One Pot Cheesy Taco Orzo
At the very least, I think you should bookmark this recipe for a busy weeknight or when you’re in a pinch because you couldn’t get off any easier with making dinner. Another thing I love about this dish is how pretty and colorful it is, because as you all know we first eat with our eyes, and I’m all about colorful and pretty dishes. One last thing to mention here is the more cheese the better, although I only list one cup of shredded cheese in the ingredients list, go big or go home. The thing is, I really dig this dish (do people still say dig?) because I’m a sucker for anything cheesy, especially cheesy pasta. And I even like to fool myself into thinking this dish is healthy because I did add some veggies to it, like the bell pepper and all those toppings like the tomatoes, green onions and olives.
Ground Beef – I like to use extra lean ground beef for less fat, but if you just have regular ground beef, just make sure you drain the fat first before adding the rest of the ingredients. Orzo – We want this small shaped pasta for our dish, but you could also substitute it with couscous. I love orzo though because it’s so similar to rice but cooks much faster and tastes delicious. Aromatics – Yellow or white onion, and garlic to create a strong and flavourful base for our orzo skillet. Broth – I always aim for a low sodium chicken broth to cook our orzo in. Hot sauce – Feel free to use whatever brand you’d like, I prefer sriracha or garlic chili sauce for a bit of heat to my orzo. Cheese – Mozzarella and cheddar shredded up fresh. Any melty cheese will do! For best results, I always recommend shredding your own cheese rather than using pre-shredded. Veggies – I love bell peppers in this dish, but feel free to use other veggies, such as broccoli, mushrooms, or whatever you have in your fridge. Taco sauce – We want to incorporate some taco sauce into our dish. This sauce is one of my favorites and if you can find it, I recommend buying loads of it. However, feel free to replace this with regular taco sauce or enchilada sauce. Toppings – This is where you can go nuts and top this with your favorite toppings such as tomatoes, green onions, olives, etc.
What Is Orzo?
Orzo is a small cut pasta that tastes heavenly in big entrees just like the one I’m writing out for you all today. It packs some good protein and pairs well with a good variety of veggies, I’ll be sure to give you some good recommendations below. This dish is absolutely divine and I can’t wait to show it to you all today!
What Else Can I Add To My Cheesy Taco Orzo?
Another great thing about this recipe, besides it being, quick, one pot and delicious, is the fact that it’s quite versatile. Although I give you a basic recipe here, feel free to add what you’d like to bulk it up a bit! For veggies, try some spinach, broccoli, asparagus, peas or mushrooms. As far as meat goes, change up the beef with chicken, bacon or pancetta.
Can I Replace The Orzo With Something Else?
You don’t just have just use orzo, you can use some other starches if you’d like! I’m just obsessed with orzo lately, because you know what, it only takes about 6 minutes to cook! However, here are some other options you have:
Rice, long grain like Basmati to prevent stickiness Couscous Any small small shaped pasta
Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, this cheesy taco orzo makes for a perfect weekday lunch. Dig into this easy orzo dish anytime throughout the week. You can store any leftover cheesy taco orzo in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
Freezer
You can also freeze this in an airtight container in the freezer for 1 to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then simply reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
More Delicious Orzo Recipes To Try
One Pot Spicy Pork Ragu with Orzo Mediterranean Orzo Salad Lemon Orzo with Asparagus One Pot Greek Chicken Orzo Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken and Asparagus One Pot Orzo Bolognese
More Must Try 30 Minute One Pot Meals
One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna Creamy Tortellini Soup Chicken Marsala Chicken Penne Arrabbiata Cheesy Gnocchi Bake Cheesy Taco Pasta
