Porcupine Meatballs with Rice and Tomato Sauce
Tender beef and rice meatballs baked in a rich, aromatic tomato sauce until juicy. The rice inside softens through steaming, while the crispy Ritz cracker binder and slow oven method ensure a melt-in-your-mouth texture. A one-skillet American comfort food classic.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 55
- Total Time: 75
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Comfort Food Recipes
- Method: Oven-Braising
- Cuisine: American Comfort Food
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
1½ lbs halal ground beef
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice (e.g., basmati)
⅓ cup crushed Ritz crackers or plain breadcrumbs
⅓ cup half-and-half or whole milk
½ cup minced yellow onion
3 cloves garlic (minced), divided
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
2 cups crushed halal tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon white sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup chopped yellow onion (additional for sauce)
2 cloves garlic (additional for sauce)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F
Combine rice, ground beef, Ritz crackers, half-and-half, ½ cup minced onion, 3 cloves garlic, Parmesan, egg, oregano, basil, and pepper in a bowl
Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs
In a skillet, heat olive oil then cook ½ cup chopped onion and 2 cloves garlic until fragrant
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and sugar; bring to a simmer
Arrange meatballs in the sauce and spread half-and-half binder mixture over them
Cover and bake 55 minutes; uncover last 10 minutes for a glossy finish
Notes
Original recipe uses pork; substituted with halal-ground lamb or extra beef
Avoid lard by using olive oil for sautéing
For dairy-free version, omit Parmesan and use ⅓ cup cooked rice instead of the binder
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 meatballs with ⅓ cup sauce
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
Find it online: https://www.makeourrecipes.com/porcupine-meatballs-recipe/