Budget-friendly Rice-A-Roni meatballs are a creative and economical way to stretch a meal. Here’s a simple recipe to make these meatballs using Rice-A-Roni:
Ingredients:
For the Meatballs:
- 1 box of Rice-A-Roni (any flavor you prefer)
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce:
- 1 can (14-15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Prepare Rice-A-Roni: Cook the Rice-A-Roni according to the package instructions. Typically, this involves sautéing the rice and pasta in a little butter until lightly browned and then simmering it with water and seasoning until cooked. Set it aside to cool.
- Make the Meatballs: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled Rice-A-Roni with ground beef or turkey, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix everything until well combined.
- Shape Meatballs: Shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. You should get approximately 20-24 meatballs, depending on the size.
- Cook Meatballs: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a little oil. Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs and cook them until they are browned on all sides and cooked through, which usually takes about 10-15 minutes. You may need to cook them in batches if your skillet isn’t large enough to fit them all at once.
- Make the Sauce: While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the sauce. In a separate saucepan, combine the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Heat the sauce over medium heat until it’s warmed through.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Once the meatballs are cooked, pour the tomato sauce over them in the skillet. Gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce. Let them simmer together for a few minutes until the sauce is heated through.
- Serve: Serve the budget Rice-A-Roni meatballs over cooked rice or pasta, if desired. You can also sprinkle some additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh herbs like basil or parsley on top for extra flavor.
This budget-friendly dish is a great way to transform a basic Rice-A-Roni mix into a hearty meal. It’s perfect for families on a budget or when you want to make a quick and satisfying dinner without breaking the bank.
