Servings: 4 to 6

1 ounce Parmesan cheese (1/2 packed cup freshly grated or 1/4 cup store-bought grated), plus more for serving 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (½ packed cup freshly grated or ¼ cup store-bought grated), plus more for serving
1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 pound lean ground beef 1 pound lean ground beef
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
2 cups or 1 (14.5-ounce) can beef broth, plus more as needed 2 cups or 1 (14.5-ounce) can beef broth, plus more as needed
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup dried orzo pasta (about 6 1/4 ounces) 1 cup dried orzo pasta (about 6 ¼ ounces)
1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half ¼ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
Fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional) Fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)

Finely grate 1 ounce Parmesan cheese on the small holes of a box grater if needed (about ½ cup), or measure out ¼ cup store-bought grated. Grate more for serving if desired.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, if using, in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. Add 1 pound lean ground beef and season with ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add 2 cups or 1 (14.5-ounce) can of beef broth, 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce, and 1 cup dried orzo pasta. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring constantly so that the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the orzo is al dente, about 8 minutes or according to package instructions. (If the orzo isn’t completely cooked at this point, add more broth or water to the pot and continue to simmer until it has.)
Remove the pot from the heat. Add ¼ cup heavy cream or half-and-half and the Parmesan, and stir to combine. Taste and season with more kosher salt and black pepper as needed. Serve topped with more Parmesan cheese and torn fresh basil leaves if desired.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Add more broth or water to return to desired consistency when reheating.  Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Add more broth or water to return to desired consistency when reheating.