Description
A comforting one-pot meal featuring lean ground beef and tender orzo pasta combined with diced tomatoes and fresh spinach in a savory broth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with herbs
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 cups fresh spinach (or other greens)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme)
- Olive oil for sautéing
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional: pat of butter or drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Gather and prep your vegetables and aromatics first, chopping the onion and mincing the garlic.
- Heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat and add a splash of olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Increase the heat and add the ground beef, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and allow it to sizzle briefly, then pour in the diced tomatoes and stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes. Then, add the orzo and beef broth, stirring to combine.
- Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Partially cover the pan and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- When the orzo is tender and most broth has been absorbed, stir in the fresh spinach and Italian seasoning, cooking until the spinach wilts, about 1 minute.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. For extra creaminess, stir in a knob of butter or a splash of extra virgin olive oil before serving.
Notes
Serve with grated Parmesan on top and a drizzle of olive oil. This meal is adaptable with various greens and can be made vegetarian by substituting ground beef with crumbled tofu or plant-based meat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: ground beef, orzo, one-pot meal, comfort food, quick dinner