Description
Hearty ground beef orzo with tomato cream sauce delivers a comforting Mediterranean-inspired meal that brings rich flavors to your dinner table. Creamy textures and robust ingredients promise a satisfying culinary experience you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Pasta and Sauce Base:
- 1.5 cups (360 milliliters) orzo
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) tomato sauce
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Optional Garnishes:
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat, creating a sizzling foundation for the dish.
- Introduce diced onions and sauté until they become translucent and softened, approximately 3-4 minutes. Incorporate minced garlic and allow it to release its aromatic essence for 1 minute.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into crumbly pieces as it browns. Enhance the meat with a blend of salt, pepper, oregano, and basil, infusing deep, robust flavors.
- Pour tomato sauce into the skillet, allowing the mixture to gently simmer and meld together for 5 minutes, developing a rich, savory base.
- Simultaneously, prepare orzo in a pot of generously salted boiling water, following package timing guidelines. Once tender, drain and reserve.
- Stream heavy cream into the skillet, stirring to create a luxurious, velvety sauce. Allow the mixture to reduce and thicken for 3-4 minutes, intensifying its creamy texture.
- Fold the cooked orzo into the skillet, ensuring each pasta piece is lavishly coated with the tomato-cream sauce.
- For an elegant finish, sprinkle grated Parmesan and fresh parsley, transforming the dish into a visually appealing and flavorful meal. Serve piping hot.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier alternative that keeps the dish protein-packed and delicious.
- Toast the orzo in olive oil before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and give it a beautiful golden color that adds depth to the dish.
- Control sauce consistency by adjusting cream quantity – less cream creates a thicker sauce, while more makes it silkier and more luxurious for those who love extra creaminess.
- Fresh herbs like basil or thyme can elevate the flavor profile, offering a bright, aromatic finish that cuts through the richness of the cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 545 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg