Arancini {Rice Ball} Casserole

Well if I had to choose one of my favorite Italian dishes ...Arancini would be right up there at the top!....I have made Rice Balls before, but I have not mastered them to perfection yet...So when I saw that you could actually make a casserole that tasted like one, I had to give it a try!!....When I made this dish I did not have any beef on hand(because of the pandemic) So it was pretty much a vegetarian version...And it was still amazing...But I did have everything else so I decided to get to work.....This was really simple to put together...Here is what I did...Enjoy!!

INGREDIENTS

2 bags success rice or 2 cups uncooked rice ( follow package directions)

2 cups pasta sauce of your choice

1 pound ground beef

1 small onion diced

1 cup frozen peas

 1 egg

 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Italian breadcrumbs

1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella

+ fresh mozzarella if you have it

salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

1. Cook rice as directed..when done remove from bag..

add to bowl and set aside

2. add beef to pan and saute..as it cooks add onion and cook until browned...add peas and 1 cup of sauce and salt and pepper and simmer

3. to the bowl of rice add parmesan cheese, egg and 1/2 cup tomato sauce...if it looks like it needs a little more sauce add another 1/4 cup

4.  spray a 8x8 casserole dish with cooking spray, sides too..add some breadcrumbs to dish and roll around to coat bottom and sides

5.  take half of the rice mixture {a little more if needed} cover the bottom of the dish and up the sides, press to form bottom layer. Fill with the meat and pea mixture. Top with 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella and break up some fresh mozzarella on top of that

6. Top with the remaining rice mixture pressing down till even. Top with remaining sauce...sprinkle with breadcrumbs , then top with remaining mozzarella

7.  cover with foil and Bake 30 minutes

let rest a few minutes then slice as you like!...Enjoy

Yield: 6

Author: Natalie Buscemi-Hindman

Arancini (Rice Ball )Casserole

All of the goodness and flavor of a Rice Ball without all of the work...This version of Arancini gets layered Casserole style!

Prep time: 25 MCook time: 30 MTotal time: 55 M

Ingredients:

• 2 bags of success rice or 2 cups uncooked rice (follow package directions)
• 2 cups of pasta sauce of your choice
• 1 pound of ground beef or sirloin
• 1 small onion diced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• Italian Breadcrumbs
• 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella + fresh if you have it
• salt and pepper

Instructions:

How to cook Arancini (Rice Ball )Casserole

1. Preheat Oven to 400 degrees
2. Cook rice as directed..when done add to a bowl and set aside
3. Add beef to pan and saute..as it cooks add onion and cook until browned...add peas and 1 cup of sauce and salt and pepper
4. To the bowl of rice add parmesan cheese, egg and 1/2 cup of pasta sauce...if it looks like it needs a little more sauce add another 1/4 cup
5. Spray an 8 x 8  casserole dish with cooking spray, sides too...add some breadcrumbs to dish and roll around to coat bottom and sides
6. Take half of the rice mixture ( a little more if needed) cover the bottom of the dish and up the sides.., press to form bottom layer. Next add the meat and pea mixture, then add 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella and break up some fresh mozzarella and add that if you have it
7. Top with the remaining rice mixture pressing down until even. Top with remaining sauce...sprinkle with breadcrumbs...then add remaining mozzarella
8. Cover with foil and Bake for 30 minutes...let rest a few minutes and then slice as you like...Enjoy!!

Created using The Recipes Generator