Porcupine Meatballs Dinner (Printable Recipe)

Hearty beef meatballs with rice baked in savory tomato sauce. A family favorite, fuss-free comfort meal.

# Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef (85% or 93%)
02 - 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 1/2 cup long-grain rice
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Sauce

10 - 29 ounces tomato sauce
11 - 1 cup low sodium chicken stock
12 - 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
13 - 2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 to 3 cloves)
14 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
15 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
16 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

17 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, diced onion, rice, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Shape the mixture into approximately 1-inch round meatballs and set aside.
04 - In a medium bowl, combine tomato sauce, chicken stock, Italian seasoning, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed.
05 - Pour half of the sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Arrange meatballs in a single layer over the sauce. Pour remaining sauce over the top.
06 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour, or until meatballs are cooked through and rice is tender.
07 - Remove from oven, uncover, and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

# Extra Tips:

01 - Do not overmix the meat mixture to maintain tender texture in the meatballs.
02 - For even-sized meatballs, use a small cookie scoop to portion the mixture.
03 - If the rice is still firm after baking, cover and bake an additional 10–15 minutes.
04 - You can freeze raw meatballs before baking or freeze fully cooked meatballs with sauce for future use.
05 - Serve with mashed potatoes, pasta, or crusty bread for a complete meal.

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