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Porcupine Meatballs with Rice

Porcupine Meatballs with Rice: A Cozy Family Favorite

Porcupine Meatballs with Rice is a family-friendly dish packed with flavor, perfect for busy weeknights and gatherings.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 4 meatballs
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs
  • 1 cup Long Grain Rice Soak in hot water for 20-25 minutes
  • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef (80/20) Can substitute with ground lamb or pork
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion Finely diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 tbl Dry Parsley Or use fresh for bolder taste
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt Adjust based on tomato sauce’s sodium level
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Optional for extra heat
For the Sauce
  • 1 can Diced Tomatoes Fire-roasted for extra flavor
  • 1 can Tomato Sauce Thicker and richer
  • 1 tbl All-Purpose Flour Substitute with gluten-free flour to make it gluten-free
  • 1 medium Green Bell Pepper Diced
  • 1 tbl Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tbl Granulated Sugar Add to taste
  • 1 tsp Celery Seed
  • 1 tbl Flat Leaf Parsley Optional garnish

Equipment

  • baking dish
  • Mixing Bowl
  • whisk

Method
 

Directions
  1. In a medium bowl, combine long grain rice with hot water and let it soak for 20-25 minutes. After soaking, drain the rice and set it aside to cool slightly.
  2. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lean ground beef, soaked rice, finely diced onion, minced garlic, dry parsley, black pepper, kosher salt, and optional cayenne. Mix until well combined.
  4. Shape the mixture into about 10 meatballs, each roughly ⅓ cup in size. Place the meatballs in a lightly greased baking dish.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water combined with flour until smooth. Stir in remaining sauce ingredients.
  6. Pour the sauce around the meatballs, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 1 hour.
  7. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes to brown the tops.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 15gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 2mg

Notes

These meatballs can be frozen uncooked on a baking sheet and stored in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

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