Creamy Savory Chicken Bake (Printable)

Savory baked chicken with seasoned rice, cheese, and flavorful toppings in a creamy casserole form.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice

01 - 2 cups sushi rice
02 - 2 1/2 cups water
03 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
05 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Chicken Mixture

06 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
07 - 1/2 cup Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise
08 - 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
09 - 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
11 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Topping & Assembly

12 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons furikake seasoning
14 - 1 avocado, sliced
15 - 1 sheet nori, cut into strips
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - Extra sriracha and mayonnaise for drizzling

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.
02 - Rinse sushi rice under cold water until clear. Combine with water in saucepan, bring to boil, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest covered for 10 minutes.
03 - Mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Gently fold this seasoning into the cooked rice.
04 - In a bowl, mix cooked chicken, mayonnaise, cream cheese, sriracha, soy sauce, and green onions until creamy and fully incorporated.
05 - Spread seasoned rice evenly in prepared dish. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon furikake seasoning over the rice. Layer chicken mixture evenly on top, then add shredded mozzarella and remaining furikake.
06 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
07 - Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Top with avocado slices, nori strips, toasted sesame seeds, and drizzle extra sriracha and mayonnaise as desired.
08 - Serve warm, portioning onto plates or nori sheets.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like your favorite sushi restaurant but comes together in under an hour with zero rolling experience required.
  • You can have it on the table warm and bubbling, which somehow makes people feel more loved than traditional sushi ever did.
  • The flavors are familiar enough for skeptics but exciting enough that everyone asks for seconds.
02 -
  • Never stir the rice after the seasoning goes in—fold it gently from the bottom up, or you'll break the grains and end up with mush instead of individual, glossy pieces.
  • The avocado goes on after baking because heat will turn it into bitter, brown sadness; fresh and cool against the warm casserole is what makes it magic.
  • If your cheese isn't browning after 20 minutes, bump the oven up to 425°F for the last few minutes—every oven is different and sometimes you need that extra kick.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken from the grocery store—it saves 20 minutes of cooking and actually tastes better because it's been slowly roasted, not boiled.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on top; the heat wakes up their nuttiness and makes the whole dish taste more intentional.
Return