Description
Skip the drive-thru and make this soul-warming Ground Beef Orzo instead – it’s faster, tastier, and guaranteed to become your new weeknight hero.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454g) lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ cups (300g) uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 can (14.5 oz/411g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cups (720ml) low-sodium beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned (5-6 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
- Reduce heat to medium and add diced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to enhance flavor.
- Add uncooked orzo and stir to coat with the beef mixture. Toast for about 1 minute.
- Pour in diced tomatoes with juice, beef broth, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Let stand covered for 5 minutes, then serve garnished with additional cheese and fresh parsley.