Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
Super easy and always hearty, these slow cooker Porcupine Meatballs are a real family and crowd pleaser!
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 basil torn
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ground beef, onion flakes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl, mixing just until combined.
- Whisk the egg with the uncooked rice, then gently mix it into the meat. Form the mixture into ping pong–size meatballs.
- Stir the crushed tomatoes, ½ cup of water, and the remaining Italian seasoning in the slow cooker, then add the meatballs.
- Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through, the rice is tender, and the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- 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.
- Stir the balsamic vinegar and basil into the sauce, adjust the seasoning, and serve hot.
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: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 31gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 648mgPotassium: 1076mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 595IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 127mgIron: 6mg
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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