Recipe Collection

Porcupine Balls

This is super easy, super tasty & you can vary it up in so many ways! MY version is a low sodium version but the alternatives are not.

You Need:
1 pound of ground beef
2 cups of already cooked rice - any kind
Seasonings of your choice
1 minced onion
1 egg
flour
vegetable oil
milk

Directions:
In a large bowl combine and mix ground beef, rice, seasonings, and minced onion. Form into golf ball size meatballs (or larger/smaller depending on your preference and # of mouths your feeding) and line them in a deep baking dish. Bake them at 450 until golden brown.

In a skillet, heat your vegetable oil...a few tablespoons will do. Add 1/3 cup of flour and let it cook in the oil for a few minutes. (note: if you want white gravy, let it cook only a few minutes. If you want BROWN gravy cook the flour until it starts to brown) then, slowly add your milk...a half cup at a time. All total, I typically use 2-2 1/2 cups of milk...stirring constantly. Add in whatever seasonings you want in your gravy. Once it begins to thicken remove it from heat.

Remove your meatballs from the oven..and pour the gravy mix over them evenly. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes. We serve it with toast...but you can serve it however you wish.

Alternatives: You can add onion soup mix to your meat mixture, diced bell peppers, hot peppers, mushrooms, add olives for an Italian spin...or use your favorite meatloaf recipe even. Sneak in some veggies like corn, peas, or a bean of your choice. Even spinach. You could wrap the balls in bacon before baking.

Topping Ideas: Crush up a sleeve of Ritz crackers and sprinkle that on top of your gravy before baking. Sprinkle the top with cheese, add canned biscuits on top, and crushed cheese nips.

Gravy Alternatives: You don't have to make your own gravy. You can use a packet of gravy mix...OR you could:
Cover them in Speghetti sauce of your choice, Fettichini Alfredo sauce, Marinara sauce, Nacho Cheese Sauce, Honey Mustard dressing, Italian dressing, tomato gravy, red eye gravy, BBQ sauce,