Description
Comforting porcupine meatballs bring nostalgic flavors from midwestern kitchens, combining ground beef and rice into delightful, hearty spheres. Home cooks will find this classic dish simple to prepare and guaranteed to satisfy hungry family members around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef (80/20)
Binding Ingredients:
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) long-grain white rice (uncooked)
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1/2 small onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (28-ounce/794 grams) can tomato puree
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) ketchup
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F, creating an ideal cooking atmosphere for the meatballs.
- Combine ground beef with complementary ingredients including egg, onion, uncooked rice, parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Utilize hands to thoroughly blend all ingredients, ensuring even distribution of seasonings throughout the meat mixture.
- Craft uniform meatballs approximately 1 inch in diameter, maintaining consistent size for balanced cooking.
- Select an oven-safe skillet and warm olive oil over medium-high heat to create a golden searing surface.
- Carefully place meatballs into the hot skillet, rotating to achieve light browning on multiple sides, which develops rich exterior flavor.
- Reduce cooking temperature to medium and introduce tomato puree, ketchup, remaining seasonings, additional salt, and pepper.
- Gently coat meatballs with the sauce, ensuring each sphere is evenly dressed with the flavorful liquid.
- Cover skillet with a tight-fitting lid and transfer to preheated oven for 50 minutes.
- Verify doneness by confirming meatballs are fully cooked, rice has reached tender consistency, and sauce has thickened appropriately.
- Finish the dish by sprinkling freshly chopped parsley across the surface for a vibrant, aromatic garnish before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives for healthier, leaner protein options that keep the recipe versatile.
- Cook rice beforehand to reduce overall cooking time and ensure grains are perfectly tender inside the meatballs.
- Use a small cookie scoop for uniform meatball sizes, which guarantees consistent cooking and professional-looking presentation.
- Freeze uncooked meatballs on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag, allowing easy meal prep for future quick dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 52 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg