It needed something else to bring it together; we ended up adding a little heavy cream at the end with the parm to make it creamier.

  2. Beth says:

    How about using rice?

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      You could, however, you’d have to adjust cooking time and liquids to ensure rice cooks through properly.