One skillet Italian Meatballs with Orzo is a perfect weeknight dinner. This recipe is simple yet delicious and healthy.
On days that you don’t have much time, but still want homemade dinner that is easy, quick, and healthy, then you need this recipe. Meatballs can be boring so I decided to make them with Italian seasonings to make them a little different. You only need one skillet, which means less dishes to wash! So grab your skillet and let’s start cooking!
Ingredients for Italian meatballs with Orzo
- Ground beef: you can use turkey or chicken if you would like
- Onion: shallot will also work
- Garlic
- Egg
- Italian seasonings
- Smoked paprika
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Orzo pasta
- Spinach: you can also use kale
- Half & half: heavy cream or milk will also work
- Butter
- Avocado or olive oil
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- In a food processor add the onion and garlic and finely chop them.
- In a bowl add ground beef, egg, onion and garlic mixture, Italian seasonings and smoked paprika and mix until everything is well combined. Roll the meat into balls.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the avocado or olive oil. Let the oil to heat up before adding the meatballs. Add the meatballs and sear on all sides and until they’re cooked through and remove from the skillet.
- To the same skillet add the butter and let it melt. Once melted add the spinach and cook for a minute then add the water, half and half and orzo. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook the orzo. Stir occasional and cook for about 8-10 minutes or follow the package instructions. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and add the meatballs back into the skillet.
Turkey meatball recipe is also a recipe you will enjoy if you like to cook meatballs!
Italian Meatballs with Orzo
One skillet Italian Meatballs with Orzo is a perfect weeknight dinner. This recipe is simple yet delicious and healthy.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp italian seasonings
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 1 cup spinach
- 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup half & half
- 1 cup water
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- In a food processor add the onion and garlic and
- In a bowl add ground beef, egg, onion and garlic mixture, Italian seasonings and smoked paprika and mix until everything is well combined. Roll the meat into balls.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the avocado or olive oil. Let the oil to heat up before adding the meatballs. Add the meatballs and sear on all sides and until they're cooked through and remove from the skillet.
- To the same skillet add the butter and let it melt. Once melted add the spinach and cook for 30 seconds to a minute then add the water, half and half and orzo. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook the orzo. Stir occasional and cook for about 8-10 minutes or follow the package instructions. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and add the meatballs back into the skillet.
