Porcupine Meatballs

Porcupine Meatballs are hearty and well-seasoned meatballs with rice that simmer in a rich tomato sauce. This is a family recipe passed down from my grandma and I know that your family will love it too!

Another great way of making these famous porcupine meatballs is in the slow cooker recipe. Enjoy both ways depending on what is best for your family!

Porcupine Meatballs

Oh porcupine meatballs. How I love you.

This was a recipe that my grandmother used to cook for my mom. My mom would make it for us all of the time and now I make it for my family! These kind of “tried and true” recipes that are passed down are the very best. So many memories come back to me when I make these for my family. I remember how excited we would all get when my mom was making porcupine meatballs for dinner. I loved to help her in the kitchen and make the little meatballs. As soon as they were done, they were devoured by our family in a matter of minutes.

I love using McCormick spices because they are such high quality and add such amazing flavor to your dish. McCormick has been around since 1889. I remember looking in my grandmothers cabinets and seeing the red caps in her cupboards. My mom uses them in her cooking and now I use them in mine. It is a company that I can stand behind and know and love.

Meatball Ingredients:

Now is the time to keep your cupboards stocked with all of your favorite McCormick spices. We are entering in the cozy comfort food season full of casseroles, soups, and slow cooker meals.

I am always using garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and tons of cinnamon throughout the year. And McCormick has so many other amazing quality spices that I love to use as well.

• Ground Beef: Ground Chuck is the best for meatballs
• Long grain rice: This type of rice includes American long-grain white and brown rice, Basmati rice, and Jasmine rice, and produces distinct firm grains that stay fluffy
• Egg: This will be the binding agent that holds everything in shape
• Parsley: Adds balance to this savory dish and brightens the flavor
• Onion: The onion gives the meatballs a cleaner taste
• Garlic Powder: This powder has a slightly sweeter taste than fresh garlic
• Paprika: Colorful Spice derived from ground peppers gives these meatballs their stand out flavor
• Pepper: Add to taste
• Salt – Adding salt to your food will enhance the other flavors
• Condensed tomato soup: Using this in both the meatball and the sauce gives the tomato texture consistency
• Water: Used to thin out the sauce
• Worcestershire sauce: Made from a base of vinegar, which gives it a bit of a tangy flavor, this sauce adds both sweet and savory tastes to the sauce

How to Make Porcupine Meatballs:

These porcupine meatballs are well seasoned with McCormick spices to bring out amazing flavor. The rice in the meatball which give it the porcupine name add such a delicious texture. They simmer in a rich tomato sauce and cook to perfection.

These are some of the best little meatballs that you are going to eat. They are a family favorite of ours and I know that they will become a family favorite at your house as well!

1. Combine ingredients: In a medium sized bowl combine meat, rice, egg, parsley, onion, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, salt and 1/4 cup tomato soup. Mix thoroughly and shape into about 20 meatballs and place in a skillet.
2. Mix Sauce: Mix together remaining soup, water and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over meatballs.
3. Bring to a boil: Once the sauce is bubbling reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for about 35-40 minutes stirring often.

Variations:

This is the perfect recipe to sneak in some extra nutrition in for your kids (or your husband) by adding in or swapping out some ingredients.  It doesn’t take away from the flavor at all and no one will have any clue they are getting some extra vitamins or an extra lean meat.  Mix around the ingredients and try something new! You can’t mess up this tried and true favorite!

• Cheese: Use some of your favorite shredded cheese for an extra ooey gooey texture and flavor.
• Protein: Swap out the ground beef for ground chicken, pork, sausage, or turkey.
• Vegetables: Chop up small pieces of mushroom, carrot, or zucchini or bell peppers to add into your meatball.

What to Serve with Your Meatballs:

Make a complete meal with a simple side dish! To compliment these delicious meatballs I suggest trying mashed cauliflower or mashed potatoes. 

How to Store Dinner Time Porcupine Meatballs:

• Make meatballs ahead of time: Keeping a stock of frozen meatballs on hand means you can easily prepare a quick satisfying meal for you family.  Busy weeknights, late practices, unexpected guests? No problem when you have these insanely delicious meatballs on hand.
• Storing leftover meatballs: Wrap tightly in heavy duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap.  They will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Can you freeze meatballs? Yes! Store in airtight freezer containers or heavy duty freezer bags. Properly stored they will be at their best quality for 2-3 months if cooked and 3-4 months if stored uncooked, but will remain safe beyond that if kept at 0 degrees.
• Reheating meatballs: These meatballs can be re-heated easily from frozen or thawed.  To thaw meatballs, simply place in the refrigerator overnight.  Re-heat on a greased baking pan in the oven at 350 degrees until heated through.  Frozen meatballs will take 50% longer to re-heat.  Cook time is 20-25 minutes if cooking from frozen.

More Meatball Recipes To Try:

• Easy Chipotle Honey Meatballs
• Meatloaf Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
• Creamy Cajun Chicken Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Balsamic Meatballs

This post was sponsored by McCormick®. I love working with brands that I am passionate about and use in the kitchen for myself. All opinions expressed are my own.