This Pizza Rice Bake is a delicious twist on traditional pizza, combining the heartiness of rice with the classic flavors of marinara, pepperoni, and mozzarella. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun, comforting meal, this dish is sure to please pizza lovers. With a crispy top and a melty, cheesy interior, it’s the ultimate cheesy rice bake!
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
- Cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked parboiled long-grain white rice
- 2 1/4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups marinara sauce, divided
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 15 pepperoni slices
- 1 cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
- Torn fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
Directions:
- Prepare the rice: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper, and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook the rice: Stir in the uncooked rice, then add the vegetable or chicken stock, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover. Let the rice cook for about 15-20 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Assemble the bake: Stir in 1 cup of marinara sauce into the cooked rice mixture. Spread the rice evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce, then layer with Parmesan cheese, pepperoni slices, and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves before serving. Enjoy your pizza-inspired rice bake!
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: Varies depending on portion size
- Fat: Varies (from butter, cheese, and pepperoni)
- Carbs: Varies (from rice and sauce)
- Protein: Varies (from pepperoni and cheese)
Why Choose Pizza-Inspired Rice Bake?
This recipe stands out for its ability to combine two classic favorites—pizza and rice bake—into one seamless, flavorful dish. Traditional pizza is often viewed as a fun, indulgent meal, while rice casseroles are known for being comforting, hearty, and easy to prepare. By marrying these two, the Pizza-Inspired Rice Bake offers the best of both worlds, making it an ideal dish for busy families, busy professionals, or anyone who craves a satisfying meal that doesn’t take much time or effort to make.
The versatility of this dish is another reason for its popularity. You can easily customize the ingredients based on your preferences or dietary needs. For example, you can swap out the pepperoni for turkey pepperoni, or even use a vegetarian protein option like veggie sausage. The combination of cheese, marinara sauce, and basil allows for a range of substitutions to suit different tastes.
Key Ingredients That Make the Pizza-Inspired Rice Bake a Hit
1. Rice
At the heart of this dish is the rice, which provides a sturdy, absorbent base to hold all the savory ingredients together. Long-grain white rice is an excellent choice for this recipe because it cooks up fluffy and separate, creating the perfect texture for a baked casserole. The rice absorbs the flavors of the garlic, spices, and stock, becoming a flavorful and aromatic component of the dish. Since the rice is parboiled, it cooks relatively quickly, making the recipe simple and convenient.
In addition to its texture, rice is a great way to bulk up a dish, making it more filling. It’s also an excellent vehicle for absorbing the rich marinara sauce and melted cheeses, creating a balanced flavor profile in each bite.
2. Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is the classic pizza topping that brings a tangy, zesty flavor to this dish. The sauce, made from tomatoes, garlic, onions, and Italian herbs, is the ideal accompaniment to the savory rice and cheese. Two cups of marinara sauce are used to give the rice and cheese layers a rich, tomato-forward base. The sauce also helps keep the casserole moist and flavorful as it bakes in the oven.
The beauty of marinara sauce lies in its versatility—while it’s traditionally paired with pizza or pasta, it also works beautifully in baked dishes like this one. Its acidity balances out the richness of the cheese, while its tomato flavor complements the pepperoni and other savory ingredients.
3. Pepperoni
Pepperoni is a quintessential pizza topping, and it adds the perfect salty, slightly spicy kick to the Rice Bake. It’s one of the most popular pizza meats, and in this dish, it provides texture, flavor, and the satisfaction of familiar pizza taste. As the pepperoni bakes, it crisps up slightly and releases its oils, infusing the entire dish with its savory, smoky essence.
For those looking for a lighter option, turkey pepperoni can be used, or for vegetarians, a plant-based pepperoni substitute can easily be swapped in. Pepperoni is an essential part of the pizza experience in this recipe, but it can certainly be customized to meet dietary preferences.
4. Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese
Cheese is a hallmark of any great pizza, and in this Rice Bake, the mozzarella and Parmesan blend together beautifully to create a creamy, gooey, and delicious top layer. Mozzarella provides the meltiness that we all love in pizza, giving the dish its rich, cheesy texture as it bakes. The mozzarella becomes golden and bubbly, contributing to the casserole’s irresistible visual appeal.
Parmesan, on the other hand, adds a sharp, nutty flavor that complements the mild mozzarella. Sprinkling Parmesan over the top of the casserole gives it a slight crispness and a burst of umami, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the dish. The combination of these two cheeses ensures that each bite is rich, cheesy, and full of flavor.
5. Fresh Basil
Basil is the perfect garnish for this dish, as it brings a fresh, herbal note that balances out the richness of the cheese and the pepperoni. Fresh basil, when torn and sprinkled over the baked casserole, adds color, fragrance, and a pop of freshness that lightens the otherwise hearty dish. Basil is a classic pizza herb, and its inclusion here ties the flavors of the pizza-inspired rice bake together beautifully.
Baking and Assembling the Rice Bake
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Once you’ve cooked the rice and combined it with the marinara sauce, cheese, and seasonings, the rest of the work is done in the oven. The dish is baked for just 20-25 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together while the cheese melts into a creamy, bubbly topping.
While the rice and sauce cook together, the pepperoni slices crisp up and infuse their smoky flavor into the casserole. The cheese melts and becomes golden brown, and the fresh basil is added right before serving for an extra burst of flavor. It’s a one-pan meal that’s easy to assemble and doesn’t require much effort to make, yet it feels indulgent and comforting once it’s done.
Serving Ideas and Variations
This Pizza-Inspired Rice Bake is perfect as a main dish, but it can also be served as a side dish alongside grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or a fresh green salad. For a complete pizza-inspired meal, pair it with a side of garlic bread or a bowl of soup, such as tomato basil soup, for a comforting, cozy dinner.
You can also experiment with variations of this dish by adding other pizza toppings to the mix. Consider adding sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, or onions to the rice bake. The possibilities are endless, and it’s easy to make this dish your own by adjusting the ingredients to suit your tastes.
Conclusion
Pizza-Inspired Rice Bake is a delicious and creative take on a classic favorite, bringing together all the best flavors of pizza in an easy-to-make casserole. With its hearty rice base, savory marinara sauce, crisp pepperoni, and melty cheese, it’s a meal that’s sure to please everyone at the table. Whether you’re serving it for a weeknight dinner, a family gathering, or a special occasion, this dish offers the perfect combination of comfort, flavor, and simplicity. It’s a fun, flavorful way to enjoy the tastes of pizza in a whole new way.