The Fluffiest Porcupine Meatballs Recipe for Homestyle Comfort

Hearty comfort meets culinary creativity with these delightful porcupine meatballs that blend ground beef and rice into a delectable dish.

Nestled with a rich, tangy sauce, these meatballs bring unexpected texture and flavor to your dinner table.

The classic porcupine meatballs recipe offers a nostalgic twist on traditional meatball preparations.

Each bite promises a perfect balance of tender meat and subtly crunchy rice grains.

Generations have cherished this straightforward yet satisfying meal that comes together with minimal effort.

Simple ingredients transform into a crowd-pleasing dinner that feels both homey and special.

You’ll want to savor every single morsel of this timeless comfort food.

Porcupine Meatballs: Old-Fashioned Comfort, Modern Fun

• Porcupine meatballs deliver pure homestyle comfort with their hearty blend of ground beef, rice, and rich tomato sauce that feels like a warm hug on a plate.
• This one-dish wonder requires minimal kitchen skills, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want a delicious meal without complicated techniques.
• Soft meatballs swimming in a sweet and tangy sauce make this recipe a guaranteed hit with children and picky eaters, ensuring clean plates at the dinner table.
• Versatile ingredients allow simple swaps like ground turkey or adding extra herbs, letting you personalize the dish to match your family's taste preferences.

Flavorful Meatball Ingredients In Every Bite

• Ground Beef: A hearty protein that provides the main structure and flavor of the meatballs.

• Uncooked Rice: Adds texture and helps bind the meatballs together while cooking.
• Egg: Serves as a crucial binder to hold the meatball mixture together.
• Chopped Onion, Minced Garlic: Provide depth of flavor and aromatic base to the meatball mixture.

• Oregano, Basil: Classic herbs that add Mediterranean-inspired flavor to the meatballs.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall taste of the dish.

• Tomato Sauce, Diced Tomatoes: Create a rich, tangy base for the meatball sauce.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Brings a complex, umami depth to the sauce.
• Water: Helps to thin and blend the sauce ingredients.

• Aluminum Foil: Used to cover the dish during initial baking to keep moisture in.

Meatball Tools For Tender, Savory Results

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining meat, rice, and seasonings.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise for accurate ingredient amounts.
• Baking dish: Used for arranging and cooking meatballs.
• Aluminum foil: Covers dish during initial baking to keep moisture.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Helps mix ingredients thoroughly.
• Sharp knife: Needed for chopping onions and mincing garlic.
• Oven mitts: Protects hands when handling hot baking dish.

Steps To Classic Porcupine Meatballs, Made Easy

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 350F (175C) and give a quick spray of cooking oil to a baking dish to prevent any sticky situations.

Step 2: Mix Magical Meat Mixture

• Ground beef
• Uncooked rice
• Egg
• Chopped onion
• Minced garlic
• Oregano
• Basil
• Salt
• Pepper

Dive in with your hands and blend everything until it’s perfectly combined, creating a flavor-packed blend.

Step 3: Create Delectable Balls

Roll the meaty mixture into cute little spheres about 1 1/2 inches wide.

Gently nestle these meatballs into your prepared baking dish.

Step 4: Craft Tangy Sauce

• Tomato sauce
• Diced tomatoes
• Brown sugar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Water

Stir until the ingredients dance together harmoniously.

Step 5: Drench Meatballs

Pour the vibrant sauce directly over the meatballs, ensuring each little ball gets a delicious bath.

Step 6: Initial Baking

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and slide into the oven.

Bake for one full hour, allowing the meatballs to cook thoroughly and rice to become tender.

Step 7: Final Golden Touch

Remove the foil and return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, letting the sauce caramelize and thicken into a gorgeous, glossy coating.

Tips For Juicy Meatballs And Rich Tomato Sauce

• Soak uncooked rice in warm water for 15 minutes before mixing with meat to help rice cook evenly and become tender throughout the meatballs.
• Add an extra egg or splash of milk to maintain moisture and create a softer, more succulent texture when baking.
• Adjust sauce thickness by reducing water slightly or simmering uncovered longer if you prefer a more concentrated, rich tomato flavor.
• Replace Worcestershire sauce with gluten-free version or tamari sauce to make the recipe suitable for gluten-sensitive diets.
• Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a leaner or vegetarian version of the dish.

New Ways To Reinvent Porcupine Meatballs

• Gluten-Free Delight: Replace regular ground beef with ground turkey and use gluten-free rice. Swap tomato sauce for a homemade gluten-free marinara to ensure complete dietary compatibility.
• Vegetarian Transformation: Substitute ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives like Beyond Meat or lentils. Use vegetable broth instead of water to enhance flavor profile and maintain moisture.
• Low-Carb Option: Swap rice with cauliflower rice or finely chopped zucchini. Use lean ground chicken or turkey to reduce overall fat content while keeping protein levels high.
• Mediterranean Spin: Incorporate feta cheese into meatball mixture. Replace traditional herbs with oregano, mint, and parsley. Add a splash of red wine to tomato sauce for deeper Mediterranean flavors.

Serving Ideas For Meatballs At Any Gathering

• Dinner Party Delight: Serve these porcupine meatballs over a bed of fluffy white rice, letting the rich sauce drizzle down for extra flavor.
• Comfort Food Companion: Pair with creamy mashed potatoes and steamed green beans for a classic, hearty meal that'll warm everyone's heart.
• Family-Style Feast: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, offer crusty garlic bread on the side, and let everyone dig in family-style for a cozy gathering.
• Leftover Magic: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, and reheat gently for a quick lunch or next-day dinner that tastes even better.

Keeping Meatballs Moist For The Next Meal

• Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain optimal flavor.
• Pack meatballs with sauce in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 2-3 months for best quality.
• Place meatballs in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through.

FAQs

• What are porcupine meatballs?

They are meatballs made with ground beef and uncooked rice, which gives them a unique texture as the rice grains peek out during cooking, resembling porcupine quills.

• Can I use different types of ground meat?

Yes, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or pork depending on your preference and dietary needs.

• Is it necessary to use both dried herbs?

While oregano and basil enhance flavor, you can use just one herb if you don’t have both on hand. The recipe will still taste delicious.

• Can I make these meatballs ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the meatballs and sauce, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if baking directly from the refrigerator.

Porcupine Meatballs Recipe

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4.9 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Polish porcupine meatballs blend ground beef and rice for a comforting family dinner. Hearty flavors meld together in this classic dish that connects generations through simple, satisfying ingredients.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
• 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 egg

Herbs and Seasonings:

• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) tomato sauce
• 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup water

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and apply a light coating of cooking spray to a baking dish to prevent sticking.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly blend ground beef, raw rice, beaten egg, finely diced onion, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper until ingredients are evenly distributed.
3. Craft uniform meatballs approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter, carefully positioning them in the prepared baking dish with slight spacing between each.
4. Create a robust sauce by whisking together tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and water in a separate bowl until ingredients are fully integrated.
5. Generously cascade the prepared tomato mixture over the arranged meatballs, ensuring complete coverage.
6. Securely shield the baking dish with aluminum foil and roast in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, allowing the meatballs to cook thoroughly and the rice to become tender.
7. Uncover the dish and return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, enabling the sauce to reduce and develop a richer consistency.

Notes

• Rice Texture Matters: Use long-grain white rice for the best texture and even cooking throughout the meatballs.
• Meat Mixing Technique: Gently mix ingredients to prevent tough, dense meatballs by avoiding overmixing the ground beef.
• Sauce Customization: Swap tomato sauce with marinara or add a splash of red wine for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
• Dietary Modifications: Replace ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for healthier or vegetarian options.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg