Italian Rice Ball Casserole

This Italian rice ball casserole is an easier and healthier version of the classic Italian rice ball! SO flavorful. It’s perfect for a Sunday night family dinner!

Italian rice ball casserole is just as good as it sounds! Rice on the bottom, filled with a mixture of sausage and ground chicken, with more rice on top! And cheese. Can’t forget the cheese!

A lot of people have heard of an Italian rice ball, but a lot of people haven’t!

Let me explain…

What is an Italian rice ball?

Oh my gosh, it is the best thing ever! It’s a ball of white sticky rice, which is filled with a mixture of ground sausage, mozzarella cheese and peas. Then the rice ball is coated in delicious bread crumbs, and deep fried until brown and crunchy! Usually served with a red sauce on top.

This recipe is the casserole version of a rice ball, and healthier! Its not deep fried, and I used all lean meats. So you can indulge in this delicious casserole, and not feel super guilty after!

This is also a great recipe if you want left overs for the week! It makes a lot, and is super filling!

If you make this recipe, I hope you enjoy it!

If you like easy, casserole recipes, make sure to check out my other recipe for jalapeño popper chicken casserole! https://thehungrylyoness.com/jalapeno-popper-chicken-casserole/

Italian Rice Ball Casserole

5 from 1 vote

This Italian rice ball casserole is an easier and healthier version of the classic Italian rice ball! SO flavorful. It's perfect for a Sunday night family dinner!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course: casserole, Dinner

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups long grain white rice, uncooked I used jasmine rice
• 1¾ tsps salt
• 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage – turkey OR chicken, casing removed I used turkey sausage
• 1 lb. lean, ground turkey OR chicken I used ground chicken
• 1/4 cup white onion, minced
• black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 2 cups tomato sauce I used canned tomato sauce
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup grated romano cheese
• cooking spray
• 4 tbsp Italian seasoned bread crumbs, divided
• 1¼ cups shredded mozzerella, part skim
• fresh parsley or basil, optional

Method

 

1. Cook your rice with 1 teaspoon of salt, according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
2. Saute sausage meat. Cook until brown, making sure to break up into pieces with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Add ground chicken or turkey and minced onion. Cook until browned, breaking up as it cooks.
3. Season meat with 3/4 teaspoon of salt and black pepper to taste. Add peas and 1 cup of sauce. Simmer on low, covered for 20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 400°.
5. In a large bowl, combine cooked rice, romano cheese, egg, egg white, and 1/2 cup of sauce. Mix until well combined.
6. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Spray bottom and sides.
7. Add 2 tbsps of bread crumbs to sprayed dish, and roll around to coat the bottom and sides with breadcrumbs.
   
8. Take half of rice mixture and cover the bottom of dish and a little up the sides. Wet hands (to prevent rice from sticking) and press rice into bottom and up sides of dish.
   
9. Fill with the meat mixture.
   
10. Top with 3/4 cups of mozzarella cheese.
    
11. Top with the rest of the rice and press until even.
    
12. Top with remaining sauce, remaining 2 tbsps breadcrumbs, and remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
    
13. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Garnish with basil or parsley if desired.
14. Enjoy!