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  • Hi, I'm Vicky, the founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family-friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find them at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

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    Home » Italian Recipes

    Cheesy Italian Arancini Balls {Italian Rice Balls}

    Published: May 24, 2021 · Modified: Jul 29, 2022 by Vicky · This post contains affiliate links.

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    Growing up in an Italian family, Sicilian arancini balls were a typical dinner dish. They are breaded, fried balls of rice and cheese. Some people add different ingredients to arancini balls, for instance, my aunt added peas which I was not a fan of. Making Italian fried rice balls can be time consuming because of work involved in making the rice. But I recently discovered a cool shortcut that makes easy arancini in a fraction of the time. Read along to find out how to cook arancini.

    Rice balls make a great side dish or appetizer. They are filled w/ rice & cheese and fried until crisp. They're ready in less than 30 minutes
    Jump to:
    • What are arancini balls
    • Ingredients
    • How do you make rice balls
    • How to fry arancini rice balls
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Related Recipes

    What are arancini balls

    They are a delicious meal that hails from Sicily and are made from cooked rice and cheese (sometimes other fillings). The ingredients are rolled into balls, dredged in breadcrumbs, and fried.

    Typically, arancini di riso (rice balls) are made with white rice which can be time consuming. My secret to easy arancini is to use a quick cooking rice. It really cuts down on the cooking time. You can also use leftover rice to save time.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make arancini balls
    • white rice
    • Parmesan cheese or parmigiano reggiano
    • shredded mozzarella
    • eggs
    • kosher salt
    • black pepper
    • oregano
    • seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
    • vegetable oil
    • marinara sauce

    How do you make rice balls

    The process of making this arancini balls recipe could not be easier. Cook your rice according to package directions in a large pot.

    rice in a pot

    When the rice is ready, put it in a large bowl and add an egg, some of the breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix until thoroughly combined.

    seasoned rice for rice balls

    Use your hands to form into small balls. I actually made various sized rice balls. When I was a kid my family made large rice balls. If you went to the local pizzerias in the Italian neighborhood where I grew up, the arancini balls were huge - larger than a baseball! These days I see rice balls are made much smaller, so make whatever size you prefer.

    You can also use an ice cream scoop to form the rice balls.

    Beat two eggs in a shallow bowl and dip the formed rice balls in the egg.

    rice ball dipped in egg

    Next, roll around in the bread crumbs until the ball is completely covered.

    arancini dipped in egg and bread crumbs

    How to fry arancini rice balls

    Place the oil in a pot so that when the arancini are added, the oil will cover or nearly cover them. You can also use a deep saucepan. Heat oil until it is 350 degrees. Using a slotted spoon, drop in balls in batches of four until they are cooked through and the outside has turned a deep golden brown. You can also cook these in a deep fryer.

    frying rice balls in oil

    When you are done deep frying, remove the arancini balls from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. If you'd like, you can warm up some marinara sauce for dipping and serve the sauce with the rice balls.

    When you open up the deep fried arancini, you will see all the rice and cheesy goodness inside.

    open arancini with cheese inside

    These arancini rice balls make a great side dish or appetizer. You can also experiment with the ingredients inside. I think bits of cut of salami or pepperoni would taste delicious mixed with the rice. Some make these arancini bites with leftover risotto

    If you are looking to make your rice balls arancini a little healthier, check out this Cauliflower Arancini from Kirbie's Cravings.

    I know you have more important things to do than meal planning. Let someone else do it for you with Eat At Home Meal Plans. Monthly, quarterly and annual plans are available.

    arancini balls on a platter

    📖 Recipe

    cropped-arancini-balls.jpg

    Arancini Balls

    Rice balls make a great side dish or appetizer. They are filled with rice and cheese and fried until crisp. They are ready in less than 30 minutes! You must try this recipe for arancini.
    4.60 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 1472kcal
    Author: Vicky

    Equipment

    • Deep Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups quick cook rice cooked
    • ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
    • 1 cup mozzarella
    • 3 eggs 1 for rice mixture and 2 beaten for coating the rice balls

    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • dash pepper
    • ½ teaspoon oregano
    • ¾ cup breadcrumbs use ¼ cup of breadcrumbs in rice mixture and ½ cup to bread the rice balls

    • 2 cups oil for frying
    • marinara sauce for dipping

    Instructions

    • Prepare the quick cook rice according to package directions.
    • When the rice is ready, allow it to cool and then put it in a large bowl and stir in 1 egg, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, ⅛ teaspoon salt, dash of pepper, ½ teaspoon of oregano, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix until thoroughly combined.

    • Use your hands to form into small balls.

    • Beat two eggs in a bowl and dip the formed rice balls in the egg.  Roll the rice balls around in the bread crumbs until they are completely covered.



    • Place the oil in a pan so that when the arancini are added, the oil will cover or nearly cover them. Heat oil until it is 350 degrees. Using a slotted spoon, drop in balls in batches of four until they are cooked through and the outside has turned a deep golden brown.

    • Remove the arancini balls from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. If you'd like, you can warm up some marinara sauce for dipping and serve the sauce with the rice balls.

    Video

    Notes

    Please note the calorie and fat content listed in the nutritional information is much higher than it actually is since the program I am using is counting the total oil used for frying, not just the oil that is absorbed into the arancini.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8g | Calories: 1472kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 125g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 550mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 421IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 289mg | Iron: 6mg
    Try this Recipe! Pin it for Later.Mention @vickycat or tag #messforless!

    Please note the calorie and fat content listed in the nutritional information is much higher than it actually is since the program I am using is counting the total oil used for frying, not just the oil that is absorbed into the arancini.

    This nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using online calculators. Your nutritional information may vary depending on numerous factors.

    Frequently asked questions

    What are arancini balls made out of?

    There are many varieties of Arancini, but traditionally they are made out of rice, mozzarella cheese, dipped in breadcrumbs and fried to a golden brown.

    What do you serve with arancini?

    They work well with any Italian dish. I like to serve with chicken parm, or a pasta dish for an all out carb fest!

    How long can you store rice balls in the refrigerator?

    You can refrigerate them for up to 3 days.

    Can you freeze fried arancini balls?

    You can freeze these by wrapping them in plastic wrap and placing in a container. They can remain in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Can you reheat arancini?

    You can reheat these in the microwave for a few minutes.

    How can I get the rice to stick together?

    The egg and breadcrumbs should hold the rice balls together. If you still have problems, you can place the balls into the refrigerator or freezer for about 10 minutes so they can firm up and stay together when placed in the oil.

    Related Recipes

    Creamy Gnocchi with Tomatoes

    Baked Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

    Chicken and Rice Casserole

    Cheesy Italian Arancini Balls {Italian Rice Balls}
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cathy

      September 30, 2022 at 12:01 pm

      5 stars
      The was very good, I never made them like that, I usually make them same ingredients as you, except I put in ricotta and mozzarella and grated cheese plus but these was good 👍🏻 considering , thanks 😊

    2. Sara Welch

      May 24, 2021 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      I had never given these a try until now and I am so glad I did! They were so tasty with the perfect crunch; an excellent side dish; my whole family loved them!

    3. Sue

      May 24, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      Cheesy rice - what perfect kid food this is! I have some leftover rice and I'm going to try this tonight! Thanks!

    4. Angela

      May 24, 2021 at 1:28 pm

      5 stars
      I grew up eating Arancini Balls... they are a favorite of mine! Your recipe is spot on with flavors and texture. Thanks for the great recipe.

    5. Serena

      May 24, 2021 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      We love arancini at my house. This is such a simple and quick recipe. I can't wait to give it a try. Yum!

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    Hi, I'm Vicky, the founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family-friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find them at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

    Valentine's Day Activities and Recipes

    • Valentine’s Dessert Cheese Ball
    • Valentine's Brownie Cake Pops
    • Valentine's Chocolate Covered Pretzels
    • Valentine Ideas for Kids - Glitter Hearts

    Winter Activities

    • Q-Tip Painted Snowman Craft
    • Winter Shaving Cream Paint
    • Pinecone Snowman Craft
    • Melted Snowman Craft

    Popular Recipes

    • Crack Chicken Casserole
    • Overnight Egg Casserole
    • Toasted Italian Sandwich - Food Fun Friday
    • Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake

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