Description
This Tomato Ground Beef Orzo is a hearty, one-pot comfort meal that combines tender pasta and savory beef in a luscious, creamy tomato sauce. Requiring just a single Dutch oven and minimal cleanup, it is a true weeknight hero. With a rich texture from heavy cream and a nutritious boost from fresh spinach, this dish is a complete, satisfying dinner that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 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
Instructions
Brown the Beef
Add the ground beef to a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Break it up slightly with a spoon, then let it cook undisturbed for 5 to 6 minutes. This allows the beef to develop a deep brown crust (flavor!).
Add Onion
Add the chopped onion to the pot and stir, breaking the beef into smaller pieces as you mix. Cook for another 5 minutes until the onion is softened. If there is excessive grease, carefully spoon some out (this is less likely if using lean beef).
Toast Orzo and Spices
Stir in the minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and the uncooked orzo pasta. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to lightly toast the pasta and aromatics.
Simmer
Stir in the tomato sauce, beef broth, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the mixture to a bubble, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Important: Stir frequently to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Finish and Serve
Once the orzo is tender and the sauce has thickened, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and the fresh baby spinach. Cover the pot for 3 to 5 minutes to let the spinach wilt and the sauce settle. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
Stir Frequently: Orzo releases a lot of starch as it cooks, which makes the sauce creamy but also makes the pasta prone to sticking. Scrape the bottom of the pot often during the 10-minute simmer.
The “Undisturbed” Sear: Don’t skip the initial step of letting the beef sit without stirring. That browning process (the Maillard reaction) creates a depth of savory flavor that boiling the meat won’t achieve.
Sauce Consistency: The sauce will look slightly loose when you first take it off the heat, but the pasta will continue to absorb liquid as it sits. If it becomes too thick after resting, stir in a splash of water or extra broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: ground beef orzo, creamy tomato beef pasta, one pot pasta recipe, hamburger meat recipes, weeknight family dinner, spinach beef pasta, easy comfort food