Grandma's Porcupine Meatballs Recipe Is a High-Protein Budget Dinner (8 Ingredients) by 30Seconds Food
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Why are they called porcupine meatballs? We're assuming it's because the rice can stick out of the meatball and look like a porcupine's quills. Some say this recipe originated during the Great Depression because rice was budget-friendly and could make the meat stretch further for dinner.
Regardless of why they're called porcupine meatballs, they are a delicious, budget, high-protein dinner any night of the week. (Check out the health benefits of protein.) The where and why aren't really important about this ground beef recipe. What is important is that this porcupine meatball recipe is yummy, easy on the wallet and kids love them.
All you need for these juicy, gluten-free beef meatballs is ground beef, rice, onion, seasoned salt, garlic powder, tomato sauce, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. The meatballs are formed and put into a casserole baking dish. The simple sauce is stirred together and poured over the meatballs. Bake for about 40 minutes and dinner is done.
These moist vintage meatballs are a quick and easy dinner any night of the week. Serve the meatballs with your favorite side dishes.
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup long-grain rice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 28 ounces (1 can) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Here’s how to make it:
- Combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, water, onion, seasoned salt and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix well and shape into meatballs. Put the meatballs into a casserole dish that’s been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. (Spice things up with a bit of ground cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. Try this recipe with ground turkey or ground chicken.)
- Mix together the tomato sauce, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the sauce over the meatballs. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve. Store any leftover meatballs covered in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.
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