Spinach and Beef Orzo is the one-pot dinner that’s going to satisfy the whole family. Tender, creamy orzo with hearty ground beef and spinach in a cheesy cream sauce that’s out of this world delicious. Easy to make, easy to clean up and leftovers are fantastic!
Why We Love This Spinach and Beef Orzo Recipe
One bite of this ground beef orzo and you’re sure to fall in love. We are obsessed with this creamy, cheesy sauce mixed with the flavors of hearty ground beef and spinach.
- One Pot Recipe: Everything cooks in one pot for easy preparation and easy clean up.
- Hearty and Satisfying: You’ve got your protein, vegetables and carbs all in one meal so there’s no need for anything else on the side. Unless, of course you’d like a delicious pieces of garlic bread to scoop it all up.
- Perfect for Meal Prepping: This spinach orzo reheats perfectly, so you can have it in the refrigerator for easy meals for days.
Main Ingredients and Substitutions
For the complete list of ingredients, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Orzo: Orzo is perfect for one pan meals because it cooks up quickly.
- Ground Beef: We like the hearty flavor of ground beef for this orzo recipe but you can also substitute ground turkey, pork or chicken instead.
- Spinach: We use fresh baby spinach but you can use frozen spinach, too. If you don’t like spinach, you can substitute chopped broccoli instead.
- Diced Tomatoes: A can of petite diced tomatoes, or you can use a cup of diced fresh tomatoes.
- Onion and Garlic: Adds a depth of flavor to the recipe, grab a shallot if you don’t have an onion. If you don’t have fresh garlic you can use jarred garlic or garlic paste in a tube.
- Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese: We love the cheesy, creamy flavor this combination adds to the sauce in this spinach and beef orzo. But can use one or the other, depending on what you have on hand.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream also adds a delicious flavor to the sauce, you can swap out half and half if you like.
How To Make
Step by step photos here with brief descriptions, but for the complete instructions scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Add diced onion and ground beef to a wide, deep pan. Cook while breaking the beef into crumbles until beef is no longer pink. Drain any drippings from the pan. Add seasonings that are listed in the recipe card and stir.
- Add a can of diced tomatoes and uncooked orzo to the pan and stir. Let the orzo toast for 2 minutes.
- Pour in beef broth, stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 12-14 minutes until orzo is tender. Stir once after 7 or 8 minutes to make sure the orzo isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Add baby spinach, mozzarella and parmesan cheese to the orzo. Stir until the spinach is wilted and the cheese has melted. Taste for seasonings and serve.
Variations
Instead of ground beef you can use pork, turkey or chicken. You can even add cooked, shredded chicken at the end of the recipe, stirring it in before you add the spinach. Or you can leave the meat out altogether.
Chopped broccoli, peas or chopped asparagus would all be delicious instead of (or in addition to) the spinach. As we mentioned above, you can also use frozen spinach that has been defrosted and squeezed dry of liquid.
Looking For Recipes with Orzo?
- Cheesy Broccoli Orzo
- Bacon Parmesan Orzo
- One Pot Chicken and Orzo
- Rice Pilaf with Almonds and Cranberries
- Italian Broccoli Soup
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Spinach and Beef Orzo
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeSpinach and Beef Orzo is a one-pot dinner that’s budget friendly and everyone loves! Creamy orzo with hearty ground beef and spinach in an addicting, cheesy cream sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups of uncooked orzo
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 5 ounces baby spinach, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a wide, deep pot (6 quart capacity). Add the onion and ground beef, breaking up the ground beef while cooking until no longer pink. Drain any drippings form the pan, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer.
- Add the Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and pepper and stir. Add uncooked orzo to the pan along with the diced tomatoes and their juice. Cook for two minutes to slightly toast the orzo. Pour in the beef broth, stir and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, stir again and turn the heat to low. Cover and cook for 12-14 minutes until the orzo is tender.
- Add the mozzarella, parmesan cheese and spinach to the orzo and stir until the cheese has melted and the spinach is wilted. Taste for seasonings and serve.
Recipe Notes
Store: Let the orzo cool and then store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Reheat the orzo in the microwave until warmed through.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
