Porcupine Meatballs

Name: Porcupine Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 (4 meatballs each)
Ingredients: 2 tsp Italian seasoning; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper; 1/2 cup long grain white rice, uncooked*; 1 lb. lean ground beef**; 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 large egg; 2 Tbsp chopped parsley (to garnish); 1 oz. can tomato sauce; 1 oz. can crushed tomatoes, with juices; 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 Tbsp sugar; 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 cup water

User Reviews

4.8

27 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings
6 (4 meatballs each)
Calories
191 kcal
Course
Dinner
Cuisine
Italian, American

Porcupine Meatballs

Megan Sampson

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These easy and flavorful Porcupine Meatballs are made with ground beef and rice, then simmered in a savory tomato sauce.

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Ingredients

Servings

Meatballs

2 tsp Italian seasoning $0.20
1/2 tsp onion powder $0.05
1/2 tsp garlic powder $0.05
1 1/2 tsp salt $0.06
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.04
1/2 cup long grain white rice, uncooked* $0.24
1 lb. lean ground beef** $4.98
1/2 yellow onion, finely diced $0.35
2 cloves garlic, minced $0.08
1 large egg $0.67
2 Tbsp chopped parsley (to garnish) $0.18

Tomato Sauce

1 oz. can tomato sauce $1.06
1 oz. can crushed tomatoes, with juices $0.83
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce $0.06
1 Tbsp sugar $0.06
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.04
1/4 tsp garlic powder $0.03
1/2 cup water $0.00

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Instructions

In a small bowl, stir together the Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Rinse the rice in cool water and drain well. Add the lean ground beef to a large bowl along with the rice, finely diced onion, minced garlic, egg, and the seasoning mixture.
Use your hands to mix everything together until evenly combined. Try not to overmix as this can make the meatballs tough.
Divide and shape the meat mixture into 24 meatballs, about two tablespoons each. Place the shaped meatballs into a large pot or dutch oven. It’s ok if the meatballs are touching each other. I also stacked a few on top of each other.
Now make the sauce. In a medium bowl combine the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, black pepper, garlic powder, and water. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Pour the tomato sauce mixture over the meatballs.
Cover the pot with a lid and bring the pot to a low boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and let the meatballs simmer for 35-40 minutes.
Serve over rice or mashed potatoes with fresh chopped parsley on top and enjoy!

Notes

*Be sure to use uncooked long-grain white rice. You don't need to cook it first for this recipe. Cooking the rice first just adds an extra step to the process, and I didn't find it necessary. Using uncooked rice allows the rice to cook at the same time as the meatballs and soak up all the seasoning and flavors from the dish.
**I used 93% lean ground beef to reduce the amount of grease that collects inside the pot while the meatballs are cooking. But 85% lean should also work pretty well.