Curb your sushi craving with a spicy salmon sushi bake recipe that’s ready in just 30 minutes! It’s a deconstructed sushi roll meets casserole. Serve the easy-to-make dish with dried seaweed and fresh veggies like cucumber and carrots slices.
What is a Sushi Bake?
A sushi bake (also called a sushi casserole) has many of the same ingredients as a sushi roll combined in one pan for an easy dinner or dip. A TikTok creator, @lizziemwong, shared her recipe for sushi bake using imitation crab. The video has over 2 million views, and I can see why.
And that’s not the first time a recipe like this has gone viral. Many remember when @emilymariko made a salmon rice bowl in 2020 and sent the internet into a frenzy. The easy salmon sushi bake recipe combines the two meals into one delicious dish.
Key Ingredients
This throw-together salmon sushi bake recipe has all the flavors of your favorite salmon roll baked into a casserole you can scoop straight out of the dish. Here’s everything you need to make it.
- Rice: Cook white rice, jasmine rice, or sushi rice for the base of the salmon sushi bake recipe.
- Rice Vinegar: Season the rice with kosher salt and rice vinegar.
- Salmon: Broil salmon fillets or substitute with canned salmon, tuna, shredded chicken, or imitation crab.
- Mayonnaise: Kewpie mayonnaise is a sweet and creamy Japanese mayo that perfectly complements the savory salmon and spicy Sriracha. Order it online or visit a local Asian market to explore.
- Toppings: Top the salmon and rice casserole with mayo, Sriracha, unagi sauce, and a sprinkle of furikake seasoning (or togarashi for a bit of heat) before it bakes.
Additions and Substitutions
- Add nori. Incorporate nori sheets into the salmon sushi bake by arranging them on the bottom of the casserole dish before adding the rice.
- Sweeten the rice. Some recipes call for adding white sugar to the rice. Feel free to add 1-2 teaspoons for sweeter rice.
How to Make a Salmon Sushi Bake Recipe
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Cook the sushi rice with rice vinegar and kosher salt in a saucepan (according to the package). Once the liquid absorbs, fluff the rice with a fork, cover with a lid, and set it aside to steam.
Step 2: Preheat the oven to low broil and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Arrange the salmon onto it and broil uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
Step 3: Transfer the cooked salmon to a mixing bowl and use a fork to shred it. Add the mayonnaise and Sriracha, and stir to combine.
Step 4: Press the steamed rice into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish, then spoon the salmon mixture over the rice and smooth it with a silicone spatula.
Step 5: Drizzle Kewpie mayo, Sriracha, and unagi sauce over the top, then sprinkle with furikake seasoning.
Step 6: Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C) and cook for 10-15 minutes. Then, broil on high for 2-3 minutes until bubbling.
If you enjoy the quick dinner idea, try more salmon recipes!
Toppings for Salmon Sushi Bake
Finish the salmon casserole with your favorite toppings, like sliced green onions, avocado slices, fish roe (tobiko), eel sauce (unagi), or a sprinkle of furikake seasoning.
If you like extra heat, add thinly sliced jalapeños or serrano chiles. You can also switch things up with Yum Yum sauce, wasabi aioli, gochujang aioli, or kimchi aioli, a splash of soy sauce or coconut aminos, bonito flakes, or toasted sesame seeds.
Serving Suggestions
This salmon sushi bake recipe is a quick and easy meal you can enjoy on its own or pair with steamed edamame, a warm bowl of miso soup, cucumber carrot salad, or seaweed salad.
It’s also perfect for feeding a crowd. Set it out with fresh vegetables, crackers, or chips so everyone can build their own little bites, and don’t forget the nori sheets so guests can roll up their own grab-and-go hand rolls.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Warm single servings in the microwave for 30 seconds to one minute or in the oven at 350°F (176°C) for 10 minutes.
- Repurpose: Use the leftover sushi bake to make salmon sushi cups. Form nori squares into a muffin tin and top the sheets with the salmon and rice mixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the concept of a sushi bake originate from?
Homestyle sushi casseroles have been a staple at Hawaiian potlucks for years – think poke bowls and spam musubi. Social media creators in the Philippines blew up the dish during the 2020 quarantine, but many credit Mimi Qui Reyes. She has been selling ‘The Original Baked California Roll’ on her Instagram since 2015.
More Quick Dinner Ideas:
Salmon Sushi Bake Recipe
- 2 cups sushi rice, rinsed and cooked according to the package
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 salmon fillets
- 3 tablespoons Kewpie mayonnaise, plus more for topping
- 3 tablespoons Sriracha sauce, plus more for topping
- unagi sauce, for topping
- 2 teaspoons furikake seasoning, for topping
- Cook the sushi rice with rice vinegar and kosher salt in a saucepan (according to the package). Once the liquid absorbs, fluff the rice with a fork, cover with a lid, and set it aside to steam.
- Preheat the oven to low broil and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Arrange the salmon onto it and broil uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
- Transfer the cooked salmon to a mixing bowl and use a fork to shred it. Add the mayonnaise and Sriracha, and stir to combine.
- Press the steamed rice into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish, then spoon the salmon mixture over the rice and smooth it with a silicone spatula.
- Drizzle Kewpie mayo, Sriracha, and unagi sauce over the top, then sprinkle with furikake seasoning.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C) and cook for 10-15 minutes. Then, broil on high for 2-3 minutes until bubbling.
Laura
Monday 13th of February 2023
I made this salmon sushi bake for dinner last night and it was a huge hit with my family! The flavors were so fresh and delicious, and it was so easy to make. We will definitely be making this again soon. Thank you for the great recipe!