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This Ground Beef Orzo Skillet is a creamy, comforting one-pan dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes with simple pantry staples. Lean ground beef, tender orzo pasta, and a rich tomato-cream sauce come together in a single skillet for minimal cleanup and maximum comfort. It’s budget-friendly, family-approved, and the kind of dinner that solves busy weeknights without any fuss.
This + Garlic Bread = Easy Weeknight Dinner
Did you say you wanted an easy, creamy, cheesy dinner? Maybe something that cooks in one skillet in just 30 minutes?
Yep. Got ya covered.
I’m currently eating the leftovers of this as I type along with a slice of garlic bread that I reheated in the air fryer.
Using the garlic bread as the vehicle for getting this cheesy, saucy goodness into your mouth is really the way to go.
This one is perfect for picky families, even though it contains two foods that people tend to have strong feelings about – spinach and cottage cheese.
The spinach just cooks down and kids don’t even notice it. The cottage cheese gets blended until smooth and creamy and adds the perfect rich and creamy texture to the sauce without adding a ton of calories or fat.
This + garlic bread + a green salad topped with our easy garlic dressing is a serious weeknight win.
♥ 3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:
One pan, no stress: Less cleanup means more chill time for you!
Sneaky greens: The spinach wilts right in so the kiddos probably won’t notice and that means no one’s complaining!
Ultra creamy without heavy cream: Blended cottage cheese is the secret star of this recipe! Trust me, it just works.
Ingredient Notes:
- Ground Beef: Use ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage if that’s what you have on hand.
- Cottage Cheese: Blend it for a creamy texture, leave it chunky if you’re feeling lazy, or sub in some ricotta.
- Spinach: Baby kale works too and the greens are optional if your crowd isn’t into it.
- Marinara: We love Rao’s Marinara but any sauce works. Go the homemade route if you have it on hand!
Serving Suggestions:
This pasta dish is best paired with a simple green salad and our air fryer garlic bread! Serve it with some extra marinara for dipping.
Add a side of Tuscan roasted vegetables for extra color and crunch.
You could also sprinkle a little extra Parmesan on top right before serving. Cheese is always welcome in our house!
Leftover Hack!
Use the leftover ground beef and orzo pasta as filling for stuffed bell peppers! Boil the peppers, stuff, cover in cheese, and bake!
Storage:
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
Reheat: Warm gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth if needed.
Freeze: I haven’t tried freezing this one. The pasta may get a bit mushy upon thawing and reheating.
Ground Beef Orzo Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ small yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup blended cottage cheese see notes
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and onion to a large, deep skillet or dutch oven and cook over medium heat, breaking up the beef as it browns.
- Once the beef is cooked through, add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Add the orzo, marinara, and beef broth and stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes or until the orzo is tender.
- Stir the cottage cheese, Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan, and spinach into the mixture and continue cooking for 2-4 minutes, until the spinach has wilted and the dish is hot throughout.
- Serve immediately.
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