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A plate of porcupine meatballs covered in tomato sauce and garnished with fresh basil.

Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

Chef Jenn
These Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs are incredibly easy to make and always hearty, making them a favorite for both families and gatherings!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 266 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • ½ cup long grain rice not instant rice
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion flakes
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Fresh cracked black pepper

for the sauce

  • 1 28 ounce canned crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup fresh basil torn
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Combine the ground beef, long grain rice, egg, dehydrated onion flakes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Mix until everything is well combined.
  • Roll the meat mixture into meatballs, about the size of ping pong balls. Place the meatballs on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper as you go.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes to the insert of the slow cooker along with ½ cup of water and the remaining teaspoon of Italian seasoning, then nestle your meatballs gently into the sauce.
  • Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the rice is tender.
  • Scoop the cooked meatballs out of the sauce. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and torn basil. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve the meatballs hot with sauce and garnished with additional fresh basil if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Chef Jenn's Tips:

  • Use lean ground beef for meatballs that are juicy but not greasy.
  • Don't substitute instant rice for long grain rice, as the cooking times and textures are different.
  • Feel free to customize the seasoning to suit your taste. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat or swap out the Italian seasoning for your favorite herb blend.

Nutrition

Serving: 4meatballsCalories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 28gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 386mgPotassium: 474mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 168IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 4mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

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