Ground Beef Orzo with Tomato Sauce

This Ground Beef Orzo with Tomato Sauce is the ultimate one-pot comfort meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. It combines savory ground beef, tender pasta, and fresh spinach in a rich, creamy tomato sauce that comes together effortlessly.

You will love how the orzo cooks right in the sauce, absorbing all the delicious flavors for a creamy, satisfying dinner that requires minimal cleanup.

Recipe Details

• Flavor Profile: This dish is rich and savory with a creamy tomato base, enhanced by aromatic garlic, onions, and Italian seasoning.
• Texture: The result is a risotto-like consistency where the tender pasta is coated in a velvety sauce, balanced by the texture of the ground beef and wilted spinach.
• Time: The recipe requires about 10 minutes of prep and roughly 25 minutes of cooking time.
• Difficulty: Easy. Everything is cooked in a single soup pot or Dutch oven.

What You’ll Need

To make this recipe, you will need a large soup pot or Dutch oven to accommodate all the ingredients. A sturdy wooden spoon or spatula is essential for breaking up the beef and stirring the orzo to prevent sticking. The sauce is built with pantry staples like canned tomato sauce and beef broth, made rich with heavy cream.

Ingredient Notes

• 1 pound lean ground beef – Using lean beef ensures there is not too much excess grease in the pan, as this is a one-pot meal.
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta – Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta that cooks quickly and releases starch to help thicken the creamy sauce.
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce – This provides the smooth tomato base. Be sure to use plain tomato sauce rather than marinara.
• 1 cup heavy/whipping cream – This creates the luxurious, velvety texture of the sauce.
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese – Grating your own cheese ensures it melts smoothly into the sauce without clumping.
• 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach – This adds color and nutrition, wilting down perfectly in the residual heat at the end.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Protein: You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef if you prefer a lighter option.
• Vegetables: Diced bell peppers or mushrooms can be added during the onion sauté step for extra veggies.
• Spice: If you love heat, increase the crushed red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce.
• Broth: Chicken broth or vegetable broth can be used in place of beef broth if that is what you have on hand.

How to Make Ground Beef Orzo with Tomato Sauce

1. Brown the beef: Add the ground beef to a soup pot or Dutch oven and break it up a little bit with your spoon. Let it cook, without stirring, over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes. This allows the beef to develop a nice sear.
2. Add onions: Add the chopped onion to the pot and stir to break the beef up into small pieces. Let it cook for another 5 minutes or so. If there is a lot of excess fat, spoon some of it out. Otherwise, leave it in the pot for flavor.
3. Toast aromatics and pasta: Stir in the minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and the uncooked orzo. Cook for about a minute to toast the spices and pasta slightly.
4. Simmer: Stir in the tomato sauce, beef broth, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce. Once the liquid starts to bubble, continue cooking for 10 minutes, uncovered. You will likely need to turn the heat down a bit to medium or medium-low. It should gently bubble versus boil so you don’t reduce the liquid too much before the pasta has cooked.
5. Stir often: During the 10-minute cook time, make sure to stir fairly often so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
6. Finish and rest: Take the pot off the heat. Stir in the parmesan cheese and fresh baby spinach. Cover the pot for about 3-5 minutes or until it has thickened up to your liking and the spinach has wilted.
7. Serve: Season with salt and pepper as needed and serve immediately.

Pro Tip: Do not skip the resting step at the end. Covering the pot for 3-5 minutes allows the sauce to thicken up significantly and lets the pasta finish cooking to the perfect texture.

Recipe Tips

• Manage the heat: Keep an eye on the simmer. If the sauce is boiling too hard, the liquid will evaporate before the orzo is tender. Keep it at a gentle bubble.
• Stir the bottom: Orzo loves to stick to the bottom of the pot because of its high starch content. Scrape the bottom frequently while simmering.
• Don’t drain the fat: Unless there is an excessive amount of grease, leaving the fat in the pot adds richness to the final sauce.
• Prep ahead: Measure out your liquids and chop the veggies before you start cooking, as the steps move quickly once the beef is browned.

FAQs

• Can I use milk instead of heavy cream? Heavy cream is recommended for the best texture and to prevent curdling. If you use milk, the sauce will be much thinner and less rich.
• My sauce is too thick, what should I do? If the sauce becomes too thick after resting, simply stir in a splash of extra broth or water to loosen it up to your desired consistency.
• Can I freeze this dish? Cream-based pasta dishes do not always freeze well as the sauce can separate upon thawing. It is best enjoyed fresh or stored in the fridge for a few days.

Serving Suggestions

• Crusty Bread: A slice of garlic bread or a baguette is perfect for mopping up the creamy tomato sauce.
• Green Salad: A fresh Caesar salad or garden salad with vinaigrette helps cut through the richness of the creamy pasta.
• Roasted Vegetables: Serve with a side of roasted broccoli or asparagus for a complete meal.

Make This Recipe in Advance

This dish is best served immediately as the pasta continues to absorb the sauce as it sits. However, you can chop the onions and garlic and measure out the spices and liquids earlier in the day to make the cooking process even faster. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Ground Beef Orzo with Tomato Sauce

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• Author: Samantha Brooks
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

This Ground Beef Orzo with Tomato Sauce is the ultimate one-pot comfort meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. It combines savory ground beef, tender pasta, and fresh spinach in a rich, creamy tomato sauce that comes together effortlessly. You will love how the orzo cooks right in the sauce, absorbing all the delicious flavors for a velvety, satisfying dinner that requires minimal cleanup.

See also  Rattlesnake pasta​

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean recommended)
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 1 (14-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3/4 cup beef broth
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
• Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Step 1: Brown the Beef
Add the ground beef to a soup pot or Dutch oven and break it up slightly with your spoon. Let it cook without stirring over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes to develop a nice sear.

Step 2: Add Onions
Add the chopped onion to the pot and stir to break the beef into small crumbles. Cook for another 5 minutes until the onions are soft. If there is excessive fat, drain some off, but leave a little for flavor.

Step 3: Toast Aromatics and Pasta
Stir in the minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and the uncooked orzo. Cook for about 1 minute to toast the spices and pasta slightly.

Step 4: Simmer
Stir in the tomato sauce, beef broth, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the liquid to a gentle bubble (not a hard boil). Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes, uncovered.

Step 5: Stir Often
During the 10-minute cook time, stir frequently to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The sauce should reduce and thicken as the pasta cooks.

Step 6: Finish and Rest
Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the parmesan cheese and fresh baby spinach. Cover the pot with a lid and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. This step allows the spinach to wilt and the sauce to thicken to the perfect consistency.

Step 7: Serve
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Notes

Sauce Consistency: If the sauce becomes too thick after resting, simply stir in a splash of extra beef broth or warm water to loosen it up before serving.

Vegetable Variations: To boost the veggie content, add diced bell peppers or sliced mushrooms when you sauté the onions. They pair perfectly with the creamy tomato base.

Reheating: Creamy pasta dishes tend to thicken significantly in the fridge. When reheating leftovers, add a tablespoon of water or broth to help restore the creamy texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
• Calories: 615
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 980mg
• Fat: 37g
• Saturated Fat: 20g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 32g
• Cholesterol: 115mg

Keywords: ground beef orzo, one pot pasta, creamy tomato beef pasta, easy weeknight dinner, hamburger orzo skillet