When pizza night meets comfort food, magic happens—enter our Pizzaiola Rice, or Pizza Rice Bake. This dish combines the irresistible flavors of a classic pizza with the coziness of a rice casserole.
The Test Kitchen swears by par-boiled long-grain rice, which stays fluffy and perfectly separated, soaking up the buttery marinara broth without turning gummy. Parmesan adds richness, while the golden brown layer of melty mozzarella and crisp pepperoni delivers the full pizza effect.
The result? A hearty bake that’s savory, saucy, and, according to our recipe testers, “might be better than pizza itself.”
Ingredients
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cooking spray
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
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1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
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1 1/2 cups uncooked parboiled long-grain white rice
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2 1/4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
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1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
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1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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2 cups marinara sauce, divided
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1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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15 pepperoni slices
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1 cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
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torn fresh basil leaves
Directions
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Gather all Ingredients. Spray an 8-inch broiler-safe baking dish with cooking spray, and set aside.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring often, until garlic is lightly browned and aromatic, about 1 minute. Add rice, and cook, stirring occasionally until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Stir in stock, salt, pepper, and 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, stirring every few minutes, until rice is almost fully cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C);
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Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan cheese and remaining 1/2 cup marinara, until evenly combined.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Transfer rice mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Top evenly with pepperoni and mozzarella.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. With baking dish still in the oven, increase oven temperature to broil; broil until cheese is just golden brown, 2 to 5 more minutes.
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Remove from the oven and garnish with basil.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 275 | Calories |
| 13g | Fat |
| 29g | Carbs |
| 11g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 6 | |
| Calories 275 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 13g | 16% |
| Saturated Fat 6g | 32% |
| Cholesterol 33mg | 11% |
| Sodium 800mg | 35% |
| Total Carbohydrate 29g | 10% |
| Dietary Fiber 5g | 17% |
| Total Sugars 7g | |
| Protein 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin C 4mg | 5% |
| Calcium 221mg | 17% |
| Iron 2mg | 10% |
| Potassium 476mg | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
