One Pot Beef and Orzo
Savory beef, Italian herbs, tender pasta, and a savory tomato sauce to marry it all together. Showered with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes, it’s the ultimate, comforting, weeknight meal. Especially because it’s made in one pot and ready in about 30 minutes.
I love one-pot meals, don’t you?!
When everything cooks together in one pot, all the flavors have a chance to commingle and evolve. And in this recipe, the pasta is cooked in the sauce, so it absorbs all that great flavor! And you’ll have one pan to clean!
This beef and orzo dish is reminiscent of risotto
It’s creamy and smooth, but achieved without all the effort and countless time standing over the cooktop stirring!
You can make this dish with rice for a gluten-free meal
You may need to adjust the liquid ingredients and cooking time, but it totally works!
I used Italian seasoning, but you can use your favorite herbs
I love the Italian herb medley of basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary – flavors that work well in this dish. Plus, it’s just one jar to pull from your spice rack! If you don’t have Italian herb seasoning, use your favorite dried herbs – about 1/2 teaspoon each. I suggest the ones listed above, as well as parsley and marjoram. Add one, add a few, it’s totally up to you!
One Pot Beef and Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups beef broth
- 15- ounce can tomato sauce, or crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- Grated parmesan cheese for serving
- Crushed red pepper flakes for serving
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until soft.
- Add the Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute, until the herbs are fragrant.
- Add the broth and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Stir in the orzo pasta. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle the mixture into bowls and top with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.