Comforting Ground Beef Orzo Dinner (Printable)

Hearty skillet with beef, orzo, peppers, and tomatoes in savory broth finished with Parmesan.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 pound ground beef

→ Pasta & Grains

02 - 1 cup orzo pasta

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 bell pepper (red or green), diced
05 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juice
06 - 1 cup frozen peas
07 - Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

→ Aromatics

08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

09 - 2 cups beef broth

→ Herbs & Spices

10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese

14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Oils

15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook until translucent, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and diced bell pepper; sauté for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the bell pepper softens.
03 - Increase heat to medium-high. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spatula, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Add diced tomatoes with juice, beef broth, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
06 - Add orzo pasta and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
07 - Fold in frozen peas and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
08 - Remove from heat. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and fully incorporated.
09 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely faster than takeout, and somehow tastes more homemade than anything delivery could bring to your door.
  • One skillet means one thing to clean, which might be the real victory of weeknight cooking.
  • The flavors deepen as it simmers, so you can step away and actually breathe for ten minutes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of draining excess fat after browning the beef; it's the difference between comforting and heavy.
  • If your orzo seems dry at the end, it's better to add a splash of broth than let it sit; it'll keep cooking even after you remove it from heat.
03 -
  • If you want extra creaminess without cream, stir in a handful of shredded mozzarella or an extra quarter cup of Parmesan right at the end.
  • Make this in a Dutch oven instead of a skillet if you're serving more than four people; it distributes heat more evenly and makes scaling up foolproof.
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