Ground Beef Orzo Skillet

This Creamy Ground Beef Orzo Skillet is an easy one-pan dinner with tender pasta, savory beef, and a simple creamy sauce. We add spinach too for a nutritious boost!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 410kcal

Author Karly Campbell

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.

Notes

Beef: We use at least 90% lean beef for this and skip draining off any fat. If you use a fattier beef, you’ll likely want to drain off the fat.

Marinara: I’m a sucker for Rao’s. I buy a 24 ounce jar and just save the leftovers. The rest gets used up over the week as a dip for garlic bread, to make a quick lunch, or as pizza sauce.

Cottage Cheese: Don’t freak out if you hate cottage cheese! Once it’s blended up, you won’t know it’s there - it just adds some protein along with lots of creaminess. Just pop it in a small blender or use a stick blender until smooth. If you don’t mind the texture, you can completely skip blending it. Alternatively, you can sub in ricotta or even try sour cream here.

Nutrition