Pizza Rice Recipe

When you think of pizza, rice isn’t something you’d think that complements it. You’ll be reminded of round, or sometimes even square, pieces of dough topped with delicious sauce, meaty toppings, and cheese. Despite pepperoni being a popular and usual topping, pizza is an extremely versatile dish that has countless recipes and is almost always present in recipe videos. Despite its versatility though, rice seemed to be an out-of-place ingredient for this well-loved dish. 

While it may appear to be an unconventional pizza ingredient, rice can definitely add a unique touch to the recipe. Pizza rice is delicious, requires little effort to make, and can quickly become a family favorite. Learn how to make this recipe by reading more below.

How To Make Pizza Rice

This simple pizza rice dish, despite containing plenty of cheese and pepperoni, only contains 6 grams of saturated fat per serving, perfect for when you want to eat a light meal. It can even work as a side dish. In this recipe, marinara sauce, olive oil, vegetable broth, and oregano are mixed and cooked with the rice until the mixture is creamy. It is then topped with cheese and pepperoni before being baked to achieve that slightly gooey texture.

• Prep Time: 10 Minutes 
• Cooking Time: 20 Minutes 
• Yield: 3 Servings
• Nutrition Facts: 420 Calories per Serving

Ingredients:

• 2 cups arborio rice
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 2 cups marinara sauce or pizza sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Red pepper flakes
• Mini pepperoni slices
• Basil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large ovenproof skillet or pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and onions and cook for 6 minutes, or until the onion is transparent.

2. Add rice. Cook and stir constantly until the rice begins to become transparent but not brown for about 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add the marinara or pizza sauce and stir well. Add oregano, red pepper flakes (optional), and broth to the mixture. Bring to a medium boil, cover with a lid, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes. Reduce heat and stir occasionally until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed by the grains. Add salt and pepper to taste.
   
4. Meanwhile, preheat the oven. Remove pan from heat and cover with shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, and basil. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown. Serve the pepperoni pizza rice right away.

Cooking Tips

In this recipe, turkey, bacon, or ground beef can be substituted for the standard pepperoni. You can add the meat before you stir the rice. When adding meat, cook using medium-high heat at the beginning and ensure the meat is no longer pink when the rice is finally added.

If arborio is unavailable, you can use any type of white rice.

You can also use tomato sauce in place of marinara or pizza sauce.

Aside from mozzarella, you can also experiment with other types of cheese for different flavors. Add ingredients that you think will suit you and your household’s taste.

You can add grilled chicken as a topping instead of basil and pepperoni if you want to cut some cooking time from the recipe.

Final Note

While it may seem unconventional, Pizza Rice is a must-try, particularly if your household enjoys pizza recipes. It’s great for a midday snack or a light dinner, and be prepared using only one large skillet.

For more rice recipes, you can check out our site.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you use rice flour to make pizza dough?

Rice flour is actually a great ingredient to use in making dough if you’re aiming to make a gluten-free pizza. You only need to substitute the flour that you’re using for your pizza dough with rice flour. After the dough is done, you can add all your standard toppings such as pepperoni and sauce before baking it in the oven.

How do you make pizza dough with brown rice flour?

To make dough using brown rice flour, simply substitute your white rice flour with the former.