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

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!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course casserole, Dinner

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

Instructions

 

• Cook your rice with 1 teaspoon of salt, according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
• 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.
• 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.
• Preheat oven to 400°.
• In a large bowl, combine cooked rice, romano cheese, egg, egg white, and 1/2 cup of sauce. Mix until well combined.
• Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Spray bottom and sides.
• Add 2 tbsps of bread crumbs to sprayed dish, and roll around to coat the bottom and sides with breadcrumbs.
  
• 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.
  
• Fill with the meat mixture.
  
• Top with 3/4 cups of mozzarella cheese.
  
• Top with the rest of the rice and press until even.
  
• Top with remaining sauce, remaining 2 tbsps breadcrumbs, and remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
  
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Garnish with basil or parsley if desired.
• Enjoy!

Keyword casseroles, italian