Porcupine Meatballs Recipe (2024)

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This Porcupine Meatballs recipe simmered in tomato sauce is a family favorite. Serve over rice for a complete meal.

Having so much flavor and being so easy to customize, everyone loves this recipe. Be sure to check out all our Meatball recipes!

Do You Love Porcupine Meatballs?!

Have you ever had porcupine meatballs? They’re beef meatballs filled with uncooked rice and chopped onion giving it a pokey or “bump” shape resembling porcupine quills! That’s why they call them porcupine meatballs.

Believe it or not, my kids always ask for second helpings of this dinner. It’s a hit all around the table!

Why we love them:

• Delicious. We love these meatballs because the rice gives the meatballs a nice hearty texture.
• Hearty. The meatballs are simmered in tomato sauce, which makes them perfect for serving over cooked white rice.
• Dinner or appetizer. Serve them for dinner or as an appetizer -they are perfect!

Ingredients

• minute riceuncooked – Since minute rice is parboiled before being dried and packaged it doesn’t take as long to cook and soften it. Do not use other types of rice as they may require altering the other ingredients and cooking time for the recipe to cook well.
• water
• onion – use yellow white or sweet onions. Be sure to mince it into smaller pieces.
• salt
• celery salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• egg
• ground beef – Swap the ground beef for ground pork or ground turkey or combine different meats.
• vegetable oil
• tomato sauce – To change it up, try a creamy mushroom sauce, White Cream Sauce, or brown gravy.
• water
• brown sugar
• Worcestershire sauce

How to Make Porcupine Meatballs

1. MEATBALLS. Combine rice, water, onion, salt, celery salt, pepper, garlic powder, and egg in a medium bowl.
   • Add beef and mix well. Shape into 1½ inch balls.
   • Brown the meatballs in a large skillet with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Drain oil when meatballs are browned.
2. SAUCE. Add tomato sauce, water, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce to a bowl – mix and then pour over meatballs. Reduce heat and simmer for about 45 minutes.
3. SERVE.We usually serve our meatballs over cooked long grain rice. Try flavored rice like Rice A Roni, spaghetti squash, or even Cauliflower Rice. They can also be served over Mashed Potatoes or make a meatball sub.

Storing Tips

• Make ahead of time. Form the meatballs up to 24 hours in advance and keep them covered in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them.
• STOREleftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-6 days. Warm in the microwave or over the stove.
• FREEZE.Put the prepared porcupine meatballs recipe on a cookie sheet or a plate and cover with plastic wrap. Put them in the freezer for a couple of hours until frozen solid. Transfer to a freezer plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months.