Porcupine Meatballs with a Twist

Give classic comfort food a nutritious makeover with these "Porcupine Meatballs with a Twist." This delightful recipe swaps traditional rice for protein-packed quinoa and uses lean ground turkey for a healthier, yet equally flavorful, spin on a timeless favorite. Each tender meatball is infused with the warm flavors of garlic, paprika, and onion, before being simmered to perfection in a rich, tangy tomato sauce enhanced with a hint of Worcestershire. Perfectly browned and tantalizingly saucy, these meatballs come together in under an hour, making them ideal for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners. Garnished with fresh parsley, they pair beautifully with mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or a crisp green salad. Boost your dinner rotation with this high-protein, heartwarming dish that combines nostalgia with a modern, healthy twist.

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground turkey
• 0.5 cup Quinoa (uncooked)
• 1 large Egg
• 0.5 cup Yellow onion (finely chopped)
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 0.5 tsp Ground paprika
• 1 14-oz can Canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup Low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, quinoa, egg, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined.

Step 2

Using your hands, shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on a large plate or tray. You should get 16-18 meatballs.

Step 3

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs in batches, browning them on all sides for about 5 minutes (they don’t need to cook through at this stage). Set the browned meatballs aside on a plate.

Step 4

In the same skillet, add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

Step 5

Carefully return the meatballs to the skillet, spooning some of the sauce over them.

Step 6

Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the meatballs are evenly coated in the sauce.

Step 7

Once cooked, remove the meatballs from heat and let them rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Step 8

Serve the porcupine meatballs hot as a main dish alongside mashed potatoes, rice, or a fresh green salad.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1354.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1361.3

Total Fat 61.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 15.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.3g
Cholesterol 541.5mg	0%
Sodium 3576.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 93.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 14.8g	0%
Total Sugars 23.5g
Protein 112.7g	0%

Vitamin D 53.8IU	0%
Calcium 217.8mg	0%
Iron 14.5mg	0%
Potassium 2195.7mg	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: 40.0%

Protein: 32.8%

Carbs: 27.2%