Description
A hearty and comforting one pot Greek inspired dish made with tender orzo simmered in a rich tomato sauce with savory ground beef, finished with creamy feta and fresh parsley.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 can 14 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until soft and translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Add ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and 1 cup water. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in dry orzo and simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until the orzo is tender and the sauce has thickened.
- Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes. Top with crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Stir frequently after adding orzo to prevent sticking.
- If the mixture thickens too much, add a splash of warm water while cooking or reheating.
- Adjust salt after adding feta since it adds natural saltiness.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors deepen.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg