Description
A comforting one-pot meal featuring ground beef and orzo in a rich tomato cream sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 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 fresh baby spinach
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat over medium-high heat and add 1 pound of lean ground beef. Cook for 5-6 minutes without stirring, allowing it to brown nicely before breaking it into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon.
- Next, add 1/2 medium chopped onion to the browned beef in the pot. Stir occasionally and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent and softens.
- Once the onions are softened, mix in 3-4 cloves of minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Cook everything together for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in 1 cup of uncooked orzo pasta, followed by 1 (14 ounce) can of tomato sauce, 3/4 cup of beef broth, 1 cup of heavy cream, and 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Check the orzo for tenderness after 10 minutes. Once cooked, remove the pot from heat and mix in 1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese and 2 cups of packed fresh baby spinach.
- Cover the pot and let it sit for 3-5 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and the spinach to wilt. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and serve warm.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Use shallots instead of onions for a different flavor.
- Garlic powder can be used if fresh garlic is unavailable.
- Omit crushed red pepper flakes for a milder dish.
- Substitute Italian seasoning with oregano if desired.
- Use acini di pepe as a small pasta alternative.
- Crushed tomatoes can be used for chunkiness in place of tomato sauce.
- Vegetable broth can be used for a vegetarian-friendly option.
- Use half-and-half for a lighter cream option.
- Substitute Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce if needed.
- Pecorino Romano can replace parmesan cheese.
- Kale or Swiss chard can substitute for spinach.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: Ground Beef Orzo, Tomato Cream Sauce, One-Pot Meal