There's just something about these Baked Porcupine Meatballs that feels like home. Maybe it's the rich tomato sauce bubbling away in the oven, or those tender little meatballs with rice peeking out like tiny porcupine quills.
This easy baked version keeps all the old-fashioned comfort but skips the fuss with simple shortcuts like jarred pasta sauce, Montreal steak seasoning, and an ice cream scoop for quick prep. It's hearty, nostalgic, and exactly the kind of dinner that makes everyone wander into the kitchen asking, "What smells so good?"
The retro dinner everyone still loves
These rich meatballs are the kind of old-fashioned comfort food that never really goes out of style. The rice cooks right inside the meatballs, giving them that signature texture while soaking up all the rich tomato flavor.
Baking the meatballs first keeps everything hearty without becoming greasy. As the rice bakes inside the meatballs, it becomes tender while soaking up all the flavor from the sauce around it. Covering the dish during the final bake traps in moisture so everything finishes rich, hearty, and fork-tender.
Oven Baked Porcupine Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef 90/10
- ¾ cup long-grain white rice uncooked
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon catsup
- For the Sauce
- 28 ounce jar pasta sauce
- 10.5 ounce can tomato soup
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups finely chopped green cabbage
Instructions
- Preheat to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil.
- In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, Montreal steak seasoning, catsup and milk.
- Mix just until combined. Don't overwork it. (If your steak seasoning is very coarse, crush it lightly in your palm before adding.)
- Use a standard ice cream scoop (about 2 tablespoons) to portion evenly sized meatballs. Place on the prepared baking sheet. This makes about 15 meatballs.
- Spritz the meatballs with nonstick cooking spray (this will help them brown). Bake for 15-18 minutes, until lightly browned but not fully cooked through.
- In a 9x13 baking dish, stir together the pasta sauce, tomato soup, water, Worcestershire and cabbage.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Nestle the partially baked meatballs into the sauce and cover tightly with heavy duty alunimum foil.
- Bake 50-55 minutes, until the rice is tender and the meatballs reach 160°F. Let rest covered with foil for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card below for the exact measurements.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
The uncooked rice cooks inside the meatballs as they bake, and little pieces poke out during cooking, giving them a porcupine-like appearance. Fun AND delicious!
No, I don't recommend it for this recipe. Long-grain white rice holds its texture much better during baking, while instant rice can become mushy.
Yes, baking the meatballs before adding them to the sauce helps them hold together and keeps excess grease out of the dish. It's worth the extra few minutes.
The trick that makes this recipe work
Don't skip the extra liquid in the sauce. The rice inside the meatballs needs that moisture to become tender while baking. If the sauce looks a little thinner going into the oven, that's exactly what you want. The rice will soak it up as everything cooks.
Related recipes and serving suggestions
Homemade Turkey Meatballs paired with pan roasted vegetables make an easy dinner when you want something hearty without feeling too heavy.
If you're craving classic comfort food, hare are two of my favorites! Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs served with crispy garlic bread is always a crowd-pleaser and guaranteed to disappear fast. Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs are rich, savory, and made for piling over mashed potatoes.
This dinner deserves a spot on your table
Porcupine Meatballs have stuck around for generations for good reason! They're hearty, filling, easy to make, and built from simple ingredients most families already have on hand. This is the kind of dependable dinner recipe that works just as well for a busy weeknight as it does for a Sunday supper around the table. Enjoy!
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