Rice Ball Pie with Meat and Cheese Filling | CookOS

Rice Ball Pie

Name: Rice Ball Pie with Meat and Cheese Filling
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground meat; 1 cup frozen peas; 1 onion, chopped; 24 oz marinara sauce; 2 cups cooked rice; 4 large eggs; 8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 32 oz ricotta cheese; 1 cup breadcrumbs; 3 tbsp butter, melted; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs; 3 tbsp butter, sliced into pats

Rice Ball Pie is a savory, layered casserole combining creamy ricotta and mozzarella-bound rice with a seasoned ground meat and pea filling, finished with a golden breadcrumb crust. It's a hearty Italian-American comfort classic built for feeding a crowd.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Rice ball pie 🏷️Casserole 🏷️Baked rice 🏷️Ricotta Mozzarella

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Total

1h 20m

Servings

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$25–$41

Recipe Source

View original recipe

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Ingredients

1 lb ground meat
1 cup frozen peas
1 onion, chopped
24 oz marinara sauce
2 cups cooked rice
4 large eggs
8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
32 oz ricotta cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs
3 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
3 tbsp butter, sliced into pats

13 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
First, prepare the filling by cooking the ground meat with chopped onions. Stir in the peas and marinara sauce and let it simmer.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rice, eggs, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan cheese, and ricotta cheese. Mix until well combined.
3
In a 9x13 inch baking dish, create a crust by mixing the regular breadcrumbs with melted butter and pressing the mixture into the bottom of the dish.
4
Spread half of the rice and cheese mixture evenly over the breadcrumb crust.
5
Gently spoon the meat filling over the rice layer and spread it out evenly, being careful not to mix the layers.
6
Top the meat filling with the remaining rice mixture, spreading it to cover the filling completely.
7
Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs evenly over the top layer of rice.
8
Dot the top of the casserole with pats of butter.
9
Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 45-60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
10
Let the pie rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground meat thoroughly and drain excess fat before mixing with marinara—wet filling will make the casserole soggy.
Mix the rice, ricotta, eggs, and cheeses while the rice is still warm so the cheese melts evenly and binds the mixture.
Press the rice mixture firmly into the pan to create distinct, compact layers that hold together when sliced.
Toast the breadcrumb topping in butter or olive oil before sprinkling over the casserole for better browning and crispness.

Substitutions

Ricotta → cottage cheese (blend until smooth; may be slightly less creamy)
Mozzarella → provolone or fontina (use same weight; flavor will be richer)
Frozen peas → diced carrots or green beans (cook slightly before adding to filling)