The Ultimate Easy Sushi Bake Recipe: Perfect for Beginners

Sushi bake brings a delightful twist to traditional Japanese cuisine, enhanceing familiar flavors into an irresistible casserole-style dish.

Layers of seasoned rice, creamy protein, and vibrant toppings create a mouthwatering experience that feels both comforting and exciting.

The magic happens when classic sushi ingredients get reimagined in a warm, inviting format that breaks away from conventional rolling techniques.

Home cooks love how this dish simplifies complex sushi preparation while maintaining incredible taste and visual appeal.

Each bite combines textures and flavors that dance across your palate with surprising harmony.

Professional and amateur chefs alike appreciate the flexible nature of this recipe, which allows creative ingredient swaps and personalization.

Colorful and fun, this dish turns an ordinary meal into a memorable culinary adventure.

Pairing Tips for Easy Sushi Bake

• Refresh with Crisp Sake: Select a chilled, light junmai sake that complements the creamy sushi bake, cutting through its richness with a clean, smooth finish.
• Cool Down with Citrus Mocktail: Craft a zesty yuzu-based mocktail with sparkling water, providing a bright, refreshing contrast to the rich, spicy flavors of the dish.
• Pair with Pickled Veggie Side: Add a tangy cucumber sunomono salad to balance the creamy crab mixture, offering a light, acidic counterpoint that cleanses the palate between bites.
• Match with Sesame Seaweed Salad: Introduce a nutty, umami-packed seaweed salad that echoes the furikake's flavor profile and adds a delightful textural contrast to the soft sushi bake.

Easy Sushi Bake Recipe Variations

• California Roll Sushi Bake: Swap imitation crab with fresh crab meat and add sliced avocado for a classic California roll flavor profile.
• Spicy Tuna Sushi Bake: Replace crab mixture with diced raw sushi-grade tuna mixed with sriracha, cream cheese, and a touch of sesame oil for an extra kick.
• Vegetarian Veggie Sushi Bake: Create a plant-based version using roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and asparagus instead of seafood, incorporating vegan cream cheese and tofu.
• Salmon Lover's Sushi Bake: Use chopped cooked salmon instead of crab, mix with cream cheese, and add a dash of dill for a rich, oceanic taste experience.

What Makes Easy Sushi Bake So Popular

• Unleash Gourmet Fusion: Dive into a delightful blend of Japanese-inspired flavors that transform traditional sushi into a mouthwatering baked dish, making restaurant-quality cuisine accessible right in your kitchen.
• Effortless Culinary Magic: This recipe simplifies sushi preparation by eliminating complex rolling techniques, allowing home cooks to create a stunning dish with minimal cooking skills and maximum flavor impact.
• Texture Party on a Plate: Experience a delightful contrast of crispy broiled top, creamy crab mixture, and perfectly seasoned rice that offers a sensational mouthfeel with every single bite.
• Quick Crowd-Pleaser: Ready in under 20 minutes, this sushi bake serves as an incredible party appetizer or casual dinner option that impresses guests without demanding hours of preparation.

Ingredients for Easy Sushi Bake

• Calrose Sushi Rice: Short-grain rice perfect for sushi, known for its sticky and slightly sweet texture.
• Water: Essential for cooking rice to the right consistency.
• Seasoned Rice Vinegar: Adds classic sushi rice flavor and helps bind the rice.

• Imitation Crab, Tempura Shrimp: Provides protein and seafood flavor, budget-friendly seafood alternatives.
• Japanese Mayonnaise: Creamy, rich condiment with a tangy flavor unique to Japanese cuisine.
• Cream Cheese: Adds richness and smooth texture to the mixture.
• Sriracha: Brings heat and spicy kick to the crab mixture.

• Furikake: Traditional Japanese seasoning with seaweed and sesame, adds umami and texture.
• Spicy Mayo: Creamy, zesty sauce for additional flavor.
• Unagi Sauce: Sweet and savory Japanese eel sauce.
• Cucumber, Green Onion: Fresh, crisp garnishes that provide extra texture and brightness.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Easy Sushi Bake

Step 1: Prepare Rice Base

Rinse Calrose sushi rice thoroughly under cold water using a strainer. Cook rice in a rice cooker with of water. Once cooked, transfer to a large baking sheet and gently fold in seasoned rice vinegar using a rice paddle. Allow rice to cool completely at room temperature.

Step 2: Create Creamy Seafood Blend

• Finely chopped imitation crab
• Diced tempura shrimp
• Japanese mayonnaise
• Softened cream cheese
• Sriracha sauce

Mix ingredients until smooth and well-incorporated.

Step 3: Build Flavor Layers

Spread cooled rice evenly across the baking sheet, pressing down gently to create a compact base. Sprinkle of furikake over the rice surface. Carefully spread the seafood mixture on top, ensuring an even coverage.

Step 4: Quick Oven Transformation

Set oven to broil. Place the prepared dish in the oven and broil for 4 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

Step 5: Final Flavor Flourish

• Extra furikake
• Chopped cucumber
• Sliced green onions

Serve immediately while warm and enjoy your delicious sushi bake!

Tips for the Best Easy Sushi Bake

• Rinse Rice Thoroughly: Wash Calrose rice multiple times until water runs clear to remove excess starch, ensuring fluffy and separated grains.
• Control Moisture Balance: Use room temperature ingredients and avoid over-mixing to maintain the ideal texture of crab mixture and prevent sogginess.
• Compress Rice Evenly: Press rice firmly and uniformly on the baking sheet to create a solid base that holds toppings beautifully without falling apart.
• Watch Broiling Carefully: Keep a close eye during the 4-minute broiling to prevent burning, aiming for a golden-brown crispy top without scorching.
• Customize Spice Levels: Adjust sriracha and spicy mayo quantities to match personal heat preferences, creating a personalized sushi bake experience.

Storing and Reheating Easy Sushi Bake Leftovers

• Store in an Airtight Container: Carefully transfer leftover sushi bake to a sealed container, pressing plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent air exposure. Refrigerate promptly within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness and food safety.
• Refrigeration Timeframe: Consume stored sushi bake within 2-3 days for optimal taste and texture. Keep refrigerated at 40°F or below to prevent bacterial growth and preserve quality.
• Reheating Method: Gently warm in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, covering with foil to retain moisture. Avoid microwaving, which can make the rice soggy and compromise the delicious crispy texture of your sushi bake.

Easy Sushi Bake Recipe

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4.8 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 34 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sushi bake brings Japanese-inspired comfort to your kitchen with a creamy, layered casserole that reimagines classic sushi rolls. California-style crab, seasoned rice, and crispy nori sheets combine for a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 16 ounces (454 grams) imitation crab meat
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese
• 2 pounds (907 grams) salmon

Sauce and Seasonings:

• ½ cup spicy mayo
• 1 to 2 tablespoons furikake
• ¼ cup unagi sauce

Base and Garnish:

• 2 cups sushi rice
• ½ sheet nori seaweed
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 2 green onions, chopped

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Instructions

1. Meticulously rinse the Calrose Sushi Rice under cold running water using a fine-mesh strainer until water runs clear, ensuring removal of excess starch.
2. Cook the rice in a rice cooker with precisely of water, allowing it to steam and reach perfect fluffy consistency.
3. Transfer the freshly cooked rice onto a spacious baking sheet, gently folding in seasoned rice vinegar using a wooden rice paddle to distribute evenly.
4. Allow the rice to cool and reach room temperature, creating a uniform base for the sushi bake.
5. In a mixing bowl, combine finely chopped imitation crab meat, crispy tempura shrimp pieces, creamy Japanese mayonnaise, softened cream cheese, and a kick of sriracha sauce.
6. Thoroughly mix the crab ingredients until they form a harmonious, well-integrated filling with balanced flavors and textures.
7. Spread the cooled rice across the baking sheet, pressing down gently to create a compact, even layer approximately 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) thick.
8. Generously sprinkle of furikake seasoning across the rice surface, ensuring thorough coverage.
9. Carefully distribute the prepared crab mixture over the rice, creating an uniform layer that covers the entire surface.
10. Position the baking sheet in the oven and broil for 4 minutes, watching carefully to achieve a golden, slightly crispy top without burning.
11. Remove from the oven and enhance with a delicate drizzle of spicy mayonnaise and unagi sauce.
12. Garnish with additional furikake, finely chopped cucumber, and thinly sliced green onions for a fresh, vibrant finish.

Notes

• Transform ordinary ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dish that’ll impress family and friends with minimal cooking skills required.
• Calrose rice provides the perfect sticky texture, essential for creating that authentic sushi-like experience at home.
• Balancing creamy, spicy, and umami flavors through carefully selected ingredients like cream cheese, sriracha, and furikake.
• Quick 4-minute broiling technique creates a golden, slightly crispy top that elevates the entire dish’s presentation and taste.
• Customizable toppings allow personal creativity, letting you adjust heat levels and add fresh elements like cucumber and green onions.
• Ideal for meal prep, potlucks, or a fun weekend cooking project that brings everyone together around delicious homemade sushi bake.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Broiling
• Cuisine: Japanese-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 250 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg