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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Easy One Skillet Ground Beef Recipe with Orzo

    Published: Jul 22, 2021 Modified: Jul 22, 2021 by Kristin King / This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe | Pin Recipe
    Side shot of ground beef orzo pasta in a white bowl with a fork on the side.
    Overhead shot of ground beef orzo pasta in a white bowl with sliced tomatoes, spinach and a fork on the side.
    Close up shot of ground beef orzo pasta in a white bowl with a fork on the side.

    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!

    Close up shot of ground beef orzo pasta in a white bowl with a fork on the side.
    Ready in only about 30 minutes, this one skillet ground beef recipe is perfect any day of the week!
    Jump to:
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • 🥘 Ingredients Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 👪 FAQs
    • 🧊 Storage
    • 💭 Helpful Tips
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
    • 🍞 Related Recipes
    • Skillet Ground Beef Recipe
    • 📋 Recipe Card
    • One Skillet Ground Beef Recipe with Orzo
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    👩🏻‍🍳 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

    Overhead shot of ingredients- spinach, ground beef, tomato, beef broth, minced garlic, onion, green olives, orzo pasta, oregano, pepper, and crumbled feta.
    These unique ingredients combine to create the delicious flavor combinations of this one skillet meal!

    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

    Six panel collage of process shots 1-6- gradually combining ingredients in a skillet.
    With the use of only one skillet, this recipe requires very minimal clean up!

    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.

    1. Using a large skillet brown the ground beef, sauté with the onion and garlic.
    2. Drain the excess fat. Add the broth, olives, feta cheese, pepper, and oregano. Bring to a boil.
    3. Stir in the orzo pasta, and return to a simmer.
    4. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 12 minutes until the pasta is tender.
    5. Add the spinach on top, the recover and cook for another 5 minutes allowing the spinach to wilt.
    6. Add the diced tomato and stir everything together.
    7. Serve topped with reserved cheese sprinkled on top for garnish.
    Four panel collage of process shots 7-10- combining the rest of ingredients in a skillet.
    Ready in no time, you will love the ease of making this skillet ground beef recipe!

    👪 FAQs

    What is the best skillet to use

    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.

    Do you need to use oil when cooking ground beef?

    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!

    What is the best way to cook ground beef without drying it out?

    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.

    Overhead shot of ground beef orzo pasta in a white bowl with sliced tomatoes, spinach and a fork on the side.
    This unique and flavorful one skillet meal will fit perfectly into your recipe book!

    🧊 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!

    Quinoa Chickpea Salad
    Nutritious and delicious, this dish can be served as a side dish or a light meatless entree.
    Side view of finished Quinoa Chickpea Salad in a clear bowl with a black spoon in front of scallions.
    Easy Crock Pot Bread with Garlic and Parmesan
    Crusty, flavorful, fresh, and best of all, EASY! Enjoy delicious, fresh-baked bread with just a few ingredients and no kneading!
    Overhead shot of half of the bread loaf with some slices on a wooden cutting board with a blue background.
    Perfect Air Fryer Cauliflower
    You'll love this healthy and easy air fried cauliflower--so easy to customize to your own taste!
    Side shot of a fork picking up a piece of cauliflower from a full cream-colored bowl garnished with fresh herbs.

    🍞 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

    Side angled view of ground beef orzo pasta in a white bowl with a fork on the side.

    One Skillet Ground Beef Recipe with Orzo

    Recipe Author: Kristin
    If you like easy ground beef recipes you can make in one pan, you will love this hearty and delicious one skillet meal with beef and orzo pasta!
    4.88 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email Bookmark Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Entree
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 461 kcal

    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
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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

    Calories: 461kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 958mg | Potassium: 595mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2445IU | Vitamin C: 12.8mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 3.5mg

    Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.

    Want to make cooking even easier?Sign up here to receive FREE DBH exclusive content, including my favorite kitchen shortcuts and hacks, and unlock access to the DBH resource library with many other free downloads!

    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.

    Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.

    And you might want to check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!

    Happy cooking!

    Close up of a signature of Kristin.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sheri

      September 24, 2018 at 10:01 pm

      This sounds so good! Thanks for sharing at the To Grandma's House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Wednesday Link Party! I pinned this! Hope to see you again next week.

      Reply
    2. Ashley

      September 24, 2018 at 11:37 am

      LOVE a one skillet meal! Thanks for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty!

      Reply
    3. Jenny walters

      September 23, 2018 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      These kind of one pot recipes are my favourite mid week. We too have a quick turnaround between school and clubs.Just perfect.Thank you for sharing with #FiestaFriday

      Reply
    4. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome

      September 17, 2018 at 10:40 am

      Orzo is my absolute favorite pasta! This looks good - Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - hope to see you next week too. In the mean time, have a fabulous week!

      Reply
    5. Jessica

      August 23, 2018 at 3:37 pm

      I'm excited to try this tonight for dinner! I'm using roasted red peppers instead of tomatoes since my hubby is (sadly) allergic. Thanks!

      Reply
    6. kat koch

      October 10, 2017 at 10:07 am

      This a definite "gotta try." Just pinned it too. BTW, I would love to join your Rockin' Roundups group board. I can be found at @atmuserach on Pinterest. -Kat

      Reply
      • Kristin King

        October 10, 2017 at 4:05 pm

        Hi Kat, I am not able to find you on Pinterest. Can you make sure you are following me and then we can try again? Thanks!

        Reply
    7. Petra

      August 16, 2017 at 10:50 am

      Orzo is great and your version sounds so tasty! A perfect sharing dish and I love that you brought it to Fiesta Friday! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Miz Helen

      August 12, 2017 at 12:21 pm

      This is a great skillet meal, it looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    9. Jhuls

      August 12, 2017 at 9:07 am

      Wow!This looks so appetizing! I might have second serving! 😀 Thanks for taking this along with you at Fiesta Friday party!

      Reply
    10. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome

      August 09, 2017 at 9:27 am

      I love orzo!! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner link up!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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    👋 Hey there, I'm Kristin! As a full-time working wife and mom, my life is such a whirlwind, it makes me dizzy sometimes! So I have been working to develop quick, easy, family-friendly recipes for 20+ years, and this site is where I share them with you! Happy cooking!

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