Meatballs with Rice Recipes

Try the "meatless meatballs" from Trader Joe's. I fed them to my husband for years before I told him they have no meat in them. He still loves them and my toddler does too!

I don't have a recipe, but I do want to suggest that you consider letting him get his proteins from other sources (dairy, nuts, legumes/beans, etc.). Each of my kids have things that they don't like. For one it was mashed potatoes, the other is tomatoes. So I don't worry if they don't have that one thing. I do understand that "meat" is a bigger "one thing" than a fruit or starch... and that you're stating he has food sensory issues, but if he doesn't like it, what are you gonna do?
Of course, this is just my opinion. As I read through it kind of sounds like I'm suggesting you admit defeat. That's really not my intent. I just believe there are other ways to win. I'm wishing you the best.

Maybe he doesn't like hamburger.

My family is very happy with bar b que meatballs. Put them in the crockpot, pour any bottled bar b que sauce in add about 1/2 cup water and some chopped onions. I usually serve over a bed of rice.

You could try to use TVP- teqtured vegetable protien. It will take on the flavor of anything you put with it. Maybe you could do half beef and half tvp, and then add a bit of rice. They use TVP a lot in school lunches.

You could also mix ground beef half and half with ground turkey to cut down on the beef flavor.

The betty crocker cookbook has a sweet and sour meatball recipe that is wonderful- we put in over rice. YUM. I use the bell peppers called for when cooking the recipie to flavor it but we take them out after since we don't like them.

Trader Joes has awesome meatballs turkey or beef and they even have "appetizer or party size" so they are smaller. My son LOVES them! How does he feel about chicken nuggets or other meats that are hidden like that? What about Chili? Spaghetti with meat sauce? I'm trying to think of foods where you don't realize you are eating meat... split pea soup, oh that's a long list - lots of soups. What about tofu, beans or garden burgers... they are packed in protein.

I am sensitive to the smell of meat and really don't eat it often but I will eat chili or breaded chicken. Meatballs smell delicious but I can't stomach them. Is it really the smell or is it the big hunk of meat? Maybe smaller pieces? Pasta can hide any meat smell within the sauce (chicken alfredo, chicken primavera) oh - what about fish? Good luck!

This worked for my picky eater:
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 c uncooked rice
2 tblsp chopped mint
2 tblsp chopped parsley
1/2 finely chopped onion

Mix together. Form into balls. Roll in flour. Place in deep skillet. Add water or chicken stock to cover meat balls and cover pot with lid. Simmer on low for about 30 - 40 min or until rice is cooked. Do not over cook. I find it works better with ground turkey that is a mix of light and dark meat - using white meat only made the meatballs too dry. Top with fresh lemon juice and serve warm.....
Good Luck! L

A very easy one is 1/2 pound ground turkey and 1/2 pound ground beef. Mix with one egg. Then mix in the rice/vermicelli part of a box of beef rice a roni. Make into meatballs, brown on all sides for a minute or so per side. Mix the sauce mix with 3 cups hot water, and pour over the meatballs. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn the meatballs, then resume simmering for another 10 minutes. Remove the meatballs, and then thicken the sauce for a yummy gravy. I usually serve with mashed potatoes and green beans or brocolli. it is one of our family favorites!

Your child might be allergic...I have three boys, all very allergic to food and my oldest is allergic to almost all meat (go figure). If your son is not allergic, go to www.allrecipes.com for suggestions.

After reading the other posts (eeuuww!), I should add that when children are allergic to food, the smell alone is offensive. My eldest (16) is allergic to 75 foods, asparagus to walnuts...all meat included, except chicken (but deathly allergic to eggs??). Good luck, let me know if I can help.

Hello L.. I don't mean to be mean, but if the smell of meat turns him off, can you make him something without meat in it? I did notice that you said you tried veal and chicken in addition to the meat to make meatballs, but have you tried ground turkey? I'm asking because I can't stand meat. The smell of it, the taste of it, etc... just brings the bile up to the verge where we might have a meet and greet if I'm around it. I have never liked meat, but was forced to eat it as a kid, and there were MANY nights where I fell asleep at the table because I was not allowed to get up until all of my food was eaten (my dad didn't believe me that I didn't like meat, he thought I was trying to get out of finishing my dinner - smh!!). Also, this is really gross, but the fresher the meat, the more putrid it is. I bought some beef one time that was REALLY fresh (I try to cook it for my kids once in a while - there's only so much eggs, cheese, peanut butter, almonds and tofu, etc.. that they can eat! lol ) and not only did it smell up the whole house as I was cooking it - I threw up twice while I was in the kitchen because the smell was just annihilating - but it tasted 50 times worse than store bought beef. It took me about 6 months to convince them to let me try a nwe meat dish for them - cooking it that is. Anyway, all of this is to say.... maybe you can make him things that do not involve meat or animal products. I don't care for any animal, really, but I do eat chicken (breasts) once in a great while, and he might be the same way - just prefer not to eat chicken, fish, meat, pork, veal, etc. Good luck though, I feel for you :( it's hard to adjust the menu sometimes, but it will be worth it if he is happy :)

My mom used to make meatballs with rice -- porcupine balls. It works best if you parboil the rice. Cook 1 cup rice in 1 cup water. Keep an eye on it so you can grab it off the heat when the water is absorbed. Mix the rice with one pound of meat and a beaten egg, plus whatever seasonings (salt, pepper, oregano) you prefer. I usually chop 1/4 cup of onion and 1/4 cup of celery very fine. My mom would simmer the meatballs in tomato juice or tomato sauce, but you could also saute or bake them. You can also use the mixture to stuff red or green peppers.

Meatballs with rice are called hedgehogs. You can find a few recipes for them at allrecipes.com.

Get this book: "Super Baby Food." It starts out focused on making your own baby food (which it made EASY) but it continues with some really great recipes for older kids. It also talks about how to make essential proteins if you choose to raise your child vegetarian. You might consider this in the short run.

I hear you about food preferences. My youngest HATES eggs and has been consistent about it from the beginning (no allergy, just doesn't like them). The trick has been to make sure he gets the right nutrition without having the "I won't eat that!" battle...

So much good luck to you.

You can make any kind of meatballs with rice. If you are going to use your crockpot you can mix the rice in dry. If you want to make quick meatballs use cooked rice. You can flavor them the same. I do Italian meatballs a lot, I use garlic powder, onions (finely chopped or grated), parsley or italian seasoning, salt and pepper, 1 egg and some bread crumbs, but you shouldn't need bread crumbs if you are using rice. I use ground turkey mostly but will work with all ground meats. In the crockpot I either make them with a spaghetti sauce, or stuffed in green peppers, or just by themselves with what ever sauce you like.
The stovetop fast version would be the same fixings for the meatballs and you take a can of cream of chicken, or mushroom, or celery soup and mix with 1/2 cup of water. Pour over the meatballs after you have already cooked them and simmer for 15 minutes. Very tasty, my family really loves these!
Other easy sweet and sour ones too are make the meatballs the same, exclude the italian seasoning and add ground ginger instead. Add 1/2 cup of Catalina dressing and 1/2 cup of orange marmalade and 2 tsps of soy sauce, blend together and add to the meatballs when the after they are cooked and simmer till thickened. My family loves these too!
Enjoy!

Why is it important to you that he eats meat? We don't need nearly the amount of protein that we've been lead to believe. If he eats a good variety of veggies and fruits then he's getting the actual nutrition he needs. He will not suffer one bit if he doesn't eat meat. His body is turned off by it - if you force him to eat it then you're teaching him not to trust his own body and eat what it needs.