Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas
Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas is also known as Sicilian Arancini! Our “all-in-one” Sicilian rice ball casserole is stuffed with a blend of chopped meat, peas, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese, and baked until the mozzarella on top is melted. It is a delicious, satisfying meal for the whole family, plus, it’s freezer-friendly too!
Our Rice Ball Casserole (Arancini)…
- This is a Sicilian recipe for “arancini” only it’s made in one casserole!
- This rice ball casserole is better – because it’s baked rather than fried, and it makes clean-up a breeze!
- A casserole is much easier to put together and still enjoy the same deliciousness you get from the original rice balls.
Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas is a meal your whole family will love!
For our recipe, we prefer our mom’s marinara sauce, which I had on hand. But you can use your favorite store-bought sauce.
Plus, for our recipe, you will need a lot of prepared tomato sauce, about 4 cups, and more.
Our mom always made this dish into a casserole with all the same fantastic ingredients of making “arancini” Sicilian popular rice balls. Only she preferred to make it with her classic bolognese sauce and just added frozen peas to it.
If you are looking for the perfect one-dish meal containing carbs, protein, and vegetables? Then this Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas is it!
To Make It…
- This is a 2 step process to prepare. One is the rice mixture and the other is the meat filling.
- Plus, you will need a lot of prepared marinara sauce, and at least 4 cups. These rice balls (aka Arancini) are usually served with some extra tomato sauce on top.
- Best to use Long Grain Rice. You need sticky rice to make this casserole. NOTE: Instant rice will not work!
- You can also make this a little healthier and less fattening, you can use ground veal, chicken, or turkey, but my husband says “it’s not Sicilian if you don’t use beef! “..Lol… Either way, this is a dish everyone should try!
How to Make the Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas?
(*Follow along with our Step-by-Step directions, or jump down to the bottom for our full recipe card.)
1. First, cook 3 cups of rice with 6 cups of water, and follow the directions on the package, including adding some butter (2 tablespoons) and 1 teaspoon of salt to the water. When rice is cooked, transfer it to a large mixing bowl, add the additional butter, mix, and set aside to cool.
2. In the meantime, using a medium skillet, sautรฉ chopped onion and garlic in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook the meat until browned and well cooked. Using a wooden spoon, break the chopped meat while cooking. Season with salt and pepper. Add peas and 8-ounce (1 cup) of tomato sauce (prepared marinara sauce). Simmer on low heat, covered for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204C).
Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine rice with eggs, Pecorino cheese, and pour in 1 cup (8-ounces) of marinara sauce, and mix well. Rice will be sticky.
4. Spray one 13 x 9 casserole dish, including all four sides, with cooking spray. Add breadcrumbs to the baking dish, and roll the dish until the bottom and all sides are coated with breadcrumbs.
5. Take half of the rice mixture and cover the bottom of the dish and press down to form a layer. Then add the entire meat and peas mixture to cover the rice.
6. Spread an additional ladle (about 1/2 cup) of marinara sauce evenly over the meat and peas mixture. Then scatter with a layer of shredded mozzarella on top.
7. Add the remaining rice mixture and spread with the back of a spoon to help spread the rice evenly.
8. Top the rice with the remaining marinara sauce about 8-ounce (1 cup). Sprinkle with some grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese on top. Then top with a final layer of shredded mozzarella.
9. Cover with foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes, until the mozzarella is melted. Remove and cut into 12 squares.
Make Ahead Method…
- You can make this rice ball casserole up to 1 day ahead. Do Not Bake it.
- You will need to thaw completely on your counter, or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Also, allow the casserole to warm up to room temperature before baking, for at least 1 to 2 hours. This will ensure it will reheat evenly.
For Serving…
When serving, it’s best to have “extra” tomato sauce (heated) at the table when serving for those who prefer to add extra tomato sauce on top.
To Freeze…
You can divide this recipe into 2 smaller trays and freeze one before baking. Allow the casserole to cool completely. Then cover with aluminum foil and freeze. It freezes well and for up to 1 month.
WATCH OUR VIDEO: How to Make our Rice Ball Casserole? (1-minute):
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Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas is one of the most popular recipes on our blog!
This recipe makes an easy and fabulous meal for the whole family to enjoy! You might want to add a green salad as a side, and dinner is done!
Additional Comfort Food Recipes…
- Easy Meat Lasagna with No-Boil Noodles
- Gluten-Free, Best Zucchini Lasagna!
- Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna
- Pasta alla Nonna
- Easy Chicken Casserole (Cordon Bleu)
- Traditional Hungarian Goulash (The BEST Goulash)
- Green Bean Creamy Casserole
- Mom’s Sunday Meatballs
- Braciole – Sicilian Style!
- Easy Stuffed Shells
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas
Rice Ball Casserole ~ is stuffed with a blend of chopped meat, peas, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese all into one delicious casserole, then baked until the mozzarella on top is melted. This makes an easier alternative to making the original Italian/Sicilian rice balls which are large rice balls stuffed the same way, only they are coated with breadcrumbs then deep fried.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
- FOR THE RICE MIXTURE:
- 3 cups organic long grain rice uncooked
- 6 cups of water
- 3 eggs
- 3 Tbsp. butter
- 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
- FOR THE MEAT and PEAS MIXTURE:
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- 1 garlic clove- diced
- 1 medium onion- chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 28-ounces (3 + 1/2 cups) Mom's Quick Marinara Sauce - divided
- 2 Tbsp. Parmigiano-Reggiano grated cheese
- organic olive oil cooking spray
- 1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1+ 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
- extra marinara sauce heated, for serving
Instructions
- First, cook the rice with 6 cups of water, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and follow the directions on the package. Transfer rice to a large mixing bowl, add the butter, mix, and set aside to cool.
- In the meantime, using a medium skillet, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook meat until browned and well cooked. Using a wooden spoon, break the chopped meat while cooking. Season with salt and pepper. Add peas and 8 ounces (1 cup) of tomato sauce. Cover with a lid and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, (204 C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine rice with eggs, pecorino cheese, 8-ounces (1 cup) of marinara sauce, and mix well. Rice will be sticky.
- Spray a 13 x 9 casserole dish, including all four sides, with cooking spray. Add breadcrumbs to the baking dish, roll the dish until bottom and all sides are coated with breadcrumbs.
- Take half of the rice mixture and cover the bottom of the dish and pressing down to form a layer.
- Add the entire meat and peas mixture to cover the rice. Spread an additional ladle (or about 1/2 cup, or more if needed) of marinara sauce over the meat and peas mixture. Then scatter with a layer of shredded mozzarella on top.
- Add the remaining rice and press with the back of a spoon until the layer is even.
- Top with remaining marinara sauce. Sprinkle with some grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and top with a layer of shredded mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove foil and BAKE for another 5 minutes, until the mozzarella is melted. Remove and cut into 12 squares. Serve with extra sauce heated.
- Serves 8 to 12
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10 to 12 servingsServing Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 413Total Fat: 14.1gSaturated Fat: 5.9gCarbohydrates: 50.7gFiber: 3.3gSugar: 7.2gProtein: 19.5g
Making this casserole an canโt wait to have our lunch
The kitchen smells wonderful, the idea of a casserole I like an itโs much more easier clean up baked not fried Iโm trying more of your Recipes that I am reading thank you so much I canโt wait to have my lunch
Hi Irene! Welcome to our recipe blog, it is so nice to meet you! Thank you so much for trying our recipe and for subscribing! Looking forward to hearing from you again. Have a great day and happy cooking! ๐
Would you believe I was just talking about your casserole version last week…so much easier, that is for sure.
I believe it! Sometimes that happens to me as well. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by! ๐
What if my kids do not like peas? Would you leave them out?
Yes, of course! Just leave the peas out, it’s totally fine. It won’t change the flavor. I just like to sneak in some veggies whenever I can!
ENJOY!! ๐
Hi cant wait to make this. What brand rice did you use? box or bag Thanks
Hello Michelle, I use a bag of Carolina Long Grain Rice. It’s a brand that sells in the New York Tri-state area, but I can’t find it in South Carolina, so I use a bag of long grain rice (found in the rice and beans section) and it’s no particular brand. But it works.
We only have long grain brown rice. I believe brown rice usually requires more water than white rice. Should I cook rice per package directions (2 cups water per 1 cup rice) or does this recipe require extra water / less water in the rice?
Yes, follow the directions to cook the brown rice. I haven’t made this dish with brown rice before, so use your best judgement. You want the rice to be moist and tender, not dry. I hope this helps! ๐
What do you do with the butter?
Hi Kate,
The butter in this recipe is mixed into the rice to keep the rice moist. I hope this helps!
I plan to make this, but I have a question. I know you say to have plenty of sauce on hand, but how much total? The recipe calls for 24 oz., but I see 4 additions of sauce in the recipe, three 1-cup additions plus the last one says add remaining sauce, so that would be 8 oz x 3 = 24 oz plus the remaining ? oz. I don’t want to start if I need more than 24 oz, so I will wait til I make or buy more. Thank you so much; I can’t wait to make this!
Hi Ann Marie,
Welcome to our blog! It’s so nice to meet you! Yes, 24-ounces of sauce will be enough. (I had to read the recipe just to see if I missed something)
Also, if you have extra tomato sauce, you can add an additional spoonful on top of each piece when serving, that’s the way I prefer it – but that’s just me! – I love it when it’s smothered in tomato sauce. ๐ … So you can go ahead and make it! ENJOY!!
I noticed that as well, but then I reread and the rice mixture calls for 8oz of โtomato sauceโ versus marinara sauce so I was wondering if the ingredients are missing the 8oz can of tomato sauce or if it actually is supposed to be 32oz of marinara plus extra for topping.
Hey Kerri! Thanks for bringing that up. I will go in and edit that! It is the “marinara sauce” that is mixed in with the rice.
Hi Kerri,
Thanks again! I went in and edited the recipe, it should be 28oz of prepared marinara sauce, plus extra for serving.
This looks so good. I am making it tomorrow! Gluten free here and haven’t had a rice ball in a long time. Can’t wait!
Thank you, Maria, and welcome to our blog! It’s so nice to meet you! Enjoy this recipe- it’s one of our favorites! ๐
Have a family member with severe egg allergies, what could I substitute the eggs with to make this dish? Thank you!
Hello Hongchao!
Great question! I have never made this casserole without the eggs, so I called my Aunt Tina ( my dad’s sister who is 96 and still makes her famous rice balls…. and she recommends to add 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 to 3 additional tablespoons of butter to the rice mixture. The eggs is to bind the rice mixture a little, and to keep them moist while bakiing. So the butter will make this casserole a little more creamer with the additional butter added.
OR, Option #2 : and this is my guess. Add an additional cup of tomato sauce to the rice mixture, and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese ( you already added percorino) to the rice mixture. That will keep the rice moist while baking. I hope this helps! ๐
Please come back and let me know if any these options have worked for you, because it will help others who read these comments and who may have the same allegy to eggs. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much! I will update you how it turns out after I make it. Need to go get some parmesan cheese ๐
Thanks! Looking forward to hearing from you!
Could someone on Keto tell me how to cook this using keto ingredients ty
Hi Pam, I am not too sure about changing this casserole without changing the texture and flavor. But if I had to make a guess, maybe you can replace the rice with “cauliflower rice” and bind it with the eggs, butter, and cheese as it is in the recipe. If you make our casserole with the cauliflower rice, please come back and tell us the outcome. It will help so many who follow the keto diet. Thanks so much! Good luck ๐
This is a great idea for any leftover rice. Love it. I even have some leftover ricotta mixture from making involtini that would be a nice extra layer? Great and comforting. Happy New Year!
Thank you Mimi!! That’s sounds delicious! Same to you, have a Happy and Healthy New Year!!
Sounds delicious but can it be frozen? If yes, at what point should it be frozen?
Hello Silvana, I think you can freeze it before you bake it, (and freeze only up to 2 weeks). Then put it into the fridge overnight to defrost. Let is sit on the counter for at least one to 2 hours before baking it. Keep in mind, it may need more baking time as well. Then I would serve it with some additional tomato sauce at the table to add on top of each serving. Usually rice absorbs most of the sauce and it may get dry after you freeze it (it’s just a guess). I have never frozen this dish, so I am just guessing here. Please let us know how it turns out for you! Thanks for stopping by!
Anna and Liz, is it ok to use instant rice? If so, it calls for 3 cups rice and 3 cups water. It is the Minute brand premium long grain instant rice. OR, is the long cooking long grain tastier?
Hi Karen, I hope this is not too late. I have never used instant rice for anything and really can’t say how it will work with this recipe. We prefer only to use the long grain rice. But if you want to test it to see if instant rice will work, try using 1/4 of the ingredients and make a very very small casserole. I hope this will helps.
I love this idea…a crowd pleaser, I’m sure.
Thanks so much Karen! Have a great weekend!
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This looks delicious! Might add some chopped red bell pepper with the onion, but this recipe sounds like pure comfort food! I love a dinner where I can clean up while it cooks!๐
We are so glad you like this recipe !! It is a satisfying meal – perfect crowd pleaser too!
Enjoy and thank you for taking the time to write a comment!
HI Ladies! I made this rice dish for friends, and they loved it, thanks and keep the recipes coming!
Mike G
Thanks Mike! Glad your friends enjoyed it. Have a great weekend!
I love rice casseroles. They are a welcome switch from pasta, and people just gobble them up! This one looks fab!
What a great change from using pasta! I like balls but this rocks!
This is such a great idea. I love rice balls, but I'm usually to lazy to take the time to make them.
So interesting! My husband would flip for this and would say the same thing – it must be beef! Love it! Have a wonderful week ๐
What a delicious and hearty casserole! This would be perfect for a big, family gathering.
Ooooh, I have all of these ingredients on hand right now! I think I gotta try this!
Thank you Vicki and welcome to our blog! You're absolutely right, this casserole is comfort food for sure! We hope to see you again real soon, enjoy. We'll stop by your place to see whats cooking too.
I love this recipe! It's the perfect dish for kids and adults will love it as well. This is definitely comfort food.
Nice blog, glad I stopped by.