Description
One-Pan Ground Beef Orzo Bake is a quick dinner that delivers cozy comfort with minimal cleanup. This easy recipe combines seasoned ground beef, tender orzo pasta, rich tomato sauce, and melty cheese in one skillet for one of those dinner ideas everyone wants seconds of. It is a family-friendly easy dinner, a simple weeknight meal, and one of those satisfying food ideas that feels hearty, cheesy, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup orzo
2 cups beef broth
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
2. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if needed.
4. Stir in the Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
5. Add the orzo, beef broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Stir everything together well.
6. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until the orzo is nearly tender.
7. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top.
8. Transfer the skillet to a preheated 375°F oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
9. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes, then top with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Stir the orzo often while it simmers so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
Add a splash of broth when reheating leftovers to keep the texture creamy and saucy.
For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or stir in spinach before topping with cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: one-pan ground beef orzo bake, quick dinner, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, ground beef pasta bake, cheesy orzo bake, family dinner, food ideas