This is an easy sushi bake recipe featuring rice, canned tuna, slivered nori, and a spicy mayo drizzle. This fuss-free sushi casserole is perfect for weeknights and meal prepping or for get-togethers.
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This tuna and rice casserole is basically a deconstructed sushi roll, in a hassle-free casserole form. The idea is similar to my unstuffed pepper casserole.
For this budget-friendly recipe, you'll take your favorite sushi roll basics like seasoned rice, tuna, spicy mayo, and nori, but instead of rolling, you're mixing and baking.
The rice doesn't need to be precooked, it'll cook in the oven. That makes this casserole so easy - just mix and bake!
Ingredients
See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- rice: I use jasmine rice, long-grain white rice, for this casserole for a light and fluffy texture. This is not authentic or typical for sushi rolls, as they're made with seasoned sushi rice - a short-grain rice. You'll add the rice uncooked and cook it in the oven, instead of adding leftover rice and simply warming it in the oven.
- broth: I use chicken stock as the liquid to cook the rice in. You could use vegetable stock or just water but the results will have less flavor.
- tuna: You'll need two cans of your favorite tuna.
- vinegar, sugar, and salt: I use rice vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of sugar to season the rice a bit, similar to sushi rice.
- cucumber: just like in my sushi bowl recipe, I like to add cucumber for a refreshing crunch
- nori: instead of using the nori sheets to roll the sushi, you'll cut it into slivers to garnish. You can use a large sheet of nori, or the smaller seaweed snack style, which is what I use.
- sesame seeds: to garnish. I use toasted sesame seeds and toast them myself on the stove top. You can skip this if you are using furikake with sesame seeds, or add both.
- panko breadcrumbs: I like to pan-fry panko breadcrumbs in butter for a garnish similar to tempura flakes on a crunchy roll.
- mayo: you can make sriracha mayo or wasabi mayo for the drizzle. You can use Japanese kewpie mayonnaise which is sweeter, or regular mayo.
- Furikake seasoning: this is a Japanese rice condiment and comes in many flavors - use your favorite! I like this Shichimi Pepper Furikake which offers a slight heat. https://amzn.to/3UMXYWI
Substitutions
- Rice: I use long grain rice, if you use short grain rice, the cooking time may vary slightly and the texture will be more sticky than fluffy.
- California rolls: use cooked fresh crab or imitation crab, with avocado slices and fresh cucumber slices as garnishes to imitate the flavors of a California roll.
- Spicy Tuna rolls: Mix the tuna with sriracha or gochujang paste before adding it to the baking dish.
- Teriyaki rolls: use canned salmon and drizzle with teriyaki sauce instead of mayo. Garnish with avocado slices.
- Philadelphia rolls: Add cream cheese and canned salmon to the rice and garnish with avocado.
- King crab rolls: Use King crab or imitation crab and garnish with mayo.
Instructions
Prep Tips
- Drain the tuna and add it to the casserole dish.
- Add the rice, sprinkling it evenly.
- Add the hot liquid.
- Top with foil and bake for 45 minutes, or until the rice is cooked.
The best way to drizzle the sauce over the casserole, is by adding it to a ziptop bag and use it as a piping bag.
- Mix the mayo in a small bowl, with either the sriracha or wasabi paste.
- Place a ziptop bag over a glass to hold it open and scoop the mayo in. Push the air out, seal the bag, and store it in the fridge until needed.
- If making the crispy breadcrumbs heat the butter in a skillet. Add the breadcrumbs.
- Toast for 5-10 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the foil from the dish once it's done.
- Fluff with a fork.
Allow the casserole to cool for 5-10 minutes before adding the toppings, so the cucumber doesn't become too soft and the mayo doesn't melt into the rice.
- Sprinkle the cucumber and nori over the top of the rice and spread it evenly.
- Top with sesame seeds, furikake, and the toasted breadcrumbs. Drizzle with one or both sauce options.
You can serve the casserole in a bowl or on a plate and eat it with a fork or chopsticks, or you can place a scoop of the casserole into a snack sized sheet of nori and eat like an open hand roll, or sushi taco.
Tips for making sushi casserole
- Customize the dish and toppings to suit your preferences. Try using canned salmon or shredded imitation crab.
- Tightly cover the dish with foil so the rice will cook.
- The liquid must be hot when adding it to the dish so that the rice will cook within 45 minutes.
What to serve with a tuna sushi bake
This dish can be served on its own as a main dish or with sides like spicy cucumber salad, honey garlic cauliflower, gochujang cauliflower, air fryer coconut chicken strips, or this quick and easy air fryer salmon with garlic sauce.
Love tuna and sushi? Try a tuna sushi bowl next.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. I microwave this to reheat it and add a fresh drizzle of sauce.
FAQs
A sushi bake is a rice casserole using typical sushi ingredients like tuna, cucumber, nori, and spicy mayo.
Recipe
Tuna Sushi Bake
Ingredients
sushi bake
- 1 cup long grain white rice I use jasmine rice
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 2 cans tuna my tuna is 120 grams drained.
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- pinch granulated white sugar
- pinch of salt
toppings
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1 package snack pack nori sheets
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
sriracha mayo
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
wasabi mayonnaise
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon wasabi paste
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spread tuna into 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- Sprinkle rice evenly on top of the tuna.
- Bring stock to a boil. Add vinegar and a pinch of sugar and salt.
- Pour the hot liquid over the rice and tuna, making sure everything is still even and the rice is all submerged.
- Cover with foil.
- Bake 45 minutes or until rice is done.
- Remove from oven. Let cool 5-10 minutes.
- Sprinkle the cucumber, sesame seeds, panko breadcrumbs, and nori on top.
- Drizzle with the sauces.
Equipment
Video
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
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