A unique take on the classic Japanese dish, this Sushi Bake is the perfect way to feed the whole family! A sushi casserole is an excellent dish to satisfy any crowd.
It combines all of your favorite sushi ingredients in a layered casserole that’s baked in the oven and is much easier than classic sushi. It’s more affordable as well, but just as delicious!
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🩵 About This Recipe
I'm a huge fan of sushi, but it can be expensive to eat out and so difficult to make your own sushi at home. This cooked sushi casserole is the perfect way to enjoy all your favorite sushi flavors in a much easier and more affordable dish to prepare!
This casserole is perfect for serving a crowd and can be customized with your favorite kinds of fish. No matter how you prepare it, this sushi bake is guaranteed to satisfy.
And if you have any leftover ingredients, I highly recommend this Air Fryer Orange Glazed Salmon or a batch of Easy Crab Cakes!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- sushi rice - slightly different than typical white or brown rice, sushi rice takes on a nice sticky texture when cooked.
- salmon - you'll be cooking the salmon, or you could buy pre-cooked canned salmon for a shortcut.
- imitation crab - real lump crab works fine, but imitation crab is a lot more affordable!
- yum yum sauce - this delicious sauce is fantastic to make on your own, but you can also buy it in stores.
- rice vinegar - adds a tanginess and provides the characteristic sushi flavor.
- sugar - balances the acidity from the rice vinegar.
- nori sheets - this is a kind of edible seaweed that's commonly used as the wrap around sushi rolls.
- unagi sauce - you may also find this labeled as eel sauce.
- furikake - a Japanese condiment that typically consists of dried seaweed, sugar, salt, chopped dried fish, and sesame seeds.
- black sesame seeds - provide crunchiness and a nutty flavor.
- green onion - adds a mild, fresh onion flavor.
- avocado - provides a creaminess and healthy fats.
🔪 Instructions
Wash Rice
Run water over your sushi rice until the water runs clear, then soak in cold water for at least 10 minutes.
Bake Salmon
Place salmon filets on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
Make Seafood Mixture
Once the salmon is cooked, shred it along with the imitation crab and combine in a bowl with half of the yum yum sauce.
Cook Rice
In a pot, combine washed rice with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cook for about 14 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed. Press the cooked rice into the bottom of a casserole dish.
Add Nori
Place a layer of nori sheets over top of the rice.
Add Seafood Mixture
On top of the nori, add the crab and salmon mixture.
Bake and Garnish
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, then top with the rest of the yum yum sauce, unagi sauce, furikake, black sesame seeds, scallions, and avocado.
For a fun presentation, serve each slice of your cooked sushi casserole on top of its own piece of nori!
❔ FAQs
While possible, sushi rice is recommended for authentic texture and flavor.
Yes, many kinds of sushi rolls include a cooked component. This is great for those who are a bit wary of eating raw fish. Better yet, this sushi bake casserole includes imitation crab and cooked salmon, so there's no need to worry about raw ingredients!
Unlike typical sushi rolls that are eaten cold or at room temperature, this sushi bake is best served hot. If you want, you can also enjoy the leftovers cold though!
Can't get enough seafood? Check out this easy crab quiche recipe made with asparagus and gruyere cheese!
📝 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Make your own yum yum sauce by mixing sriracha with mayo, soy sauce, and either lemon juice or lime juice.
- Feel free to skip the furikake if you can't find it. You may need to go to an Asian supermarket if they don't carry it at your usual grocery store.
- Be sure to get nori sheets that look fresh and have a crisp texture without any visible damage. You can also buy larger sheets of nori and cut them up as needed.
Savory and satisfying, this cooked sushi casserole is a fun new way to enjoy the classic Japanese cuisine. Best of all, even a novice cook can put this sushi bake together!
⚙️ Substitutions and Variations
- Serve some soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger on the side for an even more authentic sushi meal!
- Unagi sauce can be substituted with hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce, or you can combine some soy sauce, sugar, and mirin.
- Instead of salmon, you could also use shrimp, tuna, or another classic sushi fish like mackerel, yellowtail, or red snapper.
- Other topping ideas include wonton strips, toasted panko breadcrumbs, chives, or cilantro.
🥡 Storage and Reheating
Because this dish contains seafood, it doesn't have the best shelf life. It'll last in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days when covered well or stored in an airtight container.
Leftovers can be served cold, or you can reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees until heated through. I don't recommend microwaving leftovers.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
This cooked sushi casserole is fairly filling and savory, so I recommend serving it with a veggie or a light salad. This Ramen Noodle Coleslaw is also inspired by Asian flavors, and Cucumber Salad or an Avocado Mango Salad are also fantastic options!
😋 More Casserole Recipes You'll Love
- Stuffed Cabbage Casserole - This one skillet casserole is an easier take on the traditional stuffed cabbage dish.
- Corn Dog Casserole - Turn a nostalgic carnival food into a family-friendly dinner any night of the week!
- Baked Hummus Casserole - Super healthy and tasty, this vegan casserole is still packed with savory flavor.
- Bacon Egg and Spinach Breakfast Casserole - This recipe from Stay Snatched is a great option for a special breakfast or brunch!
Cooked Sushi Casserole
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📋 Recipe Card
Easy Sushi Bake
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sushi rice
- 6 ounces salmon
- 2 cups water
- 6 ounces imitation crab
- 4 tablespoons yum yum sauce
- ¼ tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 20 nori sheets (2 packs)
- 3 tablespoons unagi sauce
- 1 tablespoon furikake
- ½ tablespoon black sesame seeds
- 1 green onion
- 1 avocado
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Wash the sushi rice in cold water until the water runs clear (could be about 4-5 rinses). Then let it soak in cold water for 10 minutes and then drain.1 ½ cups sushi rice
- Place the salmon on a baking sheet and bake in the oven 15-20 minutes (or in an air fryer for about 12-15 minutes).6 ounces salmon
- In a pot over high heat, add the drained sushi rice and 2 cups of clean water and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.2 cups water
- Shred the imitation crab and the cooled salmon.6 ounces imitation crab
- Place the crab, salmon, half of the yum yum sauce, and salt in a bowl and mix together.4 tablespoons yum yum sauce, ¼ tablespoon salt
- Place the rice, rice vinegar, and granulated sugar in a 9x13 casserole dish. Mix it together and then spread the rice evenly in the dish and press it down gently.2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- Cover the rice with 10 nori sheets.20 nori sheets
- Spread the shredded salmon and imitation crab mixture over the nori sheets and press it down.
- Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes.
- Drizzle the unagi sauce and the remaining yummy sauce over the baked sushi. Sprinkle the furikake, black sesame seeds, sliced scallions, and avocado.3 tablespoons unagi sauce, 1 tablespoon furikake, ½ tablespoon black sesame seeds, 1 green onion, 1 avocado
- Cut into 10 pieces and serve on top of a the remaining nori sheets.
Notes
- Serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger on the side for a complete sushi experience.
- If you don't have yum yum sauce, make your own by mixing together mayonnaise, Sriracha sauce, a splash of soy sauce, and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to taste.
- If you don't have unagi sauce, you can substitute hoisin sauce or even teriyaki sauce.
- Furikake is a popular Japanese seasoning blend that adds flavor and texture. It can be skipped if you can't find it.
- Nori sheets are thin, dried sheets of seaweed commonly used in Japanese cuisine. When purchasing nori sheets, look for ones that are fresh, crisp, and free from excessive moisture or damage. Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maintain their quality.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Happy cooking!
Marsha Gainey says
I was dubious about this recipe but it was very good! I had 2 make a couple of tweaks. I made my own yum yum sauce with Greek yogurt instead of mayo and I subbed hoisin for unagi sauce. I reheated every serving in the microwave for a minute with no problem. This was different and a nice change from the typical chicken-beef-pasta routine that most recipes fall into. I heated an Asian vegetable medley in the microwave and ate a serving of that alongside every serving of the sushi casserole.
Kristin King says
Nice! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe!
Kim says
This casserole was so full of flavors and different textures. I really enjoyed it!
Chenee says
I've never heard of a sushi casserole before but this looks amazing! I'm excited to try it!
Harriet Young says
Awesome! This is such a fab idea and it was packed full of those recognisable sushi flavours. Loved it!
kushi says
Flavorful and delicious sushi bake recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Gianne says
The layers of rice, crab, and creamy toppings created a delightful fusion of flavors that everyone loved. Best of all, it was incredibly simple to prepare, making it perfect for gatherings.