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Easy Porcupine Meatballs

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Growing up, one of my favorite things to have for dinner was my mom’s rice meatballs. Once I was older and on my own, I found out that this dish is also called porcupine meatballs.

It may seem like a weird name for a meal, but it all comes from the look of the meatballs. Rice is mixed into the beef before it is formed into balls. After cooking, the rice gives the appearance of what a porcupine would look like with his poky quills.

I recently saw my friend Jamie from Jamie Cooks it up post a version of porcupine meatballs. I saw that it only took 3 ingredients to make and knew I’d have to give it a try.

This recipe is a beefy version where my mom’s is a version coated in a tomato sauce. However, it was a welcomed change. The family enjoyed it and it is quicker to make than my mom’s version. The rice and flavor for these meatballs comes from a box of beef Rice a Roni that is also mixed in the ground beef along with an egg and water.

Easy Porcupine Meatballs | realmomkitchen.com

Here is what you need to make the
Easy Porcupine Meatballs

  • GROUND BEEF
  • BEEF FLAVORED RICE A RONI
  • EGG
  • WATER

Easy Porcupine Meatballs

Real Mom Kitchen

5 from 5 votes
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Calories

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 6.8 oz box beef flavored Rice A Roni
  • 1 egg
  • 2 ¼ cups water

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl, add the beef along with the rice/pasta from the box of Rice A Roni. Set a side the seasoning packet to use in a little bit.
  • Add the egg into the mixing bowl also. Combine the beef, past/rice, and egg together.
  • Shape into 25 golf ball shaped meatballs. Then cook in a skillet over medium heat to brown all sides.
  • Now add the seasoning packet to 2 1/4 cups of water. Stir to combine and then pour over the meatballs.
  • Allow to come to a simmer and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice/pasta is tender. Serves 4-5.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Recipe adapted from Jamie Cooks It Up.

5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I have made this for years but I didn’t add the egg. My grown children ask for them every time they’re home. Easy to shop, make and serve. Yum!

  2. These are so easy and so yummy!! I agree with the 5 stars but you forgot the part about thickening the juice to make a gravy. I serve it with elbow noodles and a veggie. You wont be sorry!

  3. These were one of my sons favorites when they were little (over 40 years ago) I am making tonight as it is one of their requests for dinner tonight. Yum and easy. Just add some mashed potatoes and steamed veggies and you have a great meal

  4. 5 stars
    Love this. First time making it. I hope I fried the meat long enough. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

  5. 5 stars
    Not A joke , I fixed this when they first came out. My son was about 7 years old and we fixed them together. He loved them as I did also. Very easy to make and this was his favorite with vegetables and garlic toast.

  6. I love these meatballs. I haven’t made them yet but my mom used to. I wanted to know if you could tell me how to adapt it so i can make them in my instant pot. I just mainly need how much water it would be since instant pots usually use less and also the time for the cook. Would you happen to know this? I appreciate it!

      1. I haven’t tried this yet but want to do it in my instant pot. The instant pot version doesn’t use the rice a roni. What would be the instant pot version using the rice a roni just like the above stove-top recipe?