Oven Porcupines

Transform your weeknight dinner routine with Oven Porcupines, a heartwarming dish that’s both easy to prepare and packed with flavor. These juicy meatballs get their delightful "porcupine" texture from uncooked rice mixed into the ground beef, which cooks to perfection in the oven, creating tender grains peeking through. Infused with the savory goodness of onion, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce, and smothered in a rich tomato sauce, each bite is a comforting explosion of flavor. With just 15 minutes of prep time and an hour in the oven, this family-friendly meal is as convenient as it is satisfying. Serve these oven-baked porcupine meatballs with your favorite sides—like creamy mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, or crusty bread—and optionally garnish with fresh parsley for a touch of color and freshness. Perfect for cozy dinners or meal prepping, this timeless recipe is sure to become a household favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:75 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 0.5 cup Uncooked white rice
• 0.5 cup Onion, finely chopped
• 1 large Egg
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 15 ounces Tomato sauce
• 0.5 cup Water
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, chopped onion, egg, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix thoroughly using your hands or a spoon until well combined.

Step 3

Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, forming approximately 12 to 15 meatballs. Arrange them in a single layer in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 4

In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs, ensuring they are well-coated.

Step 5

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to keep the meatballs moist during cooking.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.

Step 7

Remove the dish from the oven and let the porcupine meatballs cool for a few minutes before serving.

Step 8

Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley for a pop of color and added freshness.

Step 9

Serve warm with mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, or crusty bread for a complete meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1269.4 grams (1269.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1655

Total Fat 95.60g	123%
Saturated Fat 35.20g	176%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.00g
Cholesterol 541mg	180%
Sodium 3381mg	147%
Total Carbohydrate 106.40g	39%
Dietary Fiber 6.80g	24%
Total Sugars 13.50g
Protein 94.90g	190%

Vitamin D 54IU	269%
Calcium 173mg	13%
Iron 10mg	58%
Potassium 1488mg	32%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 51.7%

Protein: 22.8%

Carbs: 25.6%