Description
Porcupine meatballs are a classic comfort food dish featuring tender ground beef meatballs mixed with rice and spices, simmered in a savory tomato soup sauce. Baked to perfection, these meatballs are juicy and flavorful, making a hearty family-friendly meal that pairs wonderfully with rice or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup uncooked minute rice
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1 10-ounce can condensed tomato soup
- ¾ cup water
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350º F (175º C) to ensure it is at the perfect temperature for baking the meatballs later.
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, uncooked minute rice, finely chopped onion, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated. Shape the mixture into approximately 16 evenly sized meatballs.
- Brown the meatballs: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in batches if needed, and cook them for 4 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally every minute or so, until they are nicely browned on all sides. This step seals in flavor and improves texture.
- Prepare the sauce: In a separate bowl, mix together the condensed tomato soup, water, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
- Combine and bake: Place the browned meatballs in a casserole dish and pour the prepared tomato sauce over them evenly. Cover the dish with a lid or foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to allow the meatballs to cook through.
- Finish baking uncovered: After 15 minutes, remove the cover carefully, spoon some sauce over the meatballs to keep them moist, and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes. This helps thicken the sauce slightly and completes the cooking process.
- Serve: Remove the casserole dish from the oven and serve the porcupine meatballs hot over cooked rice or creamy mashed potatoes, spooning extra sauce over the top for added flavor.
Notes
- Using minute rice is essential as it cooks quickly inside the meatballs; avoid using regular long-grain rice unless pre-cooked.
- For extra flavor, consider adding chopped fresh parsley or a splash of soy sauce to the meatball mixture.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can simmer it on the stovetop for a few extra minutes before baking.
- To ensure even cooking, make meatballs uniform in size.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: porcupine meatballs, ground beef meatballs, baked meatballs, comfort food, easy dinner recipe, tomato soup meatballs
