When it comes to supper time, sometimes it gets very hectic in our house! The kids are running around like lunatics, the dogs are constantly under my feet in the kitchen – it is pure chaos, and I turn into one overstimulated mama. If you know…you know! On hectic nights, I just want something easy! It’s either a frozen pizza or something super simple! This One Pot Greek Orzo was the perfect move! Everything was all made in one dish, and it absolutely slapped! I did whip up a homemade tzatziki which took very minimal effort – and you’d never know because everything tasted SO bomb! This was like a deconstructed gyro bowl situation, that BURSTED with flavor in every bite!

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So, what is all the hype about orzo anyway? And how does it work in this gyro bowl?

Orzo is trendy because it’s basically like a pasta that’s shaped like rice…that works in just about anything you do with it! Like this one pot Greek orzo! Or a soup, or a casserole! Orzo can be worked into pretty much any dish! It’s affordable and extremely versatile! Plus, it’s a little something different!

The reason why it works beautifully here is due to the fact that everything can just cook with the broth in the skillet, while all those gyro flavors build into cohesive deliciousness! Orzo cooks quickly along with all the other ingredients, which makes it perfect for a busy weeknight!

Did you know?

Traditional gyros are made with lamb meat that’s been slow cooked on a vertical rotisserie! They are served on pita bread with tomatoes, onion, and tzatziki and they are Greece’s most LOVED street food! Around 1960, gyros became extremely popular in America and still are to this day! In this recipe, I used ground beef just because that’s what we had on hand and it seemed more practical for my family. However, you can also make gyro inspired dishes using chicken!

What ingredients do I need to make this One Pot Greek Orzo?

Ground Beef
Red Bell Pepper
Orange Bell Pepper
Onion
Zucchini
Lemon
Garlic
Orzo
Beef Broth
Olive Oil
Salt
Black Pepper
Onion Powder
Paprika
Oregano
Bay Leaf

For serving:

Dill
Grape Tomato
Feta
Tzatziki – try my recipe or use store-bought

What equipment do I need?

How do I make it?

The first thing you’ll want to do is wash and prep all of your veggies! Dice the onion and bell peppers. Slice the zucchini into half-moons, halve the grape tomatoes, and mince the garlic and dill. Juice the lemon and set that aside until the very end of the cooking process.

A bunch of peppers, zucchini, onion, and garlic chopped up on a cutting board

Next, heat some of the olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Sauté all veggies besides garlic for a few minutes. Stir occasionally and season with some salt and black pepper. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.

Veggies cooking in a skillet for one pot greek orzo

Move all veggies to a bowl and cover with foil until ready to use.

Next, on medium heat, brown the ground beef. Season with some salt and black pepper, breaking the meat up with a spatula as it cooks. Cook until no longer pink, then drain, and move to a plate covered with foil until ready to use.

Add some more oil to the pan and toast the orzo for a minute or two on medium, stirring occasionally.

Dump in the beef broth, bay leaf, and the rest of the seasonings. Simmer until orzo is al dente and most of the liquid is evaporated.

Orzo, broth, seasonings, and a bay leaf simmering on the stove

Add the veggies and beef back into the skillet, give everything a good stir and heat on low for another few minutes to warm everything through.

Ground beef gyro bowl cooking in a skillet on the stove

Remove from heat, pluck the bay leaf out, and stir in the fresh lemon juice. Garnish One Pot Greek Orzo with feta, halved grape tomatoes, dill, and homemade tzatziki sauce! Enjoy!

Mediterranean gyro bowl in a white bowl with a skillet filled with more right behind it

Tips:

This Mediterranean bowl will keep for 3-5 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
I used the red and orange bell pepper here but yellow also works, you could even use one that’s green. Did you know, bell peppers are all the same – just at different stages of ripening! Isn’t that cool?! So – the red, yellow, and orange will be sweeter than green just because they got to sit on the plant longer!
Store-bought tzatziki is totally fine to use here, just make sure it’s a quality brand. That flavorful, fresh tzatziki really made this dish! It totally exuded those gyro, Mediterranean vibes!
If you don’t have orzo, substitute with rice – preferably arborio! You could also use a quinoa or couscous.

Are you always hunting for a one pot dish to make too? Look no further!