Quick Sushi Bake Recipe (Like a California Sushi Casserole!)

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Sushi Bake. It sounds like a dish you would order at a fancy restaurant, doesn’t it? Something that’s reserved for special occasions or celebrations?

But the truth is, sushi bake is something you can easily make at home. In fact, it’s a lot easier to put together than sushi rolls! Think of it like a Sushi Platter or sushi but family-style!

And it’s kid approved!

All you need is some cooked rice, a few simple ingredients, and a baking dish.

I’m not sure if the star of the dish is the rice, the creamy fish topping, or the fun you have making mini hand rolls!

I saw this dish a few times on TikTok and thought to myself “That looks delicious, but I bet it can be made even quicker!”. Then one night, the kids were begging for sushi but it was late. I didn’t want to order sushi, I didn’t have time ot make a bunch of sushi rolls AND I also didn’t want to spend a fortune on sushi.

So, I decided to give Sushi Bake a shot! I threw a few things together and hoped for the best and it was a huge success! Everyone loved it and my 3 year old even asked me to pack some in his lunch box for the next day!

Are you ready to give this a shot? Keep on reading to learn how to make this delicious and super quick recipe that’s sure to be a hit with the whole family!

What is sushi bake?

Sushi bake is a dish made of sushi rice and a creamy seafood mix topped with rice seasoning and a drizzling of spicy mayo. It’s then eaten with small pieces of seaweed and soy sauce.

It can be made quickly and easily at home, and it’s perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions! Making a big batch for a crowd would be easy!

Plus it’s a huge hit with kids because they get to make their own little sushi rolls AND eat it with their hands!

Is it Sushi Casserole or Sushi Bake?

Sushi Bake is like a Sushi Casserole that you heat up in the oven so you might hear this called by either name.

Personally, baking this casserole when you don’t always have to, seems like an extra step on a busy night! So I personally don’t bake mine but that’s totally up to you and the type of fish you choose.

If your fish is either precooked or sushi-grade, you may not need to cook it! Similarly, if you’re making this on a super busy night, you might want to intentionally opt for a fish that’s precooked (like the imitation crab I use in this recipe) so that you can make this quicker and not bake it!

I prefer to pick proteins that don’t need to be baked so that this dish can be made quicker! That’s why I oftencall this dish a sushi casserole!

Sushi bake Ingredients

• Rice (I like this one best)
• Seasoned Rice Vinegar (I love this one!)
• Granulated Sugar
• Crab Sticks (or this crab-free option if you don’t eat seafood)
• Mayonaise
• Cucumbers
• Avocado
• Furikake Seasoning
• Seaweed
• Spicy Mayo (or mayo mixed with Sriracha)
• Soy Sauce or Coconut Aminos

Let’s talk about Sushi Rice

Sushi Rice is a key part of this dish. It’s what gives this Sushi Casserole a more authentic taste and helps hold everything together.

The term “Sushi Rice” is used to describe a specific type of rice AND a way of preparing rice.

Sushi rice is short-grain white rice that is seasoned with vinegar and sugar. It can be purchased ready to eat or made at home using a sushi rice recipe. Luckily it’s so easy to make that you likely won’t ever buy it ready-made again!

We eat a lot of sushi rice in our home because the kids love it!

Did you know that some studies have shown that adding vinegar to rice can lower its glycemic index, possibly making it healthier for you! I consider that a great excuse to eat sushi rice!

How do you make sushi rice?

First, you have to purchase the right style of rice. You can find rice labeled as Sushi Rice and this is going to be your best option! If you can’t find that, though, you can also purchase short-grain white rice like Japanese Rice. Japanese rice is sometimes called Japonica rice.

If you can’t find either of those, Calrose rice can also work but this is medium-grain rice rather than short-grain rice. The texture will be a bit different but it can definitely work!

Once you’ve cooked your rice (and I’ll show you two ways to do that in a moment), you’ll want to add a mixture of seasoned rice vinegar and sugar to it while it’s still warm.

Sushi rice ingredients

• Rice of Choice (I like this one best)
• Seasoned Rice Vinegar (I love this one!)
• Granulated Sugar

Instant Pot Sushi Rice

I don’t usually have a lot of time to cook so I prefer to make sushi rice in my Ninja Foodi (which is an AMAZING pressure cooker/Instant Pot AND air fryer). It cooks SO quickly this way! If you don’t yet have a pressure cooker, you’re going to want to get one or add it to your wish list!

Here’s how you make sushi rice in minutes with a Ninja Foodi or any other pressure cooker:

1. Pour 2 cups of sushi rice into the pot
2. Rinse the rice thoroughly until it’s no longer cloudy. Strain well. (This step is key!)
3. Add 3 cups of water to the rice
4. Add the pressure cooker lid and close the vent
5. Turn the pressure cooker to high and set for 3 minutes.
6. Once the 3 minutes are up, leave the pressure cooker alone for another 10 minutes (this is called natural release). After 10 minutes, vent your pressure cooker and remove the rice.
7. Place 1/4 cup of rice vinegar and 1 TBSP of sugar in a microwave-safe bowl. Then microwave for 30 seconds and stir until the sugar dissolves.
8. Stir the vinegar and sugar mixture into rice carefully to combine.

That’s it and it’s so quick!

Cooktop Sushi Rice

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, no problem! You can make sushi rice on the cooktop too! Here’s how:

1. Pour 2 cups of sushi rice into a pot
2. Rinse the rice thoroughly until it’s no longer cloudy. Strain well. (This step is key!)
3. Add 2.5 cups of water to the rice
4. Cover the pot and turn the heat to medium until the water begins to simmer. Then reduce to low and cook until the water is completely absorbed. 15-20 minutes.
5. Once the water is fully absorbed, leave remove the pot from the stove and leave covered for another 10 minutes.
6. Place 1/4 cup of rice vinegar and 1 TBSP of sugar in a microwave-safe bowl. Then microwave for 30 seconds and stir until the sugar dissolves.
7. Stir the vinegar and sugar mixture into rice carefully to combine.

Sushi Bake Frequently Asked Questions

Sushi Bake Recipe

Sushi casserole is a fun and easy way to enjoy your favorite sushi rolls without having to go out for dinner. This recipe is simple to follow, and you can customize it with your favorite proteins, seasonings, and dipping sauces. Plus, it’s perfect for parties or gatherings!

I’d love see how your Sushi Bake turned out! Tag me on social media with #analyticalmommyrecipes or @analyticalmommy! I can’t wait to see how it turned out!

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