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Rice with Meatballs

Say hello to your new favorite dish that takes only 30 minutes to make! This simple one-pot meal of meatballs and rice is perfect for nights when you forget about dinner until everyone is hungry. The meatballs make it filling and tasty. Use store-bought meatballs to make things go even faster! Originally published on October 11, 2016.

We were in the meat department, and I was walking quickly while they were lagging behind. I hoped that people passing by wouldn’t see the kids who were screaming and laughing with me. As I walked by, a woman with a kind smile said, “They just have the best laughs!” I replied, “You know what? You’re right, but I still want to strangle them right now.” You very much just saved both of their lives. Well done! Thank you, lady with the kind grin. My kids owe you one.

You will adore this recipe for meatballs and rice.
Who’s ready for some meatballs? I got this recipe from my friend Mary’s cookbook. Mary’s blog, Barefeet in the Kitchen, is great, and she just came out with her first booklet, The Weeknight Dinner booklet. I wrote a review of the book here and provided her recipe for Chinese Beef and Broccoli Soup, which was really good, I have to admit.

She has a recipe for rice and peas with kielbasa. It looks extremely good, but I haven’t made it the way it says to yet. I had meatballs in the freezer that I had already cooked, so I altered the recipe to use them instead. It went really well! I will attempt the kielbasa variation one day. Perhaps. These meatballs taste great.

My kids thought these meatballs and rice were great. Do your kids love rice as much as mine do? This dish is very easy to make and tastes great, so it’s excellent for them.

Rice with Meatballs

Prep time: 10 minutes
Time to cook: 30 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
5 servings

Say hello to your new favorite dish that takes 30 minutes to make! This simple one-pot meal is perfect for nights when you forget about dinner until everyone is hungry. The meatballs make it filling and tasty. To make things go even faster, use store-bought meatballs.

Ingredients for the Meatball with Rice Recipe

I prepared this recipe for meatballs and rice twice: once with frozen Costco meatballs and once with my own easy baked meatballs. I enjoyed it both ways, although of course, fresh cooked meatballs will always taste better than frozen ones. But sometimes you simply have to get it done, and frozen meatballs from the grocery do the trick.

Here’s a quick list of things you need to buy to make this. Check out the recipe card below for all the ingredients and steps!

• garlic and olive oil
• 1 pound of meatballs you prepared yourself (or frozen meatballs)
• beef broth
• rice (medium grain or jasmine)
• frozen peas
• garlic powder
• green onions
• parsley (optional, for garnish)

What you need

• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 1 pound of homemade or store-bought meatballs
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced
• Three cups of beef broth*
• 1 and 1/2 cups of uncooked rice that has been washed
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, or more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, or to taste
• 1 and 1/2 cups of frozen peas, or as much as you think looks good
• 1/2 cup of chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup of fresh, chopped parsley (optional)

How to cook meatballs and rice

I mean it when I say this dish is easy. Put the meatballs in a skillet with the other ingredients and let them cook until they are done. Then, at the very end, add some peas. In less than 30 minutes, you may make meatballs and rice that are easy to make. I won’t tell if you use fresh or frozen meatballs. If you choose frozen, just microwave them for a few seconds to thaw them before you start.

Here’s a brief look at how to cook this dish. To access all the information, scroll down to the recipe card.

How to do it

1. If the meatballs are frozen, let them thaw. I just put them in the microwave for a few minutes. They don’t have to be totally thawed; they just need to be thawed enough so they can finish thawing and warm up while the rice cooks.
2. Put a skillet with high sides on medium-high heat. Put in the oil.
3. Add the garlic when the oil starts to shimmer and cook for 1 minute, or until it smells good.
4. Put in the meatballs and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Add the beef stock, rice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Get rid of any brown particles.
6. Stir and turn the heat up to high so that it boils.
7. To keep the simmer going, turn the heat down to low. Put a lid on it.
8. Keep the lid on and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is soft and the liquid is gone. Make sure it doesn’t stick by stirring it every 15 minutes.
9. Take the rice off the heat after it’s done cooking and season it to taste. You can add additional salt and pepper if you want.
10. Add the peas and stir. Put in as much as you think looks decent.
11. If you’re using them, add the parsley and green onions. Cover until the peas are heated, which should only take a few minutes.
12. This goes well with a huge green salad. I really did eat mine on top of a bed of spinach. You could add fresh spinach to the entrée and let it wilt while it cooks if you wanted to.

Notes

*I used water and 3 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon, as usual.

Nutrition: 1 cup has 509 calories, 53 grams of carbohydrates, 24 grams of protein, 22 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 10 grams of monounsaturated fat, 65 milligrams of cholesterol, 564 milligrams of potassium, 3 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, 692 IU of vitamin A, 24 milligrams of vitamin C, 63 milligrams of calcium, and 3 milligrams of iron.

Substitutions & Variations for Meatballs with Rice and Peas

When you have a recipe like this one that you can make at the last minute to clean out your fridge, it’s easy to change what you have on hand. Here are some suggestions!

• Use 14 ounces of kielbasa or smoked sausage instead of meatballs.
• Get a rotisserie chicken from the grocery, split it up into little pieces, and use it instead of the meatballs. Or you could use some grilled chicken that you have left over in the fridge.
• If you have a bag of frozen peas and carrots, use those instead of just frozen peas.
• Do you only have chicken or vegetable broth? If you don’t have beef broth, these are good to use.
• Want more greens? When you turn the rice and meatballs down to a simmer in step 7, add a couple of big handfuls of spinach.

How to serve meatballs and rice

This dish for meatballs and rice is like a dinner in itself. It’s great for when you kind of forgot that supper was a thing (which happens to me all the time). You can even check the “I served a veggie today” box because it has peas. A simple green salad or some Easy Roasted Broccoli are fantastic things to add if you wish to. Try my Fruit Salad Recipe to add to the food groups. You may cook some quick bread for extra points. This quick, no-fail One Hour French Bread or The Best Garlic Butter Bread is my fave. I’m typically too lazy to make sides, so if you do any of these, good for you for going the additional mile!

How to Keep Meatballs and Rice

You can keep this meatballs and rice dish in the fridge for 3–4 days in a container. I suggest adding a tiny bit of water (about 1–2 tablespoons) to the rice when you reheat it to keep it nice and moist.

You can also put this dish in the freezer! You can prepare a double batch of these meatballs and rice and not worry about it later since it will all thaw and reheat perfectly. This is also a great lunch to bring to someone who is sick or has just had a baby. You shouldn’t add the green onions because they taste best when they’re fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Meatballs and Rice Recipe

How can you keep meatballs from falling apart?

Put in eggs! Eggs hold the meat, breadcrumbs, and other ingredients together. These meatballs are baked, which makes them easier to keep together than pan-fried ones because you don’t have to turn them.

What makes meatballs taste so good?

Not only beef makes the best meatballs. They are mixed with wet, soft things like milk, breadcrumbs, and eggs. You can use either quick oats or panko bread crumbs in this recipe. Don’t miss them! They are very important for getting the right texture in meatballs. I also use onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper to enhance flavor.

How long should meatballs be cooked?

You should cook meatballs until they reach 160 degrees. You may check by putting an instant-read thermometer in the middle of a meatball.

More recipes for one-dish meals that you’ll love

Have this list on hand for those nights when you need something quick and easy. And they can all be on your table in less than 30 minutes.

• Creamy White Chicken Chili Recipe (Easy!) >> quick, simple, and full of flavor.
• Chicken Curry Recipe: So tasty and produces great leftovers.
• Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe: the best dinner for comfort eating.
• I never turn down breakfast for dinner, and this spinach and bacon frittata is great. You may have a full lunch in less than 30 minutes if you include a side salad.
• 20-Minute Broccoli Lemon Pasta Skillet: very fresh and vibrant, with lots of veggies.
• Yellow Bliss Road’s Bacon and Pineapple Fried Rice
• Cookies & Cups’ Easy Skillet Taco Rice

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