Luckily, porcupine meatballs do not contain any actual porcupines. That would be spiky. What they do contain is a generous helping of flavor and fun. They’re a tasty and hearty meatball where rice acts as the binder. As the meatballs simmer away in tomato sauce, the rice puffs up as it cooks, creating little “quills” that stick out of the meatballs. The rice keeps the meatball moist and tender, but also adds a pretty adorable twist to this meal.

These meatballs may not be anything new, but that might be why we love them so much. They’re a nostalgic dish that we remember from our childhood and we still get a kick out of removing the lid and seeing those little rice spikes poking every which way. It also doesn’t hurt that they taste amazing. (Around here they get gobbled down instantly. Mostly by yours truly.) Really, it’s a dish for kids of all ages.