Meet Porcupine Meatballs: The Retro Dinner That Deserves a Comeback

When searching for dinner inspiration, it's easy to always look for what's new and now, but sometimes it's worth looking to the past. While the trending recipes have a time and place, nothing scratches the comfort food itch like the dishes you grew up with (whether that was in the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, or beyond).

It's not uncommon for retro recipes to have some pretty out-there names. From Frog Eye Salad to Broken Glass Cake, these titles often sound strange and even inedible, but don't fear—their names typically nod to the recipe's unconventional appearance. That's certainly the case for Porcupine Meatballs, a beloved retro recipe we'd argue is long overdue for a comeback.

What Are Porcupine Meatballs?

Porcupine Meatballs contain no actual porcupine or any other exotic game—their name hails from their spiky appearance. Unlike other meatballs, this recipe adds rice instead of breadcrumbs or another binding agent. When the ground beef-rice mixture cooks, the grains of rice absorb liquid and become plump and pronounced, sticking out of the meatballs like a porcupine's quills.

Otherwise, they are a standard beef—yes, just beef—meatball recipe that gets cooked in a seasoned tomato sauce. Some Porcupine Meatball recipes call for simmering them in tomato soup, and that's certainly a shortcut option available to you, too. For many, the version cooked in tomato soup tastes like home, but our top-rated recipe for Porcupine Meatballs ditches the soup can for a homemade tomato sauce that tastes even better, and many reviewers agree.

“Like others, my mom also used tomato soup, but using tomato sauce instead really makes a difference,” writes home cook Amber G. “I can honestly say these are better than the ones mom used to make (sorry, mom)!”

Porcupine Meatballs were a staple during the Great Depression because they only required a few ingredients and were a great way to stretch a small amount of ground beef. These days, they're still a budget-friendly recipe, but also darn delicious and appealing to adults and kids alike with their out-of-the-box look and familiar flavor.

Why We Love Porcupine Meatballs

We're a sucker for any one-pot or one-pan dinner, and these have all the makings of one—heck, the rice is already in the meatballs! That doesn't mean you can't serve these alongside more rice or pasta. For some veggies with your main, you could serve these meatballs alongside a simple salad or even wilt some spinach in the tomato sauce while it simmers to save on dishes.

The other reason we love this recipe is the texture. Since the rice goes in raw, it cooks to a perfect al dente texture that makes for such a unique eating experience. "Rice came out at just the right tenderness," writes reviewer Gregory Forster Jr. Plus, come on—they look so cute!

Allrecipes member LovesCooking raves, "What a surprisingly fun recipe. Never thought of adding rice into my meatballs before. The texture becomes a lot of fun this way...The porcupine-like presentation is so cute and will surely win the hearts of your guests."

We think the number one reason to add this retro dinner back into your recipe rotation is for nostalgic comfort. For many, one taste of these meatballs will take you right back to sitting at your childhood kitchen table. If you scroll through the reviews on this top-rated recipe, you'll find multiple comments about how these taste "just like mom made them."

Allrecipes user Julie sums it up: "I have been searching for the right recipe and this one reminds me of the one I used to make back in elementary school in the early 80s. This one is a keeper!"