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Home Collections Quick Dinner Recipes

One Pot Orzo / Risoni Bolognaise

By:Nagi
Published:29 Jun '15Updated:21 Mar '19
134 Comments
Recipe v

Is there a rule that says Bolognese has to be made with spaghetti? Why not orzo (risoni)? Especially given that you can make it all in ONE POT in 20 minutes! Introducing orzo / risoni bolognaise!

One Pot Bolognaise Orzo (Risoni) - dinner on the table in 20 minutes, from scratch, all made in one pot.

This was an accidental discovery. Sometimes it amazes me that I go to the grocery store almost every day and yet when I start making dinner, I’m missing a crucial ingredient. Like spaghetti for spaghetti bolognaise. Seriously. Who doesn’t have dried spaghetti in the pantry at all times?

I know, I’m weird. I think it’s the Japanese blood in my veins. I always have rice. But I don’t always have pasta.

I was about to get started with dinner when I realised I didn’t have spaghetti but I did have orzo. (It’s similar to rice in shape. Maybe that’s why I had it! 😉 ) And then the laziness kicked in, and I wondered – could I cook it IN the bolognaise sauce if I got the liquid ratio right?

Turns out you can. With absolutely zero comprise on flavour or texture. The orzo is perfectly al dente, and the bologanise is gloriously saucy.

One Pot Bolognaise Orzo (Risoni) - dinner on the table in 20 minutes, from scratch, all made in one pot.

You know what else I love about this? It’s great couch food. Have you ever tried eating spaghetti on the couch? Don’t do it! Well, if you do, wear a bib, have a pile of napkins beside you and I really hope your couch is NOT a white fabric couch.

But this Orzo Bolognaise is perfect for eating on the couch. A bowl, a spoon and a glass of wine while you watch whatever show helps you wind down after a long day. You can keep your eyes glued to the screen so you don’t miss a single critical moment of Game of Thrones and manage to scoff down dinner at the same time. (Talent. That’s what it’s called. Like driving and eating.)

One Pot Bolognaise Orzo (Risoni) - dinner on the table in 20 minutes, from scratch, all made in one pot.

One Pot Bolognaise Orzo (Risoni) - dinner on the table in 20 minutes, from scratch, all made in one pot.

Tomato PassataAnd if that wasn’t enough, this is a fantastic midweek meal because it takes just 20 minutes from start to finish. 20 minutes! It’s just ridiculously fast and easy (and delicious!).

One key difference in this bolognaise sauce is that I make it using tomato passata instead of tinned tomatoes. I believe Americans also know it as tomato sauce (but not tomato sauce as Australians know it!).

Passata is simply pureed tomatoes and nowadays it’s sold in all grocery stores and costs around the same as tinned tomatoes. I love using passata because the sauce is smoother and thicker, unlike with crushed tinned tomatoes which you need to cook for a while for the tomatoes to break down.

This is the passata I use which you can find in the pasta section of Coles and Woolworths (supermarket chain in Australia). It comes in a large 25oz / 700g glass bottle. I keep the bottles and use them for all sorts of things, like storing sugar, salt, homemade stock. I even use them as vases and water jugs when I’m entertaining.

OK! Signing off. I have a HUGE bowl of Orzo Bolognaise to scoff down!

– Nagi x


And more One Pot Ground Beef / Mince recipes

  • Cheeseburger Casserole (Homemade Hamburger Helper)

  • Chili Mac – mash up of Mac and Cheese with Chilli Con Carne, so good!

  • Asian Beef and Ramen Noodles – one skillet, 15 minutes

  • Beef and Veggies with Rice

  • Taco Soup – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, it’s amazing!

  • Browse all One Pot recipes and Ground Beef / Mince recipes

One Pot Bolognaise Orzo (Risoni) - dinner on the table in 20 minutes, from scratch, all made in one pot.

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One Pot Bolognaise Orzo (Risoni) - dinner on the table in 20 minutes, from scratch, all made in one pot.

One Pot Orzo / Risoni Bolognaise

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 18 mins
Total: 21 mins
Dinner, One Pot, Pasta
Italian-esque
4.93 from 40 votes
Servings4 -5
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 150
Dinner all made in one pot in just 20 minutes! A yummy bolognaise sauce made with orzo/risoni instead of spaghetti. Great couch food - and for kids too, less mess!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic , minced
  • 1 small onion , peeled and diced (brown, white or yellow)
  • 1 lb / 500g ground beef (mince)
  • 24 oz / 700g tomato passata (Note 3)
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp dried Italian Herbs , or any combination of dried parsley, oregano, basil
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes (Note 1)
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups dried orzo / risoni

To serve (optional)

  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Finely chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet/fry pan (or pot) over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes or until translucent.
  • Add the mince and turn the heat up to high. Cook the mince, breaking it up as you go.
  • When the mince is browned, add the remaining ingredients except the orzo. When the liquid comes to a simmer (it might bubble and spit slightly) add the orzo/risoni.
  • Give it a quick stir then turn the heat down to medium low.
  • Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently towards the end to ensure the orzo/risoni doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. If your liquid is evaporating too quickly, just add a slosh of hot water (tap or boiling).
  • Remove the risoni from the heat. The risoni should be a teeny bit hard still and it should be very saucy when you take it off the stove. (Note 2)
  • Check for seasoning (salt), then give it a good stir.
  • Serve immediately, while it's piping hot and nice and saucy, garnished with freshly grated parmesan and parsley, if desired.

Recipe Notes:

1. Boullion cubes are stock cubes. You could use beef stock (or even chicken stock) instead of water and skip the boullion cubes.
2. Because orzo / risoni is so small, it goes from perfectly cooked to overcooked in a flash. So for perfectly cooked orzo, take it off the stove at 10 minutes while the orzo is a teeny bit hard still. While you are testing for seasoning and serving it out, the residual heat will finish cooking it so it is firm but tender (al dente), rather than soft and mushy (overcooked).
That is also why it is quite saucy when you take it off the stove. The sauce reduces a lot quite quickly, through both evaporation and being absorbed by the orzo. So by the time you serve it, you still have enough sauce.
3. Tomato passata is just pureed tinned tomatoes. Nowadays it is readily available in supermarkets, usually alongside pasta sauces. It costs just a tiny bit more, sometimes the same, as canned tomatoes. If you can't find it, puree canned tomatoes or use crushed canned tomatoes.
4. Nutrition assuming this serves 5 people. 1 1/2 cups of dried risoni does not sound like much but you will be surprised how much it swells when cooked.
One Pot Bolognaise Orzo Nutrition

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 456gCalories: 484cal (24%)Carbohydrates: 49.5g (17%)Protein: 35.8g (72%)Fat: 15g (23%)Saturated Fat: 4.5g (28%)Trans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 86mg (29%)Sodium: 565mg (25%)Potassium: 333mg (10%)Fiber: 2.1g (9%)Sugar: 10.1g (11%)Vitamin C: 1.7mg (2%)Calcium: 20mg (2%)Iron: 4.7mg (26%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

 

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134 Comments

  1. Suzan Vasica says

    March 15, 2022 at 7:06 pm

    Love all your recipes that I’ve tried and love this one too. I made it on the weekend and it went down well with my workmate as well, who I give portions of everything I cook. She actually got me onto you 😀

    Reply
  2. Ash says

    January 26, 2022 at 3:20 pm

    I was sick with Covid recently and had been eating a lot of butter noodles when I couldn’t be bothered cooking much. I ran out of spaghetti and didn’t realise it but I’m still isolating so I couldn’t go out and get more, but I had a full box of risoni so I made this. It was delicious and so easy to make! One pan makes cleanup a breeze.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 27, 2022 at 10:53 am

      I hope you are feeling better Ash! N x

      Reply
  3. Mel says

    December 18, 2021 at 5:20 pm

    5 stars
    I have a family of 5 boys who are always hungry doubled the recipe and they absolutely demolished it ❤️ Came back looking for more.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      December 19, 2021 at 5:51 pm

      Excellent Mel! N x

      Reply
  4. Dan says

    October 13, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    Delicious, quick and easy, another one of your recipes has now become a regular midweek meal 😁

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 13, 2021 at 9:37 pm

      Thanks! N x

      Reply
  5. Holly says

    April 3, 2021 at 8:53 am

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for dinner, the flavour was spot on, family said sauce was excellent. We are accustomed to a bit more pasta to sauce ratio so it felt a bit sauce heavy for our tastes but I think we would enjoy this again with a pasta that has a bit more bite to it. Still, a great recipe!

    Many thanks,

    Holly x

    Reply
  6. Jasmine says

    March 5, 2021 at 1:12 pm

    Hi Nagi,

    Just wondering if I can add some extra veggies to this, like celery and carrots. Trying to get more nutrients.

    Reply
  7. Angela says

    October 10, 2020 at 6:45 am

    5 stars
    So easy to make. My 4 boys all gobbled it up. Such a good dinner to make when everyone is tired and they don’t have to think too hard about eating!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 10, 2020 at 11:42 am

      Wahoo, that’s awesome Angela!! N x

      Reply
  8. Ev says

    June 22, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    5 stars
    Simple, fast and tasty – my 6 year old smashed it!

    Reply
  9. Bronwyn says

    May 14, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    5 stars
    So tasty and so so easy, thanks!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 14, 2020 at 7:58 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it Bronwyn! N x

      Reply
  10. Teresa Eaton says

    March 15, 2020 at 9:40 am

    5 stars
    Oh my this dish is sooo tasty definitely a winner
    Thanks Nagi

    Reply
  11. Annie says

    February 21, 2020 at 5:46 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! My only comment was that I got confused when the recipe called for 24 oz./700g of tomato passata.. when 12 oz is ~700g. I only ended up using one 12 oz can and it worked out!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 21, 2020 at 11:28 am

      Hi Annie, 12oz is only 340g (so the recipe is correct). I’m glad you still loved it though!! N x

      Reply
  12. Nicole says

    January 11, 2020 at 2:42 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! I used two cups of beef stock instead of the cubes. I would make it again!

    Reply
  13. Grace says

    September 30, 2019 at 3:31 pm

    5 stars
    So easy, so quick and super delicious!! Even the super fussy 2 year old gobbled it up!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 30, 2019 at 5:38 pm

      Wahoo! That’s great Grace!

      Reply
  14. Dana says

    August 24, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    Hi! I don’t have orzo nor risoni (I live in China, it’s amazing hoa many things that seem trivial to me, I can’t find here…) Anyway, can I replace it with other short pasta or rice? Which will be better? Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 26, 2019 at 4:30 pm

      Hi Dana, rice would work well!

      Reply
      • Dana says

        August 27, 2019 at 10:48 am

        Hi Nagi, I ended up making it with 2.5~3 cups of short pasta and it is SO delicious!!! I love love love your recipes!!

        Reply
        • Nagi says

          August 27, 2019 at 6:06 pm

          Great to hear Dana 🙌

          Reply
  15. Beth says

    June 17, 2019 at 2:41 am

    Do you reckon you’d be able to make this with leftover bolognaise? Finally found orzo so I’m going to try all your orzo recipes!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 17, 2019 at 8:19 am

      Definitely Beth!!

      Reply
  16. John says

    June 15, 2019 at 5:47 pm

    5 stars
    Made this last night for family including son in-law, outstanding yet again Nagi, you have the gift.

    Both daughters asked for the recipe and your web site details, my brother-in-law is also a recent convert based on one of your dishes I made.
    Love your work.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 15, 2019 at 7:14 pm

      That’s great John!!

      Reply
  17. Renee says

    April 25, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    5 stars
    This meal is easy to prepare and delicious! Even my fussiest little eaters gobbled up this recipe. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 26, 2019 at 7:25 pm

      Woah that’s the best compliment!

      Reply
  18. Emma says

    February 10, 2019 at 12:38 pm

    This makes perfectly 5 serves for me! I do this recipe on a rotation for 4 for my weekly meal prep. Unlike the other recipes I make, this one still tastes Devine on the last day! Love your food blog will be back for more!

    Reply
  19. John says

    January 25, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    5 stars
    The only part of the recipe I struggled with was “Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently towards the end”
    People were commenting from the 1st minute how good it was smelling. So I decided to protect my share by standing over it and stirring for the whole 10 mins!!! Ha! After 10 mins stirring, it was consumed in 1 min!! Yummm. It got even more sublime when consumed with a lather of butter on some crusty bread. The ants pants!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 26, 2019 at 8:00 am

      YESSS!!!

      Reply
  20. Janelle Abbott says

    October 24, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this and it’s delicious and so easy to make. Tossed in some frozen peas as well. I will add this to my go to list of recipes of which a number of your recepies are already apart of. One question is this freezer friendly??

    Look forward to making more of your recipes.

    Reply
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