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Arancini Casserole has all of the same flavors of Italian stuffed rice balls but layered into a delicious baked casserole.
Arancini Casserole is a delicious way to enjoy the flavors of a classic Italian arancini – without all of the fuss and frying.
This variation of an Italian classic is assembled as a layered casserole – with arborio rice, a flavorful meat filling, gooey Fontina cheese, and a bread crumb topping. The casserole is baked until it is hot and steamy, the cheese has melted, and the bread crumbs are golden brown.
It’s the ultimate, delicious comfort food dish!
What are Arancini?
Arancini are Italian appetizers or snacks consisting of a stuffed ball of rice that is rolled in breadcrumbs and then fried. The stuffing can vary – sometimes ground beef, tomato sauce, peas, and cheese, while other variations might include ham and cheese.
Arancini are often made with leftover risotto because the creamy, sticky texture of arborio rice is perfect for rolling into balls.
How do you make an Arancini Casserole?
In our recipe below, we made the assumption that you don’t have leftover cooked risotto on hand – so you’ll start by simmering some arborio rice in vegetable broth. Once cooked, spread the rice on a sheet pan to cool, pressing the rice into an even, flat layer. Once the rice fully cools, cut it into twelve squares.
As the rice cools, saute ground beef and sweet Italian sausage in a skillet with some fresh garlic.
You’ll also combine eggs with shredded Fontina cheese – a nice Italian cheese that melts easily and has a creamy, mild flavor.
Next, assemble your Arancini Casserole in a 9×9-inch baking dish in layers: Tomato sauce, cooked rice, bread crumbs, cooked beef and sausage, egg and cheese mixture – according to the instructions in the recipe below.
Your final layer will be a combination of bread crumbs and cheese on top of rice – so that your baked casserole will resemble the outer layer of a fried arancini.
Bake until hot all the way through, the cheese is melted, and the bread crumbs are golden brown on top.
Once out of the oven, let your Arancini Casserole set up for about ten to fifteen minutes. Then cut into nine portions and serve with more tomato sauce on top if you’d like.
You may enjoy these other casserole recipes:
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
- Scalloped Ham and Potato Casserole
- Baked Carrot Casserole
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Baked Chicken Salad
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Arancini Casserole
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
3 cups vegetable broth
8 tablespoons butter
1 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup onion, diced
1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage meat out of the casing
3 whole eggs beaten
1 pound Fontina cheese, shredded and divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 quart tomato sauce
Instructions
Place the arborio rice and broth in a 2-3-quart sauce pan and bring to a boil. Lower heat to low, cover and place the pan half off the burner and cook 15 minutes.
Place a piece of parchment over a sheet tray and spray with kitchen pan spray and set aside.
After the rice cooks 15 minutes, pour onto the prepared sheet tray and flatten the rice out so it reaches the edges of the tray and refrigerate until chilled.
While the rice is chilling, in a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the bread crumbs and cook for 5-10 minutes to toast, stirring often. Pour the browned breadcrumbs into a bowl and set aside.
Clean the saute pan and over medium heat, add the oil and onion and cook three minutes.
Add the garlic, ground beef and sausage and cook to brown the meat. Drain this mixture and discard the fat and liquid. Set the meat aside.
In a medium bowl beat the eggs and add three-quarters of the shredded cheese, leaving one-quarter for the top before baking.
Add salt, pepper and parsley to the egg and cheese mixture and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Use a knife and cut the rice into 12 squares (4X3).
Begin assembling by pouring a half cup of tomato sauce into the bottom of a 9X9 baking pan.
Lay four rice squares on top of the sauce by lifting the rice from the parchment with a spatula and sliding into the pan.
Top that with one third of the toasted bread crumbs.
Top that with half of the drained meat mixture.
Top that with another half cup of sauce.
Top that with half the cheese mixture.
Top that with another third of the toasted crumbs.
Top that with four more rice squares.
Top that with the last half of the meat mixture.
Top that with another half cup of tomato sauce
Top that with the remaining cheese mixture.
Top that with the remaining four rice squares.
Top that with the last third of the toasted crumbs.
Finish by sprinkling on the last quarter pound of shredded Fontina cheese.
Place in the oven uncovered for 45 minutes.
Let sit 10-15 minutes to set up then cut 3X3 into nine pieces and serve with the remaining tomato sauce heated.
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Can you use only ground beef I stead of sausage and beef?
You can but the sausage adds a lot of flavor so you’ll want to make other adjustments to the recipe – adding seasonings, etc.
So good! I upped the temp to 375 for the last ten minutes to crisp it up a bit however next time I’ll leave it at it’s recommended temp of 350. Definitely a must have fall comfort food we loved it!
Thanks Jeff!
I am about to make your Arancini Casserole. I have read your directions and you don’t say what size sheet tray to use to spread the rice once cooked. I have different sizes and I want the rice to be the right thickness before cutting. I have made Arancini for years however this year, I just don’t want to fry them in all that oil. Your recipe incorporates the same ingredients my mother handed down to me in her recipe (except for the Fontina, she used Mozzarella). I would appreciate if you could clarify the sheet tray size for me. Looks delicious and can’t wait to hear what my family has to say!
Hi Philip – Apologies for the oversight – 13×18 inches is the size we used. Hope you enjoy the casserole!
Can this recipe be frozen? Only ask because of the rice. There is just two of us.
Thanks, Janet
Hi Janet – We’ve never tried freezing the leftovers but it should probably work – in general, rice can be frozen after it is cooked.
The recipe picture looks like there’s shrimp around the arancini on the plate. I don’t see it written anywhere. Is it shrimp or am I mistaken.
Hi Kim – There is no shrimp in this recipe – I think you are just seeing clumps of rice and cheese.
Can I assemble the night before and bake it the next day?
Hi Nancy – That can work. We’d suggest taking the casserole out of the oven for an hour or so before baking so it comes up to room temperature a bit.
I love arancini and I love that you made it into a casserole! Looks delicious!
Thanks Amanda!
I have everything for this recipe, except for the type of rice called for. I have regular rice (20 minute rice). Could I use that instead?
Hi Janet – You won’t get the same creamy/sticky texture using the 20 minute rice as you would with the arborio.
I just came across your site recently and I love it already. This looks so good and I can’t wait to try it. Hopefully I can find the arancini at the store! Thank you!!
You’re welcome Kam – look for arborio rice!
Another ‘out of the park’ A Family Feast hit! Just as good as the homemade arancini I get from my local Italian market–but as dinner for a crowd. I would LOVE to see A Family Feast cookbook!!! Your recipes are on regular rotation. From Rotisserie Chicken Skillet to Turkey Stuffing Meatloaf with Sweet Potato Spinach and Bacon Turkey Burgers, Chicken Zucchini Tomato Bake, and Spaghetti Pie in between (plus many others)–my family can’t get enough of your recipes!
Thank you so much Robyn! (Maybe someday we’ll write a cookbook!) So glad you are enjoying the recipes!