Ground Beef Orzo • Creamy Tomato Skillet for Easy Weeknights
A rich and creamy one-pan pasta dish made with ground beef, orzo, tomato sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Quick, cozy, and family-friendly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼–½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet. Brown ground beef, season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
- In the same pan, sauté onion until translucent, then add garlic.
- Stir in orzo and toast for 1–2 minutes.
- Add broth, crushed tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Stir in cooked beef.
- Cover and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender.
- Stir in cream and Parmesan. Simmer until creamy and thick.
- Garnish with herbs and serve hot.
Notes
- Add spinach or peas in the last 5 minutes for more veggies.
- For a spicier version, use spicy Italian sausage or add chili flakes.
- Leftovers can be stored for 3–4 days in the fridge.