If you love sushi but hate the hassle of rolling it, sushi bake salmon is your new best friend. This viral baked sushi casserole recipe combines everything you love about sushi, creamy, savory salmon, fluffy rice, and crispy seaweed in one warm, satisfying, and scoopable dish.
This sushi bake salmon recipe is especially delicious when made with our Chico Rice’s Blonde Milled California Japonica Rice. Why? Because our rice brings a next-level freshness and flavor that most store-bought rice simply can’t match. You’ll taste the difference in every bite.
Whether you’re hosting friends, planning a family dinner, or just craving comfort food with a Japanese twist, this sushi bake with salmon will satisfy your cravings and become a repeat favorite.
What is Sushi Bake Salmon?
A sushi bake salmon is a deconstructed version of sushi that’s layered like a casserole and baked in the oven. The base is made of fluffy seasoned rice, topped with a creamy, savory salmon mixture, and served with nori sheets for scooping. Think of it as comfort food meets sushi night—no rolling required.
Thanks to its easy preparation and crowd-pleasing taste, sushi bake salmon exploded in popularity across social media in 2020 and is still made today! And with good reason—it’s simple, versatile, and incredibly delicious.
Why are Sushi Bake Salmon Dishes So Popular?
Sushi bake salmon shot to fame during the COVID-19 lockdowns, thanks in large part to TikTok. With millions of people stuck at home and turning to social media for entertainment and inspiration, the platform saw a massive surge in use, over 315 million downloads in the first quarter of 2020 alone, making it one of the most downloaded apps in a single quarter.
Among the trending content on TikTok was a niche that quickly gained traction: home cooking and recipe sharing. During a time when creative recipes were shared across the world, the sushi bake became an instant favorite. It was warm, indulgent, and easy to make, perfect for beginners and seasoned home cooks.
Creators began sharing their takes on the baked sushi trend, often using salmon as the protein of choice. The videos were not only visually satisfying but showcased how simple it was to recreate this dish using pantry staples and minimal effort. Viewers were inspired to try it themselves and just like that, the sushi bake salmon became a viral sensation.
Why Use Chico Rice in Your Sushi Bake with Salmon?
Not all rice is created equal. For the best sushi bake salmon, you need rice that delivers on both texture and flavor. Chico Rice’s Blonde Milled Japonica rice is the perfect choice:
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Small Batch Milled for Freshness: Fresh rice = flavorful rice. Chico Rice is milled in small batches and packaged by hand, so you get the freshest possible grain with a naturally sweet, nutty flavor.
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Superior Texture: The lightly polished haiga-mai style preserves much of the nutrition and oil-rich germ of brown rice while delivering the soft, fluffy bite of white rice. It’s ideal for sushi-style dishes.
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Grown with Integrity: Chico Rice is a family-run operation that grows, mills, and packages everything themselves in Northern California. The result? Full transparency, unbeatable quality, and sustainability you can feel good about.
When you make this sushi bake with salmon, don’t settle for bland, lifeless rice. Chico Rice is the ingredient that transforms your baked sushi into something truly special.
Baked Sushi with Salmon: Nutritional Highlights
This sushi bake salmon isn’t just tasty—it’s full of health benefits:
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Salmon: A great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health.
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Chico Rice: Retains the germ layer for added vitamins and minerals, with better digestion and blood sugar control than plain white rice.
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Seaweed (Nori): Contains iodine and essential minerals for thyroid function.
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Avocado (optional): Packed with healthy fats and fiber.
Learn more about Chico Rice’s California Blonde Japonica Rice, nutrition facts, and health benefits in our blog!
Serving Ideas for Your Sushi Bake Salmon
Turn your sushi bake salmon into a full meal with these delicious add-ons:
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Side of Miso Soup: Light and warming, balances the richness of the bake.
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Cucumber Salad: Adds crunch and contrast.
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Pickled Ginger: A nod to traditional sushi flavor pairings.
Hosting a party? Double the recipe and bake it in a 9x13-inch dish. Set up a DIY station with toppings and let everyone scoop their own onto nori.
Sushi Bake Salmon Alternatives: Other Proteins to Try
While salmon is a classic and delicious choice for your sushi bake, it’s far from the only option. One of the best things about baked sushi is how flexible it is. You can easily swap in other proteins or mix-ins based on what you have on hand or what your guests prefer.
Here are some tasty alternatives to salmon for your sushi bake with salmon (or without!):
Imitation Crab (Kani)
A favorite in California rolls, imitation crab is budget-friendly, easy to find, and has a naturally sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with creamy mayo and sriracha. It also shreds easily, making it easy to spread over your rice layer.
Canned Tuna
Affordable, protein-packed, and always in the pantry, canned tuna is one of the easiest substitutes. Just drain it well and mix it with your creamy base. Add chopped pickles or cucumbers for extra crunch.
Shrimp
Chop up cooked shrimp (or use pre-cooked cocktail shrimp) for a sweet, meaty texture that holds up beautifully in a baked sushi casserole. For extra flavor, toss the shrimp in garlic butter or soy sauce before layering.
Cooked Chicken
Not into seafood? No problem. Cooked, shredded chicken is a great neutral base for a sushi bake. Use a similar mayo-sriracha mixture and add sesame oil or a dash of teriyaki sauce to give it an umami kick.
Tofu or Tempeh (Vegetarian Option)
For a plant-based sushi bake with salmon-like flair, try crumbled tofu or sliced tempeh. Marinate it in soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil before baking to boost flavor. You’ll still get that warm, comforting, protein-packed result—just without the fish.
How to Store and Reheat Your Sushi Bake Salmon
Leftovers? We are surprised!
To Store: Let the sushi bake salmon cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Bake at 350°F until warmed through, or microwave individual servings for 1-2 minutes. Add a splash of water before reheating to prevent drying out.
Sushi Bake Salmon Recipe
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 35 Minutes
Servings: 3
*This time does not include rice and salmon cook time.
What You Will Need:
For the Rice Base:
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2 cups cooked Chico Rice Blonde Milled Japonica Rice
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2 tablespoons rice vinegar
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1 tablespoon sugar
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1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Salmon Layer:
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1 lb cooked salmon (baked or air-fried and flaked)
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1/3 cup Kewpie mayo (or regular mayo)
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2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
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1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust to spice preference)
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1 tablespoon soy sauce
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1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
Optional Toppings:
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Chopped green onions
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Furikake (Japanese rice seasoning)
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Extra sriracha or spicy mayo drizzle
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Sliced avocado or cucumbers
For Serving:
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Nori seaweed snack sheets (to scoop and wrap bites)
Cooking Instructions
1: Prepare 2 cups of Chico Rice Blonde Milled Japonica using your preferred method (stovetop or rice cooker). Once cooked, gently mix in rice vinegar, sugar, and salt while the rice is still warm. Set aside.
2: In a large bowl, combine flaked salmon, Kewpie mayo, cream cheese, sriracha, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Mix until creamy and fully incorporated.
3: In an 8x8-inch baking dish, press the seasoned rice evenly along the bottom. Sprinkle with furikake if desired. Then spread the creamy salmon mixture over the rice.
4: Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes until heated through and lightly golden on top.
5: Sprinkle with green onions, more furikake, and siracha mayo. Serve hot with nori sheets for scooping.
Try This Sushi Bake Salmon Recipe Today!
There’s a reason sushi bake salmon has become a viral favorite—it’s incredibly easy, customizable, and packed with flavor. And when made with Chico Rice, it reaches a whole new level of freshness and nutrition.
Say goodbye to stale, flavorless rice and hello to a baked sushi dish that’s as satisfying as it is simple.
Ready to elevate your dinner routine? Try this sushi bake salmon tonight and taste the Chico Rice difference.
