This Italian Arancini Fried Cheese Balls Recipe is an easy snacks recipe and the BEST finger food recipe ever!
Our Fried Cheese Balls are the best easy appetizer recipe and perfect for Game Day Recipes, Football Party Food, afterschool kids snacks and more!
Easy Fried Cheese Balls Recipe
Aside from travel, food is my thing. I think it's mostly because each new bite takes you on a bit of an adventure. Can't make it to Chicago for St. Patty's Day and watch the river go green? The next best thing is to grab yourself a real Chi-Town hot dog and take a bite. A weekend trip to Vietnam not exactly in your budget?
No worries, a steaming bowl of Pho can bring the taste of Vietnam right to you! When fond memories of walking down quiet Roman alleyways find me browsing through my travel photos, pining for vacation days past, I look to Italian food to make me feel like I am there again - without the steep airfare.
Italian Arancini Fried Cheese Balls Recipe
Typically, Fried Cheese Balls are made from risotto. But with non-stop travel this month and a schedule so full that I am running out of room on my daily agenda, I'm pulling out my Minute® Rice and calling it a legit substitute.
It's that time of year and I bet that most of you are dealing with the same holiday-madness that we are over here! This Fried Cheese Balls Recipe, made with Minute® Rice, makes a perfect party appetizer as well as a great meal all on their own.
The holiday parties are in full swing, that famous "Super" Football Sunday is fast approaching and sometimes, a girl just wants a taste of Italy. Whatever the case is in your own home, I have ya covered with this super easy Fried Cheese Balls recipe - and I guarantee you that the kids will love it!
Are you looking for other Appetizer Recipes like my Easy Fried Cheese Balls Recipe?
I love making easy snacks and appetizers, like our favorite Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms recipe! Check out some of our most recent appetizer and finger food snacks like these Italian Arancini Fried Cheese Balls!
- Easy and Crispy Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Chicken Salad with Grapes
- Loaded Tater Tot Skewers
- Spinach Artichoke Wontons
How to Make this Italian Arancini Easy Fried Cheese Balls Recipe
Ingredients you will need to make our Fried Cheese Balls
- 2 Cups Cooked Minute® Rice White Rice
- ½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 3 Eggs
- Cubed Mozzarella I used ½ inch pieces of cut up string cheese
- ½ Cup Italian Breadcrumbs
- ½ Cup Panko
- Oil for frying
- Marinara Sauce for dipping
Instructions for how to make Fried Cheese Balls
Pour enough oil to fill heavy-bottomed pot about 5 inches. Heat over medium flame until oil is *375.
In large mixing bowl, combine the rice, Parmesan and 1 egg. Get in there and use your hands like grandma did to completely combine mixture.
Grab enough mixture to form a cheesy rice ball about the size of a ping pong ball. Tuck a cube of mozzarella in the middle.
The trick here is to squeeze it good and firm. If you don't you will end up with fried goop.
No one wants that. Repeat until all mix is used. This should make about 8-10 cheesy rice balls.
In shallow dish, mix Panko and breadcrumbs together. Set aside. In small bowl, whisk those last 2 eggs. Dip each rice ball in the eggs and then roll them in the Panko.
Your oil should have reached *375 degrees F by now. Carefully slide 3 of the panko coated rice balls to the pot.
Fry them until golden brown (about 2 minutes) Use a slotted spoon to remove from oil and place on paper towel lined plate. Toss on a pinch of salt. Continue to slide, fry, drain until all cheesy rice balls are fried.
Serve with warm marinara sauce. ENJOY!
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To print this Homemade Arancini Fried Cheese Balls Recipe, simply click the recipe card below!
I know that many people still like to print out recipes and keep them in a recipe binder, or simply have the printed recipe sitting in front of them when it comes time to cook! You can also email this recipe!
I can't wait for you to try this Cheesy Rice Balls Recipe!
Fried Cheese Balls
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Cooked Minute® Rice White Rice
- ½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 3 Eggs
- Cubed Mozzarella I used ½ inch pieces of cut up string cheese
- ½ Cup Italian Breadcrumbs
- ½ Cup Panko
- Oil for frying
- Marinara Sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Pour enough oil to fill heavy-bottomed pot about 5 inches. Heat over medium flame until oil is *375 degrees F.
- In large mixing bowl, combine the rice, Parmesan and 1 egg. Get in there and use your hands like grandma did to completely combine mixture. Grab enough mixture to form a cheesy rice ball about the size of a ping pong ball. Tuck a cube of mozzarella in the middle. The trick here is to squeeze it good and firm. If you don't you will end up with fried goop. No one wants that. Repeat until all mix is used. This should make about 8-10 cheesy rice balls.
- In shallow dish, mix Panko and breadcrumbs together. Set aside. In small bowl, whisk those last 2 eggs. Dip each rice ball in the eggs and then roll them in the Panko.
- Your oil should have reached *375 by now. Carefully slide 3 of the panko coated rice balls to the pot. Fry them until golden brown (about 2 minutes) Use a slotted spoon to remove from oil and place on paper towel lined plate. Toss on a pinch of salt. Continue to slide, fry, drain until all cheesy rice balls are fried.
See! How easy was that to grab a quick bite of Italy? Minute® Rice 100% Whole Grain Brown Rice is a yummy and nutritious option too.
It has the same nutritional value as regular long cooking brown rice, but is ready in just 10 minutes. Both Minute® Brown and White Rice are gluten free, too.
There's also the new Minute® Multi-Grain Medley, which is a blend of four gluten-free foods and made with 100% whole grains, including long grain brown rice, Thai red rice, wild rice and quinoa. It also takes only 10 minutes to cook!
There are so many different things you can do with Minute® Rice! Between Minute® White Rice, Minute® Whole Grain Brown Rice, Minute ® Multi-Grain Medley and Minute® Ready to Serve Rice products.
You can make everything from rice pudding to Aros Con Pollo (that's Chicken and Rice for you non-Miami folk), to casseroles and easy side dishes, the possibilities are endless - and super quick - with Minute® Rice!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Rice.
Lori Gunn says
My sis always says easy peasy and the easy cheesy rice balls recipe above falls right in line with simple to do with fantastic results. I can't wait to try this Minute Rice delight!
Karen Glatt says
These Ceesy Rice balls look so delicious and my family would love for me to make these. Thanks for the recipe! I like how cute they are.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
That is an awesome snack. I need to make these!
Rachel says
OH MY YUM!! This recipe is making my mouth water! delicious! I can not wait to try this.
Pam says
These sound wonderful and something I know that would go over well in our house. I will have to make these for one of our parties we are having in the next few weeks.
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs says
I'm all for quickie recipes! Love that this has rice to make it a bit more substantial than cheese alone!
Catherine S says
These sound really good. My son loves rice and cheese. I will have to make these for him.
Dinorah says
These look delicious. I'm going to try to make them!
Ty says
I've never heard of cheesy rice balls before but I bet my kids would absolutely love these.
Debbie L. says
Th Cheese Balls look delicious. I pinned your recipe to my Snack Board. I will be making this!
Nicole Dz says
Wow these look so delish, and I love the dipping sauce, great appetizer, might have to make these for the holidays.
Janet W. says
This looks delicious! I'd love to have this out as an appetizer for my guests during the holidays!
Kim Henrichs says
I LOVE these!! This is going on my to-do list to make immediately.
Holly E says
These look so good. I know my family would love these.
Jessica (Savory Experiments) says
Arancini is one of my Italian family's favorite dishes! Seeing this makes me want to make some for dinner tonight.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
I'm going to add this to my Christmas party menu. They look so good!
Kristin says
What a tasty looking appetizer! They look really easy to make and would be great at any Holiday party!
Chrystal @ YUM eating says
Oh yummy! I wanted to make cheesy rice balls but I thought they were too complicate so I never bothered. These are perfect.
Pam says
These look and sound absolutely delicious! I will have to try this recipe ASAP!
Aimee Smith says
Ohh these look so yummy! My kids love anything they can dip, these would be a hit at our house.
Debbie Denny says
Luve Minute Rice. That looks do delish.
Kiwi says
Well this is totally different! This looks delish too so thanks for sharing!!
Terry says
I can't ... or don't eat pasta, so I am always looking for a really good rice recipe. I am going to try this and see how it works for me.
Rosey says
I know these would be a huge hit here. My husband is a cheese and a rice lover, so this is a double win recipe!
Kelly Hutchinson says
I have never heard of cheese balls and this post makes my mouth water! I would love to try them for my family.
Tonia says
Those look delicious. I've never had them before.
Tamara says
These look yummy! We fell in love with suppli when we visited Rome this summer (the Roman version of arancini cooked with tomato sauce/broth). I keep meaning to try them at home so this inspired me.
Barb W. says
Wow! Those look delicious! Will have to try making as an appetizer soon, betting my kids will go crazy over 'em!
Chelley @ AisForAdelaide says
These look amazing- the perfect comfort food! I'm adding them to my menu this week!
Lori Popkewitz Alper says
I grew up eating Minute Rice! I love simple recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Jenn says
These look amazing!!! My whole family is going to love them, thanks for the recipe!
Heather says
Wow! This looks so good! I pinned it!
Alesha @ Full Time Mama says
Minute Rice is my favorite when I'm in a time crunch, and those Cheesy Rice Balls looks amazing!! Can't wait to try them!
Mel says
This looks really good! I love anything rice. Yummy!
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says
I've never had a cheesy rice ball (or even heard of them), but now that I have, I want to eat all of them! These look amazing!
Krista says
My husband loves cheese balls but for some reason I have never made them for him. Thanks for this idea!
Kathleen says
I always order risotto balls at the Macaroni Grill. These would make a great substitute from home. Yum!
Liz Mays says
I would totally be dipping those! They look super tasty and I use Minute Rice all the time!
BILL HOFF says
This would make perfect appetizers for an adult party!
Cathy says
I love Rice Balls and this recipe looks so good, especially with the sauce poured over top, yum! Stopping by from the block party!
Cathy
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
These look and sound amazing, I love rice balls! Visiting from See Ya in the Gumbo 🙂
Tammy Litke (@threedifferent) says
Those look really good. I don't think I've ever heard of rice balls before, I think I may have to try making them one night.
Erin @ Making Memories says
Oh man! Delicious!
http://makingmemorieswithyourkids.com
Michelle says
Forget the kids! I want them all for myself, lol!
Mel {MamaBuzz} says
These look so de-lish! Love me a good appetizer, especially when it involves cheese. Thanks so much for sharing at Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in this week's issue.
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
I've never made rice balls before, but these look great! Perfect for a late night snack:)
Rose @ Walnut Acre says
I love rice and I love cheese so these look wonderfully delicious to me!
Brittany says
I am thinking this is something I can get my kids to eat. Not to mention they look like something I will love also. Thanks for the recipe!
Miz Helen says
Your Rice Balls look awesome! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with Full Plate Thursday. Wishing you a Valentine Day filled with Love!
Miz Helen
Mary Beth Elderton says
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/39828777931310942/
Mary Beth Elderton says
https://twitter.com/mbm218/status/568418620990201857
Mary Beth Elderton says
oops
Camille Vellucci says
I am 3rd generation Roman Italian who grew up eating rice balls. You have no idea how this "simple" recipe will change my rice ball cooking life. The family recipe calls for cooking the (not instant) rice with butter, eggs, meat, cheese, sauce the day before. refrigerating the mix and frying the day after. I look forward to tweaking this recipe a bit and hopefully it will taste like Grandma's.
Jenn says
Oh my goodness!! I am sure that your family's recipe is amazing, but this is definitely very easy!