Move over spaghetti and meatballs, these Easy Porcupine Meatballs are a meal all by itself. Ground beef with white rice and seasoning are simmered in a tangy tomato sauce for a one pot dinner the whole family will be begging for more. Quick and EASY!

Easy Porcupine Meatballs in red sauce over a bed of rice with a skillet in the background.


I felt a chill in the air today, like below 60 degrees. I pulled out a turtleneck, fluffy socks and a sweater to start the process of hunkering down. Comfort food is going on the menu from now until March. Things like Beef Stew and these Easy Porcupine Meatballs.

I remember my grandmother making this Porcupine Meatball recipe when I was little and I LOVED them. Basically, if there was a recipe that had white rice in it in any way, shape or form….I was all in. And I was begging for seconds. 

This simple recipe is on constant repeat on a dinner table because it’s just so easy to make. You can make your meatballs in the oven but I like to make my meatballs on the stovetop in a skillet. Then, there’s no transferring and dirtying more dishes because doing dishes after dinner is a total drag. I’m not digging it at all.

Ingredients

  • Ground beef – We opt for lean ground beef to create our meatballs to keep the calories in check. 90/10 or 80/20 lean ground beef still makes for a juicy, flavorful meatball. You can substitute the ground beef for ground turkey with great results.
  • Rice – Use long-grain rice, uncooked so the rice holds together and doesn’t fall apart during cooking. Brown rice can be substituted for the white rice with great results.
  • Onion – A Vidalia onion will add sweetness to the meatballs.
  • Egg – Use 1 egg as a binding agent.
  • Seasoning – Garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper add flavor and depth to the meatballs. While it’s not traditionally in a porcupine meatballs, we pumped up the flavor just a bit.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – We always love a dash of Worcestershire sauce in anything meaty. You can leave it out or substitute with soy sauce or coconut aminos.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom.

Overhead shot of porcupine meatballs in tomato sauce in a skillet with a spoon.

What are Porcupine Meatballs

These little morsels of heaven are named Porcupine Meatballs because the grain of rice stick out of the meat as it cooks resembling little porcupine quills. The rice, also, absorbs all the flavors used in cooking this dish like the tangy tomatoes and savory ground beef. It’s seriously so flavorful and addicting. 

They’re a classic retro recipe that gained popularity during the Great Depression because they could be made with just a few basic ingredients and pantry staples; ground beef, rice, onion and canned tomato soup.

Our version makes a rich tomato sauce from scratch that’s almost as easy as using a can of soup. And they’re insanely easy to make! The tender meatballs simmer in the sauce soaking up all the flavors.

Close up of porcupine meatballs on white rice.

How To Make Porcupine Meatballs

You only need a few minutes of hands on time to whip these babies up! And then they simmer in the sauce until they’re cooked through and the rice is tender.

  1. Combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, eggs, parsley, onion, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper together in a large bowl.
  2. Shape the meat mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball (approximately 2 inches in diameter.)
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the meatballs on all sides. 
  4. In a bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, water and garlic powder.
  5. Drain off some of the fat from the skillet and return to the heat. Pour the tomato sauce over the meatballs.
  6. Cover and simmer over low heat for 45-50 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and the rice is tender.
  7. Serve the meatballs with the sauce and garnish with more parsley, if desired.
Ingredients for porcupine meatballs in a glass bowl.
ingredients for porcupine meatballs in a glass bowl ready to be rolled into meatballs.

What To Serve With Porcupine Meatballs

You can enjoy these porcupine balls as they are or serve them up in a roll for a fun meatball sub.

Porcupine meatballs in a skillet with a silver serving spoon.

How To Freeze Porcupine Meatballs

You can totally freeze your porcupine meatballs. This is my favorite way to meal plan because I can make a big batch of meatballs on the weekend and freeze half for dinner later in the month when time is just not on my side.

Simply transfer your porcupine meatballs to an airtight container and stash in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, add the meatballs to a skillet or saucepan and heat on the stovetop for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Porcupine meatballs on a white plate with rice.

Tips for Perfect Meatballs

  • Ground Beef – Be sure to use a lean ground beef so the sauce isn’t too fatty. If you mistakenly buy ground beef that is higher in fat don’t skip the step of pouring off the fat.
  • Rice – You can use jasmine rice or Instant Rice, the cooking time is plenty long enough for the regular rice to cook all the way through. Just be sure not to use already cooked rice from your leftover Sunday dinner. It will not hold up well and your meatballs will fall apart.
  • Sauce – You can skip the step of making the sauce, if you prefer, and use your favorite jarred sauce or vodka sauce recipe. It will save you time but the sauce recipe for these meatballs is really simple and amazingly tasty.

Want to see what else we’re cooking up in the kitchen lately? Follow us over on Instagram!

overhead shot of meatballs in a skillet with more meatballs on a white plate with a blue fork.

More Easy Meatball Recipes

Overhead shot of porcupine meatballs in tomato sauce in a skillet with a spoon.

Get the Recipe: Porcupine Meatballs Recipe

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
One pot dinner magic, Porcupine Meatballs are loaded with flavor and simmered in a savory tomato sauce that's simply magical.
4.75 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

For the meatballs

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup long grain rice, uncooked
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp ground pepper
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

For the sauce:

  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp ground pepper

Equipment

  • skillet

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, rice, water, onion, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, worcestershire sauce, parsley and pepper.
  • Shape the meat mixture into balls approximately 2 inches in diameter and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the pan and brown on all sides, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain the fat from the pan and return to the heat.
  • While the meatballs are cooking, whisk together the tomato sauce, water, sugar, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  • Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs and arrange so all the meatballs are coated in the sauce.
  • Cover and simmer for 45-50 minutes.
  • Serve the meatballs with the sauce over rice or mashed potatoes, if desired.

Notes

Meatballs can be made up to 48 hours in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Alternatively, you can freeze cooked porcupine meatballs in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Calories: 380kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 123mg, Sodium: 1432mg, Potassium: 990mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 775IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 5mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American