Description
Looking for a creamy, flavorful one-pan meal that comes together in under 30 minutes? This Ground Beef Orzo with Tomato Cream Sauce delivers big comfort with minimal effort. It’s rich, savory, and satisfying—perfect for easy dinner nights or meal prep lunches. Tender orzo pasta soaks up a tomato cream sauce bursting with seasoned ground beef, bell peppers, and melted cheese. Whether you need quick dinner ideas or crave hearty, family-friendly food, this recipe hits all the right notes. It’s an ideal choice for easy recipes, comfort food, dinner ideas, and weeknight meals with bold flavor.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 cup orzo pasta
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar blend
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups water or beef broth
Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook until soft and fragrant (2–3 minutes).
2. Add ground beef. Cook until browned and no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Drain excess fat.
3. Stir in diced red and green bell peppers. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
4. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and orzo. Mix thoroughly.
5. Pour in water or beef broth. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed.
6. Reduce heat. Stir in heavy cream until smooth.
7. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Cover the skillet to let the cheese melt.
8. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
For extra richness, add a tablespoon of cream cheese when stirring in the heavy cream.
You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for a different twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: ground beef dinner, easy orzo recipe, tomato cream sauce, one-pan meal, comfort food