Description
Savory ground beef orzo with tomato cream sauce offers a delightful Mediterranean-inspired comfort dish that blends rich flavors and creamy textures. Hearty and satisfying, you’ll enjoy this simple yet elegant meal perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 (14-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Vegetables and Pasta:
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach (packed)
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium-high temperature and crumble ground beef, allowing it to develop a rich golden-brown exterior for 5-6 minutes without excessive stirring.
- Incorporate chopped onions into the browned meat, breaking down the beef further while sautéing until onions become translucent. If excessive fat renders, drain carefully. Add minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning, cooking until aromatic.
- Introduce uncooked orzo into the meat mixture, thoroughly coating each grain. Pour in tomato sauce, beef broth, heavy cream, and Worcestershire sauce, mixing completely to combine ingredients.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, allowing the mixture to simmer gently. Stir periodically to prevent orzo from sticking, maintaining a consistent liquid level for approximately 10 minutes until pasta reaches desired tenderness.
- Remove from heat and fold in freshly grated parmesan cheese and baby spinach. Cover and let rest 3-5 minutes, enabling spinach to wilt and sauce to thicken naturally. Season with salt and pepper according to preference.
- Serve immediately, ensuring the creamy tomato sauce envelops the orzo and spinach for a vibrant, comforting meal.
Notes
- Achieve a perfect brown crust on the beef by avoiding excessive stirring during initial cooking, which helps develop rich, caramelized flavors.
- Opt for lean ground beef to control fat content while maintaining delicious taste, draining excess grease if necessary for a lighter dish.
- Customize the heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes, making the recipe adaptable for spice-sensitive palates or those craving extra kick.
- Transform this into a vegetarian meal by substituting ground beef with plant-based crumbles or lentils, ensuring similar texture and protein content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 687
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg