Name: Greek orzo with ground beef, Youvetsi me kima stin katsarola
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 200 g orzo (about 1 cup); 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 yellow onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 celery stalk, finely chopped; 1 carrot, grated; 250 grams ground beef; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 600 ml water; 250 ml tomato sauce; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/2 cup crumbled feta (Optional); 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley (Optional)

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A traditional Greek stovetop dish made with orzo and ground beef cooked in a fragrant tomato sauce. This is a hearty, comforting meal that comes together easily and in one pot. Dinner cooked in under 30 minutes!

Greek orzo with ground beef, Youvetsi me kima stin katsarola, in a white bowl surrounded by bread, feta, parsley and water.

Growing up in a Greek home I learned from a young age that delicious and nutritious food could be made simply and pretty quickly. My parents were busy! We were three kids in the family and both Mama and Baba worked hard in order to make ends meet. Dinners had to be quick, and simple. Being first generation immigrants in a country where they came with nothing also meant that it was very important for them to hold onto their Greek heritage and to pass that along to their kids. One delicious way to do that was through food!

Meals like youvetsi are the epitome of rustic, humble, Greek food. There are many ways to make youvetsi, like with chicken, or shrimp or even with chickpeas for a vegan version. Orzo cooked along with a protein in a rich and fragrant tomato based sauce is a Greek mama’s love letter to her family, feeding body and soul. The flavours are perfect. The texture is luxurious.

Why you will love this recipe

Who doesn’t love recipes which are delicious, easy and which don’t require fancy or really expensive ingredients?! Greek orzo with ground beef is a simple meal that is cooked entirely in one pot making clean-up a breeze!

This meal is comforting, rustic Greek food. No fancy ingredients, no special cooking techniques, no need for expensive equipment. Just a few basic, real food items, one pot and about 30 minutes!

I love having this meal as leftovers! It is just as good the next day, warmed up either on the stove top or in the microwave. It is so good that I often make an extra batch and portion it out for take along lunches during the week.

Key ingredients

Orzo This rice shaped pasta is a key ingredient in the Greek meal called youvetsi. In Greek we call orzo kritharaki and because there is so much surface area to each small pasta shape, it tends to produce dishes which are thick and creamy.

Ground beef I use lean ground beef. When I can get the meat freshly ground, I do that. Otherwise I try to find organic or pasture raised beef.

Olive oil I only use Greek olive oil in this dish. The oil that you use to sauté the vegetables remains in the dish, so Greek oil it is!

Onion A yellow onion is used here which is perfect because they are easy to find, and sauté up beautifully.

Garlic A bit of garlic, finely chopped adds a lot of flavour to this dish. Just be sure to stir regularly while you are sautéeing it, so that it does not burn.

Celery The celery adds flavour and texture to this dish.

Carrot The grated carrot practically disappears in this dish. You will still see the flecks of orange, but more importantly you will taste the mild sweetness of the carrot.

Tomato paste Intense tomato flavour! Be sure to sauté the tomato paste when you first add it to the pot. By doing so you are essentially caramelizing it, maximizing the flavour.

Tomato sauce When possible I use my homemade tomato sauce for this recipe. If I do not have homemade tomato sauce however I use a good quality jarred tomato sauce or passata (strained tomatoes)

Cinnamon The use of cinnamon in meat based savoury dishes is common in Greek cooking, for good reason! It is so good.

Paprika Slightly sweet, and gives a great colour!

Nutmeg Warm, nutty and fragrant. A little bit of nutmeg goes a long way in this dish.

Feta Although optional, I love to stir in some crumbled feta and to add a bit more on top of the dish before serving. Of course, only Greek feta will do!

Parsley Fresh parsley for fresh flavour and a bit of colour is the perfect ending to the meal!

Ingredients which include: Ground beef, Orzo, Water, celery, carrots, onion, feta, tomato sauce, tomato paste, cinnamon, paprika and nutmeg, garlic

How to make it

Making this stove top orzo and ground beef meal is so easy.

Preparation

Begin by preparing all of your vegetables. Chop up your onion, garlic and celery. Grate your carrot and then measure out the rest of your ingredients. When it is time to cook, it will be so quick and easy!

Instructions

Step 1
In a large pot heat the olive oil and sauté the onion for 3 to 5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic, celery and carrot and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring regularly. Add in the ground beef and cook until no longer pink.

Frying the onion, celery, garlic and carrot

Step 2
Make a space in the center of the pot and add in the tomato paste. Cook for 2 to 3 minute, stirring the tomato paste occasionally, until the tomato paste darkens. Add in the orzo and stir to combine. Add in the cinnamon, nutmeg and paprika. Stir well.

adding the tomato paste to the ground beef, celery, and carrot and onion mixture.

Step 3
Add in the tomato sauce and water. Stir well to combine and cook on medium low heat, uncovered, until the orzo has cooked through and the liquid has evaporated. This should take between 15 – 20 minutes. Add more water if all the liquid is absorbed but the orzo is not yet cooked. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Optional: Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta. Stir well. Serve. Top with finely chopped parsley and more crumbled feta. Serve and enjoy!

Greek orzo with ground beef, Youvetsi me kima stin katsarola, in a frying pan.

Recipe variations

If you are looking for a leaner version of this meal, you can substitute the ground beef for lean ground turkey or chicken. Alternatively, for a different flavour, you can use ground lamb, ground pork or a combination of any of these.

Make this meal vegan by switching the ground meat for ground soy and skipping the feta! This way, this recipe would be perfect for lent and a wonderful nistisima option.

Cooking tips

Cooking with orzo can be a little tricky. These small pasta shapes have a lot of surface area and are quite starchy. When they cook, they have a tendency to clump together. Avoid this by first sautéing the orzo when you add it to the pot, and then stirring regularly while it is boiling.

The time it takes for this meal to be ready will depend on the cooking time required for the orzo. Check the package instructions. If the orzo is not yet fully cooked, but all the liquid has evaporated, simply add more water. If the orzo is cooked but there is still too much liquid in the pot (this should not be the case), continue to cook until the liquid evaporates. Remember that this meal is not a soup or a stew.

Frequently asked questions

What is orzo called in Greece?

In many parts of Greece, and in my family, orzo is called kritharaki. In other places, and other families, it is referred to as manestra. We actually called a lovely soup made with small noodles, like orzo, manestra.

What is youvetsi?

In Greek cooking, youvetsi (sometimes called giouvetsi) is a dish made with orzo and a protein, often meat, but sometimes fish or seafood or even beans or vegetables. Whatever the variety, when you make youvetsi, the orzo is cooked in a fragrant tomato sauce that is seasoned with spices and herbs. Youvetsi is comforting, rustic home cooking – a truly authentic Greek dish.

Can I make Greek orzo with ground beef in the oven?

Yes, you can. Although I love the ease of making this meal on the stovetop, you can also transfer the cooked meat and vegetables to an oven safe casserole, stir in the orzo, spices and all the liquids and bake until the orzo is cooked through and all the liquid has evaporated. You will have to cook the orzo occasionally to prevent it from sticking.

Greek orzo with ground beef, Youvetsi me kima stin katsarola, in a white bowl surrounded by bread, feta, parsley and water. Topped with feta.

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