Ground Beef Orzo with Creamy Tomato Sauce
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This ground beef orzo recipe is an easy one pan dinner made with tender orzo, savory ground beef, garlic, tomato sauce, and a creamy finish. It uses simple ingredients, comes together quickly, and makes a filling weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy.
Recipe Overview: Ground Beef Orzo with Creamy Tomato Sauce
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 👩🏻🍳 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍞 Serving:
- ⚡ Calories: 435 calories per serving
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: Savory and comforting, with tender ground beef and orzo in a rich, creamy tomato sauce seasoned with garlic, herbs, parmesan, and basil.
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy — a straightforward one pan dinner made with simple ingredients.
- ⭐ Why This Recipe Works: The orzo cooks right in the tomato sauce with the ground beef, so it absorbs the flavor as it simmers. Heavy cream, parmesan, spinach, and pesto are stirred in at the end for a creamy, hearty dinner.
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This ground beef orzo recipe is one of those dinners I make when I need something easy for a busy weeknight. The orzo cooks right in the tomato sauce with the ground beef, so it soaks up all that flavor while everything comes together in one pan.
It is also simple enough that my 11 year old can make it, which is one of my favorite things these days. The creamy tomato sauce, pesto, parmesan, and basil give it some of the same cozy flavors as my Pesto Ricotta Lasagna, but with a lot less layering and baking. If you love easy family dinners, you may also like my One Pot Marry Me Chicken or Easy Homemade Beef Lo Mein.
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Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Orzo Recipe
• Made in one pot: The ground beef, tomato sauce, and orzo all cook together in one pan, so dinner comes together without a pile of dishes. If you love easy one pot dinners, you may also like my One Pot Marry Me Chicken and One Pot Chicken Tikka Masala.
• Creamy and comforting: The orzo simmers right in the tomato sauce, then cream and parmesan are stirred in at the end for a rich, cozy finish.
• Simple ingredients: This recipe is made with basic ingredients like ground beef, orzo, tomato sauce, garlic, cream, parmesan, spinach, pesto, and seasonings.
• Great for beginner cooks: This is a simple recipe for tweens or teens who are starting to help more in the kitchen.
Key Ingredients
- Ground Beef: This makes the orzo hearty enough for a full dinner. I usually use 1 pound of ground beef.
- Orzo Pasta: Orzo cooks quickly and gives this dish a creamy, comforting texture without needing a separate pot of pasta.
- Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce is the base of the recipe and gives the orzo enough liquid to simmer and soak up flavor.
- Heavy Cream: Stirred in at the end to make the sauce rich and creamy.
- Pesto: Pesto adds basil, garlic, and parmesan flavor, which makes the sauce taste like it took more effort than it actually did.
- Spinach: Chopped spinach wilts right into the sauce and adds color without changing the flavor too much.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan melts smoother into the sauce and gives the finished dish a richer flavor.
See the recipe card below for the full recipe and exact measurements.
How to Make Ground Beef Orzo
Step 1: Brown the ground beef.
Add the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic to a large skillet or Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion has softened. Drain any extra grease if needed.
Step 2: Add the orzo and seasoning.
Stir the dry orzo and Italian seasoning into the ground beef mixture. Let it cook for a minute or two, stirring often, so the orzo gets lightly coated in the beef and seasonings.
Step 3: Add the tomato sauce and water.
Pour in the tomato sauce and water, then stir everything together well. Scrape the bottom of the pan as you stir so nothing sticks.
Step 4: Simmer until the orzo is tender.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook until the orzo is tender. Stir often while it cooks so the orzo does not stick to the bottom of the pan. If the pan starts to look dry before the orzo is done, add a small splash of water.
Step 5: Stir in the cream, pesto, spinach, and parmesan.
Once the orzo is cooked, turn the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, pesto, chopped spinach, and parmesan cheese. Cook for a few more minutes, until the spinach is wilted and the sauce is creamy.
Step 6: Taste and serve.
Taste the ground beef orzo and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm with extra parmesan, fresh basil, or red pepper flakes on top.
Tips for the Best Ground Beef Orzo with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Stir the orzo often. Orzo is small and can stick to the bottom of the pan as it cooks, especially once the sauce starts to thicken.
Keep the heat at a gentle simmer. If the heat is too high, the sauce can cook down before the orzo is tender.
Add a splash of water if needed. If the orzo is not fully cooked but the pan looks dry, add a little more water and keep simmering.
Use freshly grated parmesan. Freshly grated parmesan melts smoother into the creamy tomato sauce than pre shredded parmesan.
Taste before adding more salt. Pesto and parmesan both add saltiness, so taste the finished ground beef orzo before adding more.
Yes, but this recipe is best served fresh because the orzo will continue to absorb the sauce as it sits. If you make it ahead, reheat it with a splash of water, broth, or cream to loosen the sauce again.
No, not as an even swap. Orzo is pasta, so it cooks faster and needs less liquid than rice. If you want to use rice, the liquid amount and cook time would need to be adjusted.
Orzo can stick if the heat is too high or if it is not stirred often enough. Keep the pan at a gentle simmer and stir regularly, especially once the creamy tomato sauce starts to thicken.
Yes. You can use half and half or whole milk, but the sauce will be lighter and not quite as creamy. You can also leave the cream out for more of a tomato based ground beef orzo.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a small splash of water, broth, or cream because the orzo thickens as it sits.
More Easy One Pot Dinners
Need more easy dinner ideas? Try one of these:
If you tried this Ground Beef Orzo with Creamy Tomato Sauce or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Ground Beef Orzo with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet or dutch oven
- 1 Knife
- 1 Cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 cup water
- 1 14 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup pesto
- 3 cups chopped spinach
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and chopped onion to a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion has softened, breaking the beef apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the dry orzo, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well so the orzo is coated in the beef mixture.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and water. Stir everything together, scraping the bottom of the pan so nothing sticks.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. If the pan starts to look dry before the orzo is cooked, add a small splash of water.
- Turn the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, pesto, chopped spinach, and parmesan cheese.
- Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until the spinach is wilted and the sauce is creamy.
- Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. Serve warm with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, extra parmesan, or all three.
Notes
- Stir the orzo often while it simmers so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
- If the orzo is not fully cooked but the pan looks dry, add a small splash of water and keep cooking until tender.
- Freshly grated parmesan melts more smoothly into the sauce than pre-shredded parmesan.
My 11 year old loves making this one! It is easy enough for her to do mostly on her own, and delicious enough that she gets to enjoy all the compliments when everyone comes back for seconds.
Super easy to follow, amazing flavor!
I am always looking for recipes to use up ground beef that aren't tacos, burgers, meatloaf, or sloppy joes. This is something I wouldn't try on my own, so I love this recipe. It will definitely be on the supper menu rotation now.