How to Make Easy Peasy One Pot Orzo Bolognese

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Mix up your midweek meals with this deliciously easy one pot orzo bolognese recipe! With minimal prep and pot washing, this easy stove top dinner is busy life friendly, and made in just 30 minutes! Keep reading for the easy recipe, helpful tips and more…

Why you’ll love this recipe

Who doesn’t love a one pot recipe?! Orzo is a great way to mix up the regular rice or fusilli pasta dishes we regularly eat. And, just like other pasta, it absorbs all the wonderful flavours you surround it with. Making this orzo bolognese a seriously tasty and incredibly convenient midweek meal!

This easy dinner is also perfect if you have ‘picky eating’ kids or grandkids. Homemade spaghetti bolognese is often refused by little ones, especially if the recipe uses fresh tomatoes and other chunky veggies. But this orzo bolognese is a fantastic middle ground that is sure to please EVERYONE!

What is orzo?

If you’re unfamiliar with orzo, or have never even heard of it – let’s clear things up. Orzo is actually a type of pasta, even though it looks very similar to rice. Texture wise, it very much has the same bite and mouth feel as pasta.

Ingredients

Confused about what ingredients to buy? Not sure about a substitution? Here’s everything you might need to know…

• Oil – I like to use sunflower oil for frying, as it’s pretty flavourless. Whatever you have in the cupboard will likely work. Just be sure it doesn’t have a very low smoke point.
• Garlic – I use large cloves. So if yours are quite small, you may wish to to use 2.
• Onion – A standard yellow onion (sometimes called a brown onion) is my go to here. Red onion could also work nicely if that is all you have.
• Minced Beef – I usually use a lean minced beef (around 5% fat). But if you want REAL flavour, use a 20% fat minced beef instead. It’s all down to personal perference.
• Passata – There are lots of flavoured passatas out there, I went with tomato and basil. Use whatever flavour you like best, or even use a regular pasta sauce. Just make sure it’s more ‘sauce’ than chunky, or the orzo won’t be able to absorb it.
• Worcestershire Sauce – If you know, you know. There are no imitations here – use the real deal!
• Dried Herbs – Italian herbs give a lovely rounded flavour, but oregano or herbes de provence would also taste great.
• Stock Pot – I prefer beef stock pots to cubes, but both will taste lovely. Use what you already have, or whichever you like best!
• Orzo – This is now readily available in the pasta section at most large supermarkets. You shouldn’t have any problems finding it.

Emma’s Top Tips

Here are tips you’ll find helpful when making orzo bolognese.

• Taste and season as you go. If you add lots of salt at the end, your food will just taste salty. Whereas, if you add it throughout cooking, the salt will simply bring out the best flavours of your ingredients.
• Don’t walk away, you need to stick around and stir regularly. Although this is a speedy recipe, it’s not one that you can simply mix together and leave, like a vegetable pasta bake.
• Prep and weigh all your ingredients before you begin cooking. If you do this throughout, you’re much more likely to make costly mistakes.
• Read the recipe through before you start. This way you won’t come across anything unexpected, and will be totally prepared. Giving you a much better chance of creating a master piece, than a disaster!

Timings

Have limited time? Struggle with recipe timings? Or juggling around other things? Here’s some time managing info to make your life easier!

• Frying the onion and garlic takes around 3-4 minutes.
• Browning the mince usually takes between 5-10 minutes.
• Bringing the orzo bolognese to the boil will take around 5 minutes.
• Simmering to cook the orzo pasta through will take between 7-10 minutes.

One Pot Orzo Bolognese – Step by Step Picture Recipe

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

Please note, this recipe includes both UK metric and US Cup measurements.

Here is what you will need to serve 3.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Sunflower Oil
• 1 Garlic Clove, Finely Chopped
• 1/2 Small Onion, Finely Chopped
• 250g (8.8 oz) Lean Minced Beef
• Salt
• 400g (14 oz) Carton of Passata with Basil
• Generous Splash of Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 tsp Dried Italian Herbs
• 1 x Beef Stock Pot/Cube
• 350ml (1 Cup + 1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp) Water
• 150g (3/4 Cup) Dried Orzo Pasta
• Freshly Grated Parmesan, To Serve (Optional)
• Fresh Chopped Parsley, To Serve (Optional)

Essential Equipment

• Large Frying Pan
• Wooden Spatula

Instructions

Heat the frying pan over a medium heat then add the oil (1 tbsp), garlic (1 x clove, finely chopped) and onion (1/2 small, finely chopped). Stir frequently and fry for about 3-4 mins, until softened.

Then add the minced beef (250g | 8.8 oz) to the pan and start to break it apart using a wooden spatula. While the meat is still pink, season generously with salt, then continue to cook and break the meat apart. Until it’s completely browned.

Next add all the remaining ingredients into the pan, except for the orzo, parmesan and parsley. (400g | 14 oz passata, generous splash of Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp Italian herbs, 1 x beef stock pot or cube, and 350ml | 1 Cup + 1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp water.)

Give it a good stir then bring to the boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and add in the orzo (150g | 3/4 Cup).

Stirring frequently so it doesn’t catch on the bottom, simmer for 7-10 minutes until the pasta is cooked to your liking.

Finally, give it a taste and season with more salt if needs be. Serve immediately, sprinkling over a little parmesan and chopped parsley if you like.

Didn’t I tell you this recipe was crazy easy, quick and delicious?! With only one pot to wash too, added bonus!

It really is a delightfully tasty meal, I implore you to try it. There’s a wonderful richness to it that makes it gloriously satisfying AND it’s perfect all year round!

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Continue to Content

Easy One Pot Orzo Bolognese Recipe

Yield: 3

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Made in just 30 mins, this delicious One Pot Orzo Bolognese is packed with flavour, easy to make, and busy life FRIENDLY!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Sunflower Oil
• 1 Garlic Clove, Finely Chopped
• 1/2 Small Onion, Finely Chopped
• 250g (8.8 oz) Lean Minced Beef
• Salt
• 400g (14 oz) Carton of Passata with Basil
• Generous Splash of Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 tsp Dried Italian Herbs
• 1 x Beef Stock Pot/Cube
• 350ml (1 Cup + 1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp) Water
• 150g (3/4 Cup) Dried Orzo Pasta
• Freshly Grated Parmesan, To Serve (Optional)
• Fresh Chopped Parsley, To Serve (Optional)

Essential Equipment

• Large Frying Pan
• Wooden Spatula

Instructions

1. Place the frying pan over a medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil, followed by the garlic and onion. Fry, stirring often, until softened.
2. Add the minced beef to the pan, and break it up with a spatula. Add a generous amount of salt to season, then continue cooking and breaking up until browned.
3. Then add the passata, Worcestershire sauce, dried herbs, stock pot and water to the pan. Stir thoroughly and bring it to the boil.
4. Reduce the heat, then add in the orzo and stir well.
5. Simmer for 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently so it doesn't catch and burn on the bottom of the pan, until the orzo is cooked through.
6. Serve immediately. Top with grated parmesan and chopped parsley (optional).

Notes

If you would rather use a more in depth picture recipe, please see the main body of this post. Where you’ll also find lots of extra FAQs and helpful tips, should you need them.

Please note, this recipe includes both UK metric and US Cup measurements.

Tips

• Taste and season as you go. If you add lots of salt at the end, your food will just taste salty. Whereas, if you add it throughout cooking, the salt will simply bring out the best flavours of your ingredients.
• Don’t walk away, you need to stick around and stir regularly. Although this is a speedy recipe, it’s not one that you can simply mix together and leave, like a vegetable pasta bake.
• Prep and weigh all your ingredients before you begin cooking. If you do this throughout, you’re much more likely to make costly mistakes.
• Read the recipe through before you start. This way you won’t come across anything unexpected, and will be totally prepared. Giving you a much better chance of creating a master piece, than a disaster!

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 433Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 498mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 33g

Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.

Did you make this recipe?

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If you like this recipe…

…you might also like:

• One pot cajun sausage pasta
• Classic tuna pasta bake recipe

You might like this lemon chicken orzo pasta too!

I want to see YOUR cooking!

Have you made this glorious orzo bolognese? I’d love to know if you have! Tag me in your pics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or email me at emma@kitchenmason.com.

Emma Mason

Experienced British Online Publisher, recipe writer, and home cook, Emma has a background of over 20 years in British cuisine and cooking. Born and bred in the UK, she excels in classic British dishes, is passionate about air frying, and loves sharing her Gran’s old school recipes. She has been featured in popular publications such as Food Network, Cosmopolitan, and The Huffington Post.

Knowledgeable On: Traditional British Cuisine, Recipe Writing, Air Frying, Home Cooking.