Creamy Ground Beef Orzo (One-Pot Dinner)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon no-salt added Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
To Add at the End
- ¼ cup half-and-half
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups roughly chopped baby spinach (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Onion & Beef: Heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven (recommended) over medium heat. Add the onion, sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of the salt, and cook until just starting to soften, about 3 minutes.
- Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil along with the ground beef and ½ teaspoon of salt. Cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in the Italian seasoning and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add Orzo & Liquids: Add orzo, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir well, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Simmer Until Tender: Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid the orzo sticking to the bottom of the pan, until orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Finish: Turn off the heat, then stir in half-and-half, Parmesan, remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Let sit for 2-3 minutes to thicken. Add spinach now if using, and stir until wilted. Serve with additional Parmesan and black pepper if that’s your thing.
Notes
- Tip: I’ve tried adding all the dairy at once, and it split. Stirring in the half-and-half and Parmesan off the heat keeps everything silky and cohesive.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 (of 4) | Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 838mg | Potassium: 1197mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1995IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 181mg | Iron: 5mg
