Sushi in casserole form? Yes, it’s possible! This salmon sushi bake is the comfort food you didn't know you needed until now. Baked salmon is combined with sushi rice and a creamy sauce for a delicious dinner!

Overhead view of salmon sushi bake in baking dish with sliced cucumbers and green onions for garnish

Salmon sushi bake is a unique dish that’s kind of like a deconstructed sushi roll—but instead of raw fish, the salmon is cooked. Basically, this is the perfect recipe for anyone who likes the idea of sushi, but isn’t a fan of raw seafood!

While there are different variations, sushi bake typically consists of layers of seasoned sushi rice, flaked salmon, and toppings like nori and sesame seeds. The entire dish is then baked until hot and bubbly, like a sushi casserole.

Intrigued? Keep reading to find out how to make it!

Salmon sushi bake on plate with sliced cucumbers, nori, and green onions

Why You’ll Love This Salmon Sushi Bake Recipe

A creative twist on traditional sushi. This dish has the flavors of traditional sushi, in an entirely different form. Who knew you could make sushi into a comfort food casserole?!
Make it your own. Salmon sushi bake can be easily customized with your favorite toppings and flavors. I share some ideas below too!
No rolling needed. Assembling sushi at home can be a challenge, but with this salmon sushi bake, you just layer everything in a casserole dish. Easy!

Overhead view of ingredients for salmon sushi bake

What You’ll Need

Here are all of the ingredients you’ll need when making this salmon sushi bake recipe. Make sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact quantities for each ingredient.

For the Sushi Rice:

Sushi rice
Water – Use the amount indicated on the package of sushi rice.
Rice vinegar – You can use regular rice vinegar or seasoned; if you use seasoned, omit the sugar.
Sugar
Salt

Salmon Mix:

Salmon – Remove the skin.
Coconut aminos or soy sauce – Using coconut aminos (or liquid aminos or tamari) will make this recipe gluten-free.
Garlic powder
Cream cheese – Use the kind that comes in a block and let it soften to room temperature.
Japanese mayonnaise – Kewpie is the most common brand of Japanese mayo. You can find it at most Asian markets.
Coconut aminos or soy sauce
Sweet chili sauce
Chili flakes – Feel free to adjust the amount according to your desired heat level.
Salt

Toppings:

Sesame seeds – Black, white, or a mix of the two.
Nori sheets – I recommend cutting it into pieces for easier serving.
Sliced cucumber
Sliced avocado and green onions – Or any other toppings you like on your sushi, like wasabi or ginger.

What Makes Sushi Rice Different From Regular Rice?

Sushi rice, also known as “sumeshi,” is a short-grain variety of rice that is specifically used in sushi making. It has a sticky texture and slightly sweet flavor, which makes it perfect for rolling into sushi rolls or using as a base for dishes like this salmon sushi bake.

How to Make Salmon Sushi Bake

Overhead view of sushi rice in pot with water

Overhead view of vinegar mixture in pan with whisk

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Rinse the sushi rice until the water runs clear.
Cook the rice. Add the rice to a pot of water. Cover the pot and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
Mix the vinegar and seasonings. Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, and salt and warm in a small pot set over low heat until the sugar and salt dissolve. Pour the mixture over the cooked rice and stir to combine.

Overhead view of flaked salmon with mayo and other sushi ingredients

Cook the salmon. Combine the coconut aminos or soy sauce with the garlic powder in a small bowl. Rub the mixture over the fish, then bake the salmon for 15 to 20 minutes.
Make the creamy salmon mixture. Mash the salmon in a bowl with a fork. Stir in the cream cheese, mayonnaise, coconut aminos, sweet chili sauce, chili flakes, and salt.

Assemble the Salmon Sushi Bake:

Overhead view of hands pressing sushi rice in casserole dish

Overhead view of spoon spreading salmon layer on sushi bake

Add the rice. Transfer the rice to a square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Dip your hands in cold water and gently press the rice into an even layer.
Add the salmon. Spread the salmon mixture evenly over the rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. For the last 5 minutes, turn on the broiler to caramelize the top.
Serve. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before topping with sesame seeds, cucumber, chopped nori, coconut aminos, and any other garnishes you choose.

Overhead view of salmon sushi bake in baking dish

Tips for Success

Make use of leftovers. To save time, you can use pre-made sushi rice or leftover rice from a previous meal.
Let the rice cool. Make sure to let the rice cool slightly before assembling the sushi bake. This will make it easier to work with and prevent your hands from getting sticky.
Don't over-bake the salmon. When it’s done cooking, it will easily flake when you press into it with a fork.
Keep an eye on it while broiling. Broilers can vary from one oven to the next, so to keep your salmon sushi bake from burning, keep a close eye on it while the broiler is on.

Variations

Swap out the sushi rice. If you don't have sushi rice, you can use regular short-grain rice or even cooked quinoa as a substitute.
Make it vegetarian. To make this dish without fish, you can replace the salmon with Korean tofu or your favorite sushi vegetables like sweet potato or asparagus.
Use another fish. Feel free to swap another baked fish in this recipe. You can also swap in canned salmon or crab for a shortcut and skip baking the fish.

How to Store Leftovers

If you have any leftover salmon sushi bake, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, simply place it back into the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through, or microwave it.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

Mayonnaise doesn’t freeze and reheat well, so I don’t recommend freezing this salmon sushi bake recipe.

More Seafood Recipes to Try

Salmon sushi bake on plate with sliced cucumbers and green onions

Prep: 10

Cook: 35

Total: 45

Ingredients

For the Sushi Rice

1 cups sushi rice
1 ½ cups water or use the amount according to package instructions
4 tablespoon rice vinegar (alternatively use seasoned rice vinegar)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Salmon Mix

1 – 1.5 pound salmon skin removed
1 tablespoon coconut aminos or soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons softened cream cheese
2 tablespoons Japanese mayonnaise
2 tablespoons coconut aminos or soy sauce
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
¼ teaspoon chili flakes
¼ teaspoon salt

Toppings

2 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 nori sheets (cut into pieces)
Sliced cucumber
You can also use sliced avocado and green onions

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Rinse 1 cup sushi rice until the water runs clear. Then add it to a pot with 1 1/2 cups of water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes until all the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
In a small pot, whisk together your vinegar, sugar, salt and warm over minimal heat until sugar and salt dissolve. Pour on your cooked rice and mix.
Combine the 2 tablespoons coconut aminos or soy sauce and garlic powder in a bowl and rub over the fish. Bake the salmon for 15-20 minutes, depending on thickness.
After the salmon is cooked, transfer it to a bowl and mash with a fork. Add to a bowl cream cheese, mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons coconut aminos, sweet chili sauce, chili flakes and salt. Combine together until evenly mixed.

Assemble the sushi bake:

Spray baking pan (9*9 inch) with oil spray. Transfer the rice to the pan, dip your hands in cold water and gently press rice into the pan. Next spread the salmon mixture evenly on top of the rice. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds.
Bake for 15 minutes. For the last 5 minutes turn on the broiler to caramelize the top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Top with more sesame seeds and cucumber, chopped nori and more coconut aminos to taste.

Nutrition

cuisine: Asian

course: Dinner

Salmon Sushi Bake

Why You’ll Love This Salmon Sushi Bake Recipe