By Becky Hardin
Published Dec 22, 2017
These Arancini Balls with Cheese Bacon and Broccoli are so much easier than you might think. This Arancini Recipe is one of our favorite comfort food appetizers! These cheesy fried rice balls (Arancini Balls) are the ultimate starter to any meal at home. So addicting and delicious!
Easy Arancini Balls Recipe
Have you guys ever had arancini balls ? Do you know what arancini is?! Don’t feel bad…I didn’t either. I recently had arincini balls at a restaurant and had to google it when I saw it on the menu!
Basically all you need to know about arancini balls is that they are deep fried, creamy, cheesy rice…that you can dip in marinara sauce and dream about forever. Okay, that may not be the technical definition of arancini, but that’s all that matters! I’m OBSESSED and cannot wait for you to try this amazing arancini recipe so you know what I’m talking about.
These Arancini Balls with Cheese, Bacon, and Broccoli will be your new favorite appetizer!
What is Arancini?
Okay, before you try this Arancini Recipe , let’s get the real answer. What is Arancini?
Arancini Balls are a tradtional Italian dish that has become even more popular in modern Italian cuisine. Arancini are rice balls filled with cheese, meat, tomato sauce, or any number of ingredients. Then the rice balls are covered in bread crumbs and deep fried to create a crispy, warm, delicious little appetizer perfect for dipping.
To spice things up a bit, I put cheese, bacon, and broccoli in this arancini recipe . And of course I added an extra cube of cheddar in the middle for melty amazingness (always need more cheese!). I’m pretty proud of this one. These cheesy broccoli arancini balls are just so addicting. You can make them big and serve as a main course or keep them bite sized for a fun and unique appetizer. Sure to please kids and adults alike!
How do you make Italian Rice Balls (Arincini Balls)?
This arincini recipe is so easy to make!
- Create a rice mixture with broccoli, cheese, and bacon & let chill
- Form 2-inch rice balls with the mixture
- Dip each ball in the flour, then egg, then coat in bread crumbs
- Cook the arancini balls in a large stockpot or dutch oven at 350 degrees
It’s a pretty straight-forward process and fun to make too! See the recipe card for full instructions.
To keep things EXTRA simple (just how I like), I used frozen broccoli in cheese sauce to stuff the arancini balls. Perfect! It creates that creamy texture with literally zero work for you. I know I know, standing ovation.
How have I gone through life without ever having this amazing arancini recipe before now? Thank goodness for the local restaurant that opened my eyes and impressed my appetite. Broccoli Cheese Arancini Balls for the WIN WIN WIN! I can’t wait for you to try them. Be sure to dip in lots of marinara.
What do you serve with arancini balls?
WHERE DO I BEGIN? These little cheesy rice balls are so good, I’d eat them with just about anything. They make a really great appetizer to serve at a party or before your meal.
- Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs
- Easy Stromboli Recipe
- Instant Pot Chicken Bruschetta
- Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe
These arancini balls make a great starter for holiday meals, a great appetizer for tailgating, and a great main course when unique is what you’re after. And let’s just pretend they’re healthy because of the broccoli. MMMM K? I know you’re on my level.
See the recipe card below for full details on how to make Arancini Balls. Enjoy!
If you like these Cheesy Bacon & Broccoli Arancini Balls, try these other deliciously fried foods:
- Fried Mashed Potato Bites
- Fried Brownie Bites
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken
- Oven Fried Chicken
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 cups cooked white rice
- ▢ 1/4 cup cooked bacon crumbles
- ▢ 10 ounce package frozen broccoli in cheese sauce cooked in the microwave according to package instructions
- ▢ 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- ▢ salt and pepper to taste
- ▢ 2 cups white flour
- ▢ 3 eggs
- ▢ 2 cups bread crumbs
- ▢ canola oil for frying
- ▢ marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- In a large bowl stir together the rice, bacon, and broccoli/cheese. Leave the cubed cheese separate. Place in the fridge to chill enough to be able to handle.
- Place flour, eggs, and bread crumbs into three separate small bowls.
- Once rice mixture is chilled, take a small amount and add a cube of cheese to the middle. Keeping the cheese in the middle, top with more rice to create a ball, approximately 2 inches in size. Press together firmly to make sure it holds its shape. Dip into the flour and coat completely. Next coat in egg, using a fork to allow the excess to shake off, then dredge in the bread crumbs, coating completely. lay on a plate and repeat with the rest of the rice. For me I was able to make about 12 balls. You can make whatever size you’d like.
- Heat 3 inches of canola oil in a large stockpot or dutch oven to 350F. Once hot, cook the rice balls in batches until fully browned, approximately 1-2 minutes each.
- Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Bacon Broccoli Cheese Arancini
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup cooked bacon crumbles
- 10 ounce package frozen broccoli in cheese sauce cooked in the microwave according to package instructions
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups white flour
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups bread crumbs
- canola oil for frying
- marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- In a large bowl stir together the rice, bacon, and broccoli/cheese. Leave the cubed cheese separate. Place in the fridge to chill enough to be able to handle.
- Place flour, eggs, and bread crumbs into three separate small bowls.
- Once rice mixture is chilled, take a small amount and add a cube of cheese to the middle. Keeping the cheese in the middle, top with more rice to create a ball, approximately 2 inches in size. Press together firmly to make sure it holds its shape. Dip into the flour and coat completely. Next coat in egg, using a fork to allow the excess to shake off, then dredge in the bread crumbs, coating completely. lay on a plate and repeat with the rest of the rice. For me I was able to make about 12 balls. You can make whatever size you’d like.
- Heat 3 inches of canola oil in a large stockpot or dutch oven to 350F. Once hot, cook the rice balls in batches until fully browned, approximately 1-2 minutes each.
- Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
