Description
Home cooks adore this classic porcupine meatballs recipe that combines ground beef, rice, and savory seasonings. Hearty comfort from mid-century kitchens brings warmth to dinner tables when hungry families gather.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- ½ cup (120 ml) uncooked white rice
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can of tomato sauce
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- ½ cup (120 ml) water
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) chopped onion
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsps brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and select a spacious baking dish that accommodates meatballs without overcrowding.
- Mixing: Combine ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, water, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a large bowl, blending gently to maintain meat’s delicate texture.
- Forming: Mold consistent, golf ball-sized meatballs, ensuring uniform shape for even cooking and aesthetic presentation.
- Positioning: Arrange meatballs strategically in the baking dish, allowing minimal space between each for optimal heat distribution.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar in a separate container until ingredients harmonize into a smooth liquid.
- Coating: Pour sauce generously over meatballs, guaranteeing complete coverage and moisture preservation.
- Initial Roasting: Seal dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes, allowing flavors to intensify and meat to cook thoroughly.
- Finalizing: Remove foil and continue baking for 15 additional minutes, developing a rich, caramelized exterior and enhancing overall flavor profile.
Notes
- Meat Mixture Mastery: Mix ingredients gently to prevent dense, tough meatballs; overmixing can make meat tough and compact.
- Rice Cooking Technique: Uncooked rice will absorb moisture during baking, creating signature “porcupine” texture with rice grains peeking through.
- Uniform Size Matters: Use a cookie scoop or weigh meatballs to ensure consistent cooking and professional-looking presentation.
- Sauce Coverage Tip: Pour sauce completely over meatballs to keep them moist and infuse rich flavor throughout cooking process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg