Indulge in the rich, comforting flavors of our Easy Ground Beef and Tomato Cream Orzo, a one-pot dish that brings both simplicity and deliciousness to your weeknight dinner.
Why You’ll Love this One-Pot Easy Ground Beef and Tomato Cream Orzo
- One Pot – don’t want to do a bunch of dishes at the end of the night? Whip this dish together in just one pot and say goodbye to all those extra dishes.
- 30-Minute Meal – I can’t believe that something so delicious can be achieved in under 30 minutes!
- Bursting with Flavor – this dish is bursting with rich, comforting flavors while also sneaking in veggies.
- Not Boring – I know I’m not the only one constantly wondering what to make for dinner that isn’t boring – this is one of those meals
READ NEXT: Looking for more dinner recipes? Try our Chicken Marsala Fettuccine, Lemon and Herb Chicken and Roasted Vegetables, and Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Gnocchi.
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Ingredients
- Lean ground beef – for this recipe, I use 93% – 7%
- Olive oil – if using ground beef with a higher fat content, this step is not necessary
- Garlic powder – to season the ground beef
- Onion powder – for seasoning the ground beef
- Pinch of salt and pepper – measure with your heart. I do a big pinch of salt and crack a few twists pepper. You can always add more seasoning later in the recipe.
- Small yellow onion, diced – yellow is best for it’s sweetness.
- Garlic cloves, minced – depending on the size, use 3 to 4
- Italian seasoning – to season the cream sauce
- Crushed red pepper flakes – add more or less – whatever spice level you want!
- Orzo pasta – this will be cooked in the sauce. No need to dirty another pot!
- Tomato paste – for the sauce
- Beef broth – for the sauce
- Heavy cream – start with a cup, but you can add more if you want it extra creamy.
- Spinach – add some greens, a couple hand fulls will do.
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated – I promise freshly grated parm is worth it. Grab a high-quality block of parmesan cheese from the grocery store (they aren’t as expensive as you’d think) and grate with a very fine cheese grater.
How to Make Ground Beef and Tomato Cream Orzo
Dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic.
In a large pan or Dutch oven, heat a 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the ground beef to the pan and season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook the beef until browned, about 5 minutes.
When the beef is browned, add the diced onions and sauté with the meat until translucent.
Then, add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour in the beef broth, heavy cream, and tomato paste and stir well. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the uncooked orzo. Turn the heat down to medium and cook the orzo for as long as directed on the box. Remember to stir the orzo as it cooks, so it does not burn on the bottom of the pan.
When the orzo is finished cooking, add the spinach and parmesan cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted and the spinach has wilted.
Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Dish up and garnish with more freshly grated parmesan.
Tools You’ll Need
Large Pan or Dutch Oven: This recipe comes together in just one pan – make sure it’s a big one!
Tongs: – tongs are the main utensil you’ll need for this delicious orzo dish.
Measuring Cups: Always have them on hand to ensure proper measurements.
Substitutions and Tips
A ground beef with a higher fat content can be swapped for lean, use what you have and like!
Adding fresh basil would elevate this dish!
You can swap the tomato paste for tomato sauce.
Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Easy Ground Beef and Tomato Cream Orzo in One Pot
Course: DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutesIngredients
1 pound of lean ground beef
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of salt and pepper
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup orzo pasta
1 14oz can of tomato paste
1.5 cups beef broth
1 cup heavy cream
2 handfuls of spinach
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus some to garnish
Directions
- Dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic.
- In a large pan or Dutch oven, heat a 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the ground beef to the pan and season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook the beef until browned, about 5 minutes.
- When the beef is browned, add the diced onions and sauté with the meat until translucent.
- Then, add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Pour in the beef broth, heavy cream, and tomato paste and stir well. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the uncooked orzo. Turn the heat down to medium and cook the orzo for as long as directed on the box. Remember to stir the orzo as it cooks, so it does not burn on the bottom of the pan.
- When the orzo is finished cooking, add the spinach and parmesan cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted and the spinach has wilted.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Dish up and garnish with more freshly grated parmesan.
