This ultra cheesy taco orzo is the epitome of easy weeknight cooking. No-chop, ready in 30 minutes, one pan for lighter cleanup and only 6 ingredients. Of course, it's also insanely delicious and something your family will ask for over and over again.
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The other day when I was making my one-pan lemon chicken orzo, I kept envisioning a cheesy Mexican orzo recipe with taco seasonings.
I couldn't get this idea out of my mind, so I finally gave it a whirl and WOW. It truly turned out better than I imagined.
Warm tortillas, crunchy corn chips, guacamole, sour cream and refried beans are the perfect sides for this taco orzo recipe. You can also serve it with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and all your other favorite taco toppings. 😋
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A True Weeknight Wonder
Minimal: No-chop, one pan and only 6 simple ingredients.
Quick: Whip up this one skillet dinner in 30 minutes or less. Truly a lightning-fast dinner idea.
Easy sides: My two favorite easy sides for this recipe are canned refried beans and warmed up tortillas or chips. Some diced tomato adds great color!
Versatile: You can totally play around with this recipe and add some veggies like diced red pepper, onion, black beans or corn. You can also use chicken instead of beef (ground chicken or cut into pieces).
Leftovers: This recipe makes quite a bit, and leftovers reheat surprisingly well. We usually get two meals from this recipe.
Your Grocery List:
- Ground beef: I recommend 80/20%. I like to drain excess fat, but reserve a little bit for toasting toast orzo. You can also use olive oil if you only have extra-lean beef.
- Orzo: Orzo is found in the pasta isle, buy any brand you like!
- Taco seasonings: I have used both Old El Paso and Siete Taco Seasonings. Both were delicious, but Siete was the winner hands down. If you use Old El Paso, buy two 1oz packets (they're a little smaller than the Siete packets).
- Chicken broth: Cooking liquid for pasta.
- Heavy Cream: Stir this in at the end to make your taco orzo super creamy.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar is my go-to!
- Optional: Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnishing.
How To Make Cheesy Taco Orzo
Keep scrolling for the full recipe card and measurements. We’ll start here with a quick overview!
Brown beef:
- Sauté ground beef over medium-high heat until it's completely browned with no pink remaining.
- Scoop crumbles into a bowl and set aside. Drain excess fat from the skillet, but reserve 2 tablespoons for toasting orzo. If you used extra-lean beef, sub olive oil for toasting.
Toast orzo:
- Add dry orzo to the skillet and toast until lightly golden (about 5 minutes). Keep a close eye on things to avoid burning.
Add seasonings & broth:
- Sprinkle taco seasonings over orzo. Add broth and mix well.
- Increase heat to high and bring skillet to a brief boil.
- Turn heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for time on orzo package (generally 13-15 minutes).
Stir in beef, cream:
- Stir browned beef crumbles and cream into the pan. Mix well.
Add cheese, then serve!
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the orzo skillet and cover with a lid until melted.
- Garnish with some fresh parsley or cilantro, if desired. Enjoy!
Stacey's Top Tips ✨
- Orzo tends to stick to the bottom of the pan, so stir frequently!
- Simmer uncovered so the mixture thickens properly.
Storing Leftovers
Storing leftovers: Place leftover orzo in an airtight container and refrigerate 3-4 days.
How to reheat: This recipe reheats really well with a splash of heavy cream, coconut milk or broth to freshen things up. Reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop until warmed through completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is orzo you ask? That's right! It's a type of very small shaped pasta that looks similar to rice.
You can add lots of different ingredients to this skillet, I just keep things really simple for super easy weeknight cooking. Sauté some diced onion or peppers with your ground beef or add a can of drained black or pinto beans. There are lots of yummy options.
I haven't tried this exact recipe with anything but orzo, so it's hard to say for sure. You could try experimenting with rice or pearl couscous. Keep in mind that different options may require more or less broth/cooking liquid!
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More Ground Beef Recipes
- Beef Taco Stuffed Peppers
- Hamburger Potato Soup
- Meatloaf Without Eggs
- Ground Beef Pot Pie
- Easy Sloppy Joes
Taco Orzo (One Skillet)
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet *Mine is 12 inches, 3.5 quarts capacity.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 16 ounces orzo *see note below
- 1-2 packets taco seasonings *depends on brand *see note below
- 3 & ½ cups (two 14.5 ounce cans) chicken broth
- ⅓ cup heavy cream *see note below
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- Fresh chopped parsley or cilantro, sour cream, diced tomato or shredded lettuce.
Recipe notes:
Orzo: Depending on brand, orzo varies slightly in size. Smaller orzo may require a bit more cooking liquid. Mix in an additional splash of broth, water or cream if it seems necessary. Taco seasonings: I've tried Siete Brand and Old El Paso taco seasonings in this recipe. They're both good, but Siete Taco Seasonings are my favorite by far and I highly recommend them (not sponsored). Also, if you're using Old El Paso I recommend two packets because they're a little smaller and less potent. Cream: I often use canned coconut cream (not boxed) in this recipe instead of heavy cream. It's a great substitute if you're dairy sensitive. My toddler has a dairy allergy so I love this substitute (and I leave the cheese topping off her portion).Instructions
- Brown ground beef over medium high heat.1 pound ground beef
- Transfer browned beef to a small bowl and set aside, reserving 2 tablespoons excess fat in the pan for toasting orzo. If you used really lean beef and have no excess fat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet. (You can also use butter, but add it to the pan after orzo to keep it from burning in the hot skillet).
- Add orzo to the skillet and toast for 3-5 minutes until slightly golden, stirring often.16 ounces orzo
- Add taco seasonings packet and chicken broth. Stir until everything is well combined.1-2 packets taco seasonings, 3 & ½ cups (two 14.5 ounce cans) chicken broth
- Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a brief boil, stirring often to prevent sticking. Then, turn heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for time specified on orzo packaging (about 13-15 minutes). Continue stirring to prevent sticking.
- Once most of the liquid is absorbed and the mixture has thickened, stir browned beef back into the skillet along with cream.⅓ cup heavy cream
- Add cheese on top and cover with a lid to melt.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Top with a little fresh chopped parsley or cilantro if desired and enjoy!
- I love serving this skillet with warm tortillas, crunchy corn chips, guacamole and sour cream. You could also add diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce or other taco toppings.
Nutrition
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