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Delicious Porcupine Casserole served in a baking dish with herbs and spices

Porcupine Casserole

A warm, home-style dish featuring beef meatballs that resemble porcupine quills due to the rice inside, mixed with tomato sauce for a comforting one-pot meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Casserole, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Casserole
  • 1 pound ground beef Use lean ground beef for best results.
  • 1 cup uncooked long grain rice Long grain rice recommended for texture.
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 can 10.5 oz condensed tomato soup
  • 1 can 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 cup beef broth or water Use beef broth for more flavor.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional) Add on top before final baking for a cheesy finish.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, rice, chopped onion, salt, and pepper. Mix well with your hands or a spoon.
Assembly
  1. Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch wide. Place them in the baking dish in a single layer.
  2. In a bowl, stir the tomato soup, diced tomatoes with juice, and beef broth. Pour this sauce evenly over the meatballs and rice.
Baking
  1. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the rice is tender and the meat is cooked through.
  2. Remove foil, sprinkle cheese on top if you like, and bake 5 more minutes until the cheese melts.
  3. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For best results, use long grain rice. Optionally, brown beef and onions before mixing to enhance flavor.