Sushi Bake
Sushi Bake is a popular sushi recipe that was made viral on the internet. It's like a deconstructed sushi roll that's layered, baked and cut up. You can top the sushi bake with your favorite sauces, toppings like avocados, green onions, sesame seeds and more! Easy, TASTY and So satisfying when you crave sushi!
Ingredients
Seafood
- 2 Tuna Steaks Cut into half inch cubes
Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons Mayonnaise Kewpie is best
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
Assembly
- 2 cups cooked sushi rice cold or room temperature
- 2-3 seaweed sheets Depending on their size
- 2 avocados sliced
Toppings
- 1 avocado sliced
- 2 green onions minced
- 1 cucumber small cucumber, diced
- 2 tablespoons Sesame seeds toasted or white
- 1/4 cup Spicy Mayo Recipe HERE
Instructions
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You'll start by cutting the sushi grade salmon or tuna into half an inch cubes and toss it in a large bowl. Add to it the marinade ingredients which is similar to a spicy mayo sauce. Coat the fish well and set aside.
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Use an 8 inch or 9 inch square pan for the sushi bake, and spray the bottom with oil spray. You can likewise just brush it lightly with a layer of oil.
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Now start layering the sushi rice as the first layer for the sushi bake. Press it down evenly at the bottom of your square pan over the oil. You'll need about 3/4 th of an inch height layer of rice.
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Add the seaweed right over the pressed sushi rice and press it down. You may need to adjust for extra seaweed sheets, so cut it up and stick them together over the rice to cover the surface.
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A thin layer of sliced avocados goes on top of the seaweed. While you can skip this layer, we love the texture it adds to our sushi bake.
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Then the final layer is the marinated chunks of salmon or tuna. Spread that evenly over the avocado slices in the baking pan.
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Now bake the sushi casserole for 16-18 minutes until the salmon or tuna has cooked on the top.
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At that point the sushi bake is ready! You can serve it and enjoy it as is , or garnish it as we have.
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You'll flip the sushi bake pan upside down to remove the whole bake from the pan one go. So flip the pan on a large cutting board and then re-flip the whole bake on to the serving plate or board. Now garnish :)
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We added thinly sliced avocados, some of our AWESOME homemade Spicy Mayo, green onions sliced, diced cucumbers and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. SUSHI PERFECTION!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
How to Serve Sushi Bake
Traditionally, some love to eat sushi like a taco. So scooping up the sushi bake with some seaweed chips and enjoying them--SO GOOD! We love simply cutting them into squares and enjoying them as a fancy sushi cake slice!
Pro Tips for Sushi Bake
- Use Cold or Slightly Chilled Seafood . This prevents overcooking.
- Press Rice Firmly . This ensures clean slices and structure.
- Spread Toppings Evenly. This guarantees every bite has balanced flavor.
- Bake Just Until Bubbly . Over baking dries the seafood.
- Add Crunch at the End. This prevents burning of panko or sesame seeds.
- Cut with a Wet, Sharp Knife . This is key to clean, presentation ready slices.
- Serve Immediately. This is BEST to maintain the contrast between warm rice and creamy topping.
Sushi Bake Variations
- Spicy Crab Sushi Bake. The social media favorite. Crab, Spicy Mayo similar to our Crab Sushi.
- Salmon & Avocado Sushi Bake. Creamy, buttery flavor.
- Shrimp Sushi Bake. Slightly spicy, great for parties.
- Vegetarian Sushi Bake. Roasted veggies, avocado, mushrooms.
- Luxury Sushi Bake. Use lobster, scallops, or uni for upscale entertaining.
- California roll. Use imitation Crab, avocados and cucumbers.
- Seafood Variations. Salmon makes a great substitute here, along with shrimp (cooked), some imitation crab or real crab meat, scallops, and better off: a mix of seafood.
- Filling Variations. Layering the sushi casserole is completely a versatile process. You can add in some green onions, mango, eel, cooked seafood like shrimp, some tempura veggies and more.
- Topping Variations. We love cucumbers, avocados, green onions and sesame along with our viral recipe for Spicy Mayo. Add pickled ginger here, and whatever more or less to your taste.
- Sauces and Toppings. Spicy Mayo is a star sauce which I think is irreplaceable, however you can add in some wasabi for a twsit! Wasabi sauce is fabulous, Thai style Peanut Dressing is great or those Rice Paper Rolls- Two Dipping Sauces.
Can you make Crockpot Sushi Bake?
While I haven't personally tested this, I can imagine it would work. You would use the crockpot as your baking dish, and assemble directly on it. You will miss out on the golden crunch tops of the oven, but it should cook nonetheless.
Storage & Make Ahead
- Prep Ahead: Assemble rice and protein layers up to 24 hours in advance.
- Reheat: Bake briefly before serving to refresh topping. Avoid microwave to preserve texture.
- Leftovers: Best eaten same day; refrigerate airtight and re-bake topping if needed.
How to Store Leftovers?
Once the sushi bake has cooled to room temperature , you'll put it in a sealed container. Place the container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, you can totally microwave it, or air fry at 350 degrees for 3 minutes. We absolutely prefer the air fryer method.
Can I use raw fish?
Yes, sushi grade seafood is ideal, but avoid over baking.
How long does it take to make?
Preparation time is between 15-20 minutes while bake time is between 10–15 minutes.
Can it be vegetarian?
Absolutely yes! Replace seafood with roasted vegetables or avocado.
Can sushi bake be made ahead?
You can prepare the toppings, fillings and sushi rice 1 day in advance. Assemble the layers up to 24 hours ahead; bake before serving.
Why is it called sushi bake?
It’s a deconstructed, baked version of sushi rolls popularized in Japanese American cuisine.
Is it authentic Japanese?
No, it’s a Japanese American creation inspired by traditional sushi flavors but served warm and deconstructed.