Sushi Bake Recipe

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If you love sushi, you’re going to love Sushi Bake. A casserole-style dish featuring sushi rice, cooked seafood, various vegetables, and a variety of sauces and seasonings. It can be a popular alternative to traditional labor intensive sushi rolls especially for larger groups. Serve with a nice crisp Asian Slaw for great meal.

Ok, What is Sushi Bake?

Just think of Sushi Bake as a deconstructed Sushi Roll (or any California roll you like) layered in a casserole dish and baked to caramel-y perfection!

In this recipe you may have noticed a couple of ingredients you’re not familiar with…namely, Furikake and Unagi. These are nothing to be afraid of and can be easily found at just about any grocery store and of course online. Let me familiarize you!

What is Furikake?

Furikake is a Japanese seasoning that is a combination of seaweed, sesame seeds, and more. If you have a Kroger or Kroger affiliate store near you, Simple Truth Organic has a Japanese Inspired Sesame Seaweed Blend that will be perfect for this Sushi Bake! Take a look at your local grocery store seasonings and/or Asian grocery stores. Walmart should have some form of furikake seasoning as well.

What is Unagi Sauce?

Sometimes referred to as eel sauce because it’s used as a sauce FOR grilled eel, Unagi is not made from eel at all. It’s a combination of soy sauce, sake, sugar and mirin. And it’s absolutely delicious drizzled and baked into this casserole and gives it its caramel-y finish so don’t skip it.

How to Make Sushi Bake

To make sushi bake, you will be adding sushi roll layers into a casserole dish. Ingredients include seasoned sushi rice, Nori (seaweed sheets) for that unmistakable sushi taste, cooked seafood combined with a delicious cream cheese and mayonnaise mixture.

Garnish with sriracha mayonnaise and unagi before baking in the oven. Top the sushi bake with a variety of fresh sushi vegetables. Anything you’ve seen on a sushi roll is fair game here, so use your imagination! Feel free to use whatever seafood you enjoy. I chose imitation crab meat because California Roll is my favorite, but I also added some cooked shrimp. You could also use tuna or salmon here instead.

For full recipe details, including ingredients needed and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step by step what you can expect when making this easy Sushi Bake recipe:

1. Preheat Oven + Prep Baking Dish

Preheat oven to 425° F. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.

2. Make Sushi Rice

Place rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a pot and bring to a boil, stirring just until sugar is dissolved. 

Add rinsed rice to the pot and the amount of cold water the package instructions indicate. Cook according to package instructions.

Once rice is fully cooked, remove from heat and mix in the furikake and sesame seeds. Press rice mixture into the bottom of the prepared casserole dish, spreading into an even layer. Set aside.

Pro Tip: If you’re in a pinch, any white short grain rice or brown rice will work in place of sushi rice.

3. Make the Remainder of Sushi Bake + Assemble

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, crab, shrimp and Japanese mayo (I like Kewpie Mayonnaise) and mix until well combined. 

Add the Nori sheets in a single layer over the top of the rice. Add the imitation crab mixture over the nori, spreading out evenly with a rubber spatula. 

Add asparagus pieces evenly over top crab mixture. 

Drizzle sriracha mayo (or other spicy mayo) and unagi sushi sauce in a diagonal pattern all over top of sushi bake. 

4. Bake + Add Toppings

Bake in oven at 425° F for 15-20 minutes or until hot, caramel-y, and golden brown, being careful not to burn. 

Let rest for a few minutes before topping with avocado, cucumber, green onions, furikake and more sauce if desired. Serve warm.

What to Serve with Sushi Bake

Sushi bake can be served on its own as a complete meal or as part of a larger spread of appetizers or entrees. Here are some suggestions for what to serve with sushi bake:

• Salad: Because this dish can be quite rich, a light crisp salad is a great side dish to serve with sushi bake.
• Miso Soup: A traditional Japanese soup is a perfect complement to sushi bake.
• Edamame: Simple steamed young soybean pods would be another welcoming side dish for sushi bake.
• Pickled Vegetables: Add a refreshing addition to the meal like pickled cucumbers, carrots or daikon radish.
• Sesame Noodle Salad: A reader favorite!

Storing Leftover Sushi

Sushi bake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but it is best to eat it sooner than later for optimal taste and texture. Allow to cool to room temperature before placing in an airtight container, then into the fridge.

To Reheat: cover the dish with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350° F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. To reheat in the microwave, place a portion on a microwave-safe plate and heat on high for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

Note: I don’t recommend freezing Sushi bake. It is best consumed fresh, as the texture and taste may be compromised.

More Asian-inspired Recipes to Try!

• Asian Baked Salmon
• Asian Lettuce Wraps
• Grilled Asian Sweet and Spicy Chicken Skewers
• Asian Tacos
• Orange Chicken

I hope you make this sushi bake recipe for your next party! If you do, let me know in the comments what you think or what you like to add to your Sushi Bake. The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.