Description
Old Fashioned Porcupine Meatballs are a nostalgic and hearty dish made with ground beef, rice, and a savory tomato sauce. The rice sticks out from the meatballs as they cook, resembling porcupine quills.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 large egg
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, uncooked rice, chopped onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and egg until well combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and set aside.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, combine tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce, spooning sauce over them to coat.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped parsley.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat.
- Can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen.
- Serve with mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg