Meatball Porcupines
Transform your weeknight dinners with these irresistible Meatball Porcupines, a nostalgic, family-friendly dish packed with flavor and charm. Made from tender ground beef, hearty uncooked white rice, and a savory blend of garlic, onion, and dried oregano, these unique meatballs get their signature "porcupine" look as the rice cooks and lightly peeks through the surface. Simmered to perfection in a rich tomato sauce, these meatballs are seared for an extra layer of flavor and then gently cooked until irresistibly tender. Ready in just over an hour and perfect for serving with mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or crusty bread, this comforting and budget-friendly recipe is sure to be a hit at your dinner table. Whether you're feeding a crowd or meal-prepping leftovers, Meatball Porcupines bring classic comfort food to life in the most delightful way.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 0.5 cup Uncooked white rice
- 0.5 cup Onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 large Egg
- 0.25 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 2 cups Canned tomato sauce
- 0.5 cup Water
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, uncooked white rice, diced onion, minced garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, and dried oregano. Mix until well combined.
Shape the meat mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs. You should get around 12-14 meatballs.
In a large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs in batches, searing them for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Remove the browned meatballs and set them aside.
In the same skillet, add the tomato sauce and water. Stir to combine and bring the sauce to a simmer.
Carefully return the browned meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer for 35-40 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking. The rice inside the meatballs will cook and expand, giving the meatballs their 'porcupine' appearance.
Once cooked through, remove the meatballs from heat. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Serve the Meatball Porcupines hot with a side of mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
528 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 31.8 g | 41% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.5 g | 52% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 123 mg | 41% | |
| Sodium | 946 mg | 41% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 35.2 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.7 g | 10% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.4 g | ||
| Protein | 24.7 g | 49% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.4 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 62 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 3.7 mg | 21% | |
| Potassium | 526 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
