Your whole family will love this delicious, skillet ground beef recipe made with orzo and briny olives. Topped with yummy feta cheese, this one pot easy dinner meal is a family favorite! Because it's made in just one pan, you'll not only love how it tastes, but clean-up is a breeze!
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👩🏻🍳 Why You'll Love This Recipe
One skillet meals are da bomb! With easy prep and easy cleanup, these meals are perfect for the busiest days, and leftovers make a great lunch on day two!
If you like meals like this one, you've got to try this Stovetop Mac and Cheese as well!
Or check out this delicious One Pot Sausage and Couscous meal. It's a hearty, flavorful 25 minute meal made in just one pot for super easy prep and cleanup!
🥘 Ingredients Needed
For a complete list of ingredients, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- lean ground beef - can substitute ground chicken or turkey.
- onion, garlic, fresh spinach, tomato - easy fresh items that really make this meal!
- beef broth (1 can) - in a pinch you can use beef bullion.
- pitted green olives - the briny olives really make this meal!
- feta cheese - crumbled
- pepper and oregano - just a few ingredient from the spice cabinet.
- orzo pasta - any small pasta will work if you don't have orzo. Try ditalini, elbow or even alphabet pasta would be fun!
🔪 Instructions
Please note: This is an overview of the instructions. You'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Using a large skillet brown the ground beef, sauté with the onion and garlic.
- Drain the excess fat. Add the broth, olives, feta cheese, pepper, and oregano. Bring to a boil.
- Stir in the orzo pasta, and return to a simmer.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 12 minutes until the pasta is tender.
- Add the spinach on top, the recover and cook for another 5 minutes allowing the spinach to wilt.
- Add the diced tomato and stir everything together.
- Serve topped with reserved cheese sprinkled on top for garnish.
👪 FAQs
Use a large 16 inch skillet with at least 2 inch height on the sides. That way it will be easy to mix everything together without it spilling onto the stovetop.
If you're using a well seasoned cast iron skillet or a non-stick pan, there's no need for excess oil. It's a great way to cut down on calories!
A higher heat will cook the meat faster and draw out the moisture more quickly. Use a medium heat for best results. Allow the crumbled meat to brown on the first side before stirring.
🧊 Storage
Allow ground beef skillet to cool completely. Then, transfer into a resealable container. It will last refrigerated 3-5 days.
This recipe for skillet ground beef freezes well up to three months.
💭 Helpful Tips
- Purchase a brick of feta cheese as opposed to crumbles. It's less expensive in the long run and the cheese will stay fresh longer.
Pro Tip: A deep skillet or dutch oven works perfectly for this recipe.
📖 Variations
- I prefer to use lean ground beef, but you can substitute ground pork, chicken, or turkey.
- Using white or brown rice is an option instead of orzo pasta. Be sure to increase the cooking time and adjust the liquid to accommodate the rice.
🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
Here are some great recipes that will be terrific served alongside this meal!
🍞 Related Recipes
Here are a few more great one pot recipes I think you'll enjoy!
- Spicy Tortellini Skillet Dinner with Tomatoes - topped with parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes it's the perfect amount of spicy goodness!
- This recipe for Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joe Sliders cooks up in the skillet in no time! And shhh.... no one will be the wiser that it's packed with delicious veggies.
- Skillet Tortellini and Zucchini - skip the fussy prep and boiling - this meal is all made in your fry pan!
- Chicken and Potatoes is also made in a skillet with briny olives. This is a great one pot meal!
Skillet Ground Beef Recipe
Love this recipe? Awesome! Please give it a 5 star ⭐ rating below! And if you make this, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!
📋 Recipe Card
One Skillet Ground Beef Recipe with Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 14.5 oz beef broth (1 can)
- 3.5 oz pitted green olives (1 jar, drained and halved)
- 6 oz crumbled feta cheese (set some aside for garnish if desired)
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 8 ounces orzo pasta (uncooked)
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- 1 cup chopped tomato
Instructions
- In a large skillet, start to brown the ground beef. When it is about halfway done, add the onion and garlic.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 cup chopped onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Cook until the ground beef is completely done. Spoon off excess fat, then add the broth, olives, feta cheese, pepper, and oregano. Bring to a boil.14.5 oz beef broth, 3.5 oz pitted green olives, 6 oz crumbled feta cheese, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Stir in the orzo pasta, and return to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 12 minutes.8 ounces orzo pasta
- Add the spinach on top, the recover and let cook for another 5 minutes, so that the spinach wilts.5 oz fresh spinach
- Stir in the spinach, then add the chopped tomato and stir that in as well.1 cup chopped tomato
- Serve with the reserved feta cheese sprinkled on top for garnish (optional)
Notes
- A block of feta cheese is less expensive compared to crumbles, and it will last longer!
- Ground pork, chicken, or turkey can be substituted for a slightly lighter meal.
- White or brown rice can be substituted for the orzo. Just be sure to up the cooking time to account for the difference.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in August 2017, but was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in July 2021.
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Happy cooking!
Happy cooking!
Rebecca
I swung by the site to pick up this recipe again and thought I'd leave a review. This was really delicious and super easy to make! Hubby liked it so much he gave his seal of approval to add it to the rotation! Two things I thought I'd note: 1) I left out the spinach and replaced that bulk by using a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes in place of the fresh tomatoes. (I only did that because I have someone in my household who flat-out refuses to eat anything with spinach in it - I thought others may share that experience.) And, 2) If you're reheating leftovers the next night, it helps to have some spare beef broth around to give it some extra moisture. (Any other broth or water would do in a pinch.) Excellent recipe, Kristin, thank you!!!
Kristin King
Great tips, thanks for sharing! So glad you guys like this recipe! 🙂
Tricia Morris
I've always LOVED this dish, but was short on time and decided to give it a go in my Instant Pot. To adapt this exact recipe, saute the onion and garlic in the pot. Mix in the olives, spices, broth, and orzo. Pour the can of tomatoes on top without mixing and cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. Quick-release pressure and stir in the spinach until wilted. If necessary, let it rest on the "keep warm" setting and finish with feta.
Kristin
Great tips for the IP, thanks, Tricia! 🙂
Heather Johnson
love this - the olives are my favorite part!
Lima Ekram
Just the recipe I need for dinner tonight - love this one-pot recipe!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
My family is going to love this! The flavors are perfect and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Raksha Kamat
This orzo looks delicious. Can we make it with chicken?
Jess
One-pot meals are EVERYTHING! This one does not disappoint!
Faith Test
We really liked this dinner! Easy and tastey!
Kristin
Glad to hear it! Thanks! 🙂
Jann Olson
Skillet meals are so fun! Thanks for sharing this with SYC.
hugs,
Jann