Description
Arancini Rice Ball Casserole is a comforting twist on the classic Sicilian arancini. Instead of deep-frying rice balls, this easy-to-make casserole layers cooked rice, savory meat, peas, tomato sauce, and cheese, all baked until golden and melty. Perfect for weeknight dinners or feeding a crowd, this dish is a true Italian comfort food.
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ package sweet Italian sausage (casing removed) or chicken sausage (~2.5 oz or 14 oz, depending on your version)
- 10 oz 93% lean ground turkey or 1 lb ground chicken/beef
- ¼ cup minced onion
- 5 oz frozen peas
- 2 cups tomato sauce or marinara
- 1 large egg (+ 1 egg white, if specified)
- ½ cup Pecorino Romano cheese (or Parmesan)
- 1 ¼ cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 4 tablespoons seasoned breadcrumbs (or gluten-free)
- Cooking spray or olive oil for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook the rice with 1 teaspoon of salt according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
- In a skillet, cook the sausage (or chicken/turkey) until browned. Add the minced onion and cook until softened.
- Stir in the frozen peas and 1 cup of tomato sauce. Simmer for 5-20 minutes to meld the flavors.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled rice with the beaten egg(s), Pecorino Romano, and ½ cup of the tomato sauce mixture. Stir well.
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and sprinkle breadcrumbs on the bottom and sides.
- Press half of the rice mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the dish. Spread the meat, pea, and tomato mixture over the rice.
- Top with mozzarella cheese, then cover with the remaining rice mixture, pressing it down evenly. Sprinkle with remaining breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the top is golden and cheese is melted.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Optionally, serve with extra marinara sauce.
Notes
- Substitute peas with bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach for added flavor and nutrition.
- Try using Fontina or Gruyère cheese for a different texture and flavor.
- For a lighter version, use ground chicken or turkey instead of sausage.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and ensure the tomato sauce is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
