Kittencal's Porcupine Meatballs in Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce

Transform dinner into a cozy, flavor-filled experience with Kittencal's Porcupine Meatballs in Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce—an irresistible classic made even better! These tender meatballs, crafted with ground beef, fragrant onions, and uncooked rice (providing that signature “porcupine” effect as they cook), are simmered to perfection in a tangy-sweet tomato sauce bursting with flavors from brown sugar, white vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Perfectly browned in a skillet before gently simmering, these meatballs are juicy and packed with comforting goodness. Ready in just over an hour and perfect for weeknights or special family gatherings, this recipe pairs wonderfully with fluffy white rice or buttery mashed potatoes. Whether you’re searching for a hearty meal or timeless comfort food, this is sure to become a go-to favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:50 mins

Total Time:70 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 0.5 cup White rice
• 0.5 cup Water
• 1 medium Yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 Egg
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
• 15 ounces Tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons Brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons White vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 0.5 cup Water

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, 1/2 cup of water, finely chopped onion, egg, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Step 2

Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, ensuring they are compact to hold their shape during cooking.

Step 3

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches and brown them evenly on all sides. This should take about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Step 4

In the same skillet, combine the tomato sauce, brown sugar, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 cup of water. Stir well to create the sweet and sour tomato sauce.

Step 5

Return the browned meatballs to the skillet and spoon some of the sauce over them to coat.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a lid, and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 40-45 minutes. Stir occasionally and ensure the sauce doesn’t get too thick; if needed, add a small amount of water to maintain the desired consistency.

Step 7

Once the meatballs are cooked through and tender, serve hot with the sauce spooned over. Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1468.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1731.5

Total Fat 120.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 38.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 18.5g
Cholesterol 517.1mg	0%
Sodium 3516.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 79.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.2g	0%
Total Sugars 41.2g
Protein 89.6g	0%

Vitamin D 48IU	0%
Calcium 196.6mg	0%
Iron 10.6mg	0%
Potassium 1560.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 61.6%

Protein: 20.4%

Carbs: 18.0%