Porcupine Meatball Casserole
Porcupine Meatball Casserole is a classic American comfort food dish featuring meatballs studded with rice, which pokes out like quills when cooked, baked in a rich tomato-based sauce. It typically combines ground beef, white rice, onions, and a savory tomato soup or sauce, often topped with cheese. The dish is a staple of mid-20th century home cooking, particularly in the Midwest and South.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This is a high-protein, moderate-carb dish with a significant amount of fat from the ground beef and any added cheese. It provides a solid source of iron and B vitamins from the meat, with a rough calorie range of 400-500 kcal per hearty serving.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 450 kcal |
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbs | 30 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Iron | 4.2 mg |
| Zinc | 5.8 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 6.5 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.1 mcg |
| Selenium | 22 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 250 mg |
| Potassium | 420 mg |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The name 'porcupine' comes from the uncooked rice grains that protrude from the meatballs during baking, resembling quills. It's a prime example of a 'stretch' meal, designed to make a pound of ground beef feed a family by incorporating inexpensive rice as a filler.
