Ground Beef and Orzo
My mother has been serving this Ground Beef and Orzo dish for as long as I can remember. It’s a staple of my childhood and it’s now one of our favorite ground beef dinner recipes of all time. It is also the perfect dish to come home to when you’ve had a rough day. Call it Greek comfort food.
Our Favorite Easy, Weeknight Dinner Recipe
When I became a new wife and started to build my own repertoire of easy weeknight dinner recipes, I remember calling my Mom for the Ground Beef and Orzo recipe and preparing myself for a complicated list of ingredients and steps. But to my shock, there’s was none.
It was as simple as ground beef (or turkey), Greek orzo, tomato, onion and garlic, and cinnamon! Who knew?? (My Mom, that’s who!).
Now some 20 – odd years later, it’s become comfort food for my husband and four kids. Ground Beef and Orzo is in the weekly rotation of recipes and never have I ever heard anyone complain that I make it too often or that they’ve grown tired of it.
Delicious with Ground Beef or Turkey!
Regardless of whether I use ground beef, meatloaf mix, or ground turkey, it’s always gobbled down without a thought. Score one for the Greek Mama!
Ground Beef and Orzo is also a mom’s dream dish since it’s cooked with just two pots and in 30 minutes flat. Perfect for a weeknight meal or when you are low on pantry items.
Don’t tell my Mom, but I’ve even been known to substitute sauce from a jar a time or two (or three) when I just. plain. couldn’t. And no one was the wiser!
How to Make Ground Beef and Orzo – A Super Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipe:
My mother has been serving this Ground Beef and Orzo dish for as long as I can remember. It’s a staple of my childhood. It’s the perfect dish to come home to when you’ve had a rough day. Call it Greek comfort food.
- 3 lbs ground beef or meatloaf mix, or ground turkey
- 2 cups Greek Orzo Misko brand is the BEST! Don’t bother with the tiny orzo you find in the grocery store. Order a few packages and keep them in your pantry.
- 1 28 oz can Tuttorosso Tomato Sauce or diced tomato, or whole tomatoes
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-
Fill a large dutch oven halfway full withwater, cover, and bring to boil.
-
When the water comes to boil, add the orzo and 1 tbsp. salt and cook for 15 minutes, or until the orzo is opaque. Note: If you use a brand other than Misko, follow the package instructions.
-
While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil on medium high heat in a large dutch oven. Saute the onion, garlic, and ground beef. until the beef is no longer pink, Stir in salt, pepper, and cinnamon. (about 5-7 minutes).
-
Add your tomato, bring to a boil, and simmer on low for 20 minutes. By now, your orzo should be almost ready!
-
Drain the orzo into through a fine colander (don’t lose your orzo down the drain!)
-
Stir orzo into ground beef mixture and combine well. Taste and adjust your seasonings. Cook on medium to low heat for another 10 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
Serve with parmigian or fontina cheese.Have you tried my Lemon and Garlic Roasted Chicken and Potatoes yet? What are you waiting for?
Have you tried my Lemon and Garlic Roasted Chicken and Potatoes yet? What are you waiting for?!?
My mom and dad used to make a version of this in the oven with either chicken or lamb.
Wasn’t a fan of the orzo when I was a kid, but I have learned to acquire a taste for it –
Your recipe reminds me of ‘makaronia mai kima’!!
Thanks!
One of my favorites. Need to go to Prima.
Made this tonight during the rain storm, true comfort food. The Misko orzo makes the dish. Will add this the rotation.
Hi, Joyce! Thanks for posting a comment. I’m so happy that you tried the Ground Beef and Orzo recipe. It really is the perfect comfort food. We make this dish once a week and everyone loves it. Glad you tried the Misko Orzo, too. It’s also great in soups as an alternative to noodles.