Weeknight Card · fast ground-beef dinner
20-Minute Beefy Tomato Orzo Skillet
Ground beef, tiny pasta, tomatoes, and peas cook together in one skillet for a mild, cozy dinner that lands faster than a baked casserole.
🍅 Your Weeknight Card
Why it fits tonight: Ground beef cooks quickly, orzo finishes directly in the tomato broth, and peas add a vegetable without another pan or chopping board.
Why It Works Tonight
This gives QuickFind a fast ground-beef option that is not another taco-and-rice dinner. The texture is familiar, the flavor stays mild, and the entire meal uses one skillet.
20-Minute Beefy Tomato Orzo Skillet Recipe
Serves: 5 · Prep: 7 minutes · Cook: 13 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) petite diced tomatoes, with juices
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella or finely grated Parmesan, optional
Instructions
- Brown the beef. Heat a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and onion and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces, until no pink remains. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add the orzo. Stir in the garlic powder and dry orzo. Cook for 30 seconds so the pasta is coated in the beef mixture.
- Simmer. Add the diced tomatoes and beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer. Cook uncovered for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring often so the orzo does not stick.
- Add the peas. Stir in the frozen peas and cook for 2 minutes, until the orzo is tender and the peas are hot. Add a splash of broth or water if the skillet becomes too thick before the orzo is done.
- Finish. Remove from the heat. Stir in or sprinkle with cheese if using. Make sure the ground beef has reached at least 160°F (71°C).
Make This Card Fit Your Night
Picky-Eater Move
Use petite tomatoes and keep the cheese optional. If visible peas are a problem, serve them on the side for selected plates.
Make It Cheaper
Replace one-third of the beef with drained white beans or lentils, or use whichever lean ground meat is on sale.
Lowest-Effort Shortcut
Use frozen diced onion and pre-shredded cheese. Petite tomatoes remove any need to chop canned tomatoes.
Use What You Have
Frozen corn can replace peas. Small pasta shapes can replace orzo, but they may need extra broth and a few more minutes.
Leftovers Tomorrow
Cool and refrigerate in a covered container for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of broth or water until steaming hot. Leftovers also work well inside a warm tortilla or alongside a simple salad.
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