Slow-Cooked Savory Meat and Orzo Delight

Ingredients

- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
- 1/2 pound chicken-based sausages, casing removed
- 1/2 pound pork, diced
- 1 tablespoon chili spices
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free flour
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup wild rice, pre-cooked
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, zucchini)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup basil, chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon French onion soup mix
- 1/2 cup creamed corn
- 4 tortillas, to serve

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meat:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, chicken sausages, and diced pork until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and return to heat.
- Stir in the chili spices, lime juice, and lemon juice, allowing the mixture to caramelize for 2-3 minutes.
- Sprinkle the gluten-free flour evenly over the meat mixture, stirring to incorporate thoroughly.

2. Layer in the Crock Pot:
- In the base of your crock pot, spread a layer of diced red onion and minced garlic.
- Add the meat mixture over the onion and garlic. Top with chopped cilantro, ricotta cheese, and sour cream.

3. Add Vegetables and Grains:
- Layer the orzo pasta, pre-cooked wild rice, and sliced vegetables over the meat.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top, then layer with halved cherry tomatoes and chopped basil.

4. Pour the Broth Mix:
- In a separate bowl, combine chicken broth, white wine, sesame oil, honey, and French onion soup mix.
- Pour the broth mixture evenly over the ingredients in the crock pot.

5. Cook to Perfection:
- Cover and cook on low for PT6H (6 hours) or on high for PT3H (3 hours) until orzo is tender and the flavors meld together.
- Stir in the creamed corn during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

6. Serve:
- Adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired.
- Serve the savory meat and orzo delight with warm tortillas on the side.

Total Time

PT6H30M
6 hours 30 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Crockpot recipe, slow cooker, dinner, orzo pasta, mixed meats, gluten-free, savory dish, Italian-inspired, easy dinner, family meal

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

2,500 calories total

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