Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Porcupine Meatballs: A Retro Classic Made Effortless

Ingredients

• 500 g (1 lb) ground beef
• ½ cup uncooked white rice
• 1 can (about 400 g / 14–15 oz) condensed tomato soup
• 1 cup water

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Mix the meatballs
   In a bowl, combine the ground beef and uncooked rice. Mix until evenly incorporated.
2. Form meatballs
   Roll into small balls (about 2–3 cm / 1 inch in diameter).
3. Prepare the sauce
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the tomato soup and water.
4. Assemble in slow cooker
   Place meatballs in the slow cooker in a single layer if possible. Pour the sauce over them.
5. Cook
   • Low: 6–7 hours
   • High: 3–4 hours
6. Serve
   Stir gently and serve hot. Great on their own or over mashed potatoes or bread.

💡 Tips & Variations

• Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder if you want more flavor (though the classic keeps it minimal).
• Swap tomato soup with crushed tomatoes + a pinch of sugar for a less processed taste.
• Use ground turkey for a lighter version.

🥄 Why “Porcupine” Meatballs?

As they cook, the rice pokes out of the meatballs, resembling tiny porcupine quills—hence the name.