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Home » Easy Rice Dishes For Dinner

Chicken Rice Balls

May 15, 2022 · Modified: Mar 20, 2024 by Emily · 1 Comment

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If you're a sushi enthusiast, or just after something a bit different, then this recipe for chicken rice balls is an absolute must-try.

These delectable creations not only push the boundaries of traditional sushi but also serve as a delightful and satisfying snack on their own.

Bursting with flavors and conveniently shaped, these chicken rice balls have the power to transform an ordinary meal into a delicious and filling dish.

Chicken rice balls on a brown serving board.
Jump to:
  • A Bit About Sushi Rice
  • Different Types of Vinegar
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Cost To Make
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Tips for Success
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage
  • FAQ
  • What rice is used for what?
  • Helpful Rice Cooking Tips
  • More Mains Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Comments

These chicken rice balls are a variation on the popular Japanese rice ball, onigiri.

This teriyaki chicken rice ball takes a different shape to the typical triangle but tastes just as delicious!

Onigiri, also known as omusubi, is a easy and popular snack in Japan. Often, onigiri rice balls are used in lunch boxes (bento boxes).

Of course, if you want to shape these in triangles instead of a round ball, that can be done as well.

This recipe is tailor-made for those seeking a convenient and flavorsome option for their midday meals.

Prepare a batch in advance and relish the benefits of meal prepping.

To enhance the already delightful taste, don't forget to sprinkle a handful of toasted sesame seeds on top.

These tiny additions add an extra layer of flavor, taking the rice balls to a whole new level of deliciousness.

A Bit About Sushi Rice

One of the main reasons these delicious bites stick together is the starch found in the sushi rice.

Uncooked sushi rice in a bowl.
Sushi Rice.

Sushi rice is a short grain rice. Typically, short grain rice types contain a lot more starch than long grain rice.

When cooked, the starch releases into the water or liquid that it is cooked in, making it become thicker.

Different Types of Vinegar

It is important that you use the right kind of vinegar when seasoning the sushi rice.

I tested out various types of vinegars and found the best one to use was sushi vinegar or rice wine vinegar.

I used Obento brand which can be purchased from your local supermarket or Asian grocery store.

I do not recommend substituting sushi vinegar for rice vinegar.

Rice vinegar is a much harsher vinegar and you will find that if you use it to season your sushi rice the vinegar taste will be way to strong.

If you are a bit hesitant about adding vinegar to your sushi rice, it may be best to add the sushi vinegar gradually and mix it through.

Taste the rice between additions of vinegar and adjust it to taste.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • These chicken rice balls are so simple and quick to make. You can make the chicken teriyaki filling ahead of time if you are short on the day you want to make these delicious treats.
  • It’s also something that is perfect to make with the kids as they can help with rolling out the rice balls.
  • Additionally, these chicken stuffed rice balls can be made into any shape that you want! You can make them into round balls or even shape them into triangles like onigiri.

Cost To Make

Estimated cost = $4.70, or $0.24 a rice ball

Ingredients

Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

Chicken rice ball ingredients.

To make this super simple teriyaki chicken rice balls, you only need 12 ingredients.

  • Chicken thighs: Clean your chicken thighs by removing any fat and ligaments before cooking
  • Teriyaki Sauce: You can use a store bought teriyaki sauce or make your own. This sauce will be used to marinate the chicken thighs.
  • Sushi Rice: This is also known as onigiri rice.
  • Water
  • Sushi vinegar
  • Caster sugar
  • Salt
  • Vegetable oil: This will be used for frying the chicken.
  • Spring onion / green onion: finely chopped
  • Sesame seeds: toasted, to garnish
  • Japanese mayonnaise: to serve
  • Soy sauce: to serve

Instructions

Step 1 - Combine the chicken and teriyaki sauce in a small bowl. Lightly salt the chicken. Mix well and let it marinate for 20 minutes.

Chicken marinated in teriyaki sauce.
Chicken marinated in teriyaki sauce.

Step 2 - Rinse the sushi rice under cold water until the water becomes clear. Drain well.

Step 3 - Place the rinsed rice and 1 ½ cups water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil.

Once it has reached a boil, reduce heat to low and bring it to a simmer. Gently stir the rice with a spoon. This will help stop the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Step 4 - Cover the rice with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and then allow to rest for 15 minutes covered.

Step 5 - Transfer the cooked rice to a glass bowl.

Mixing vinegar through cooked sushi rice.
Mix the vinegar, sugar, and salt in the cooked sushi rice.

Break up the rice using a wooden spoon and gently mix through the vinegar, sugar, and salt. When the rice has become cool, cover with a damp tea towel. Set this aside.

When you are seasoning the cooked sushi rice be sure to use either a wooden or glass bowl and utensils.

This is because if you use something else such as metal, the vinegar could react with the metal which will change the taste of the sushi.

I found this out when I left a few finished rice balls on a metal tray. They tasted slightly odd and different from the ones that were kept on a ceramic dish.

Step 6 - Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan. Place over medium to high heat.

Cook the marinated chicken until it is cooked through.

Teriyaki chicken being cut into pieces on a chopping board.

Remove from heat and finely chop the chicken.

Step 7 - Place chopped chicken in a small bowl. Add spring onions and any juices from the frying pan. Mix to combine. Allow to cool.

Step 8 - Scoop 1 ½ tablespoons of cooked rice and shape into a ball. Repeat until all the rice has been used up.

To make it easier to work with, you can place the rice in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes, covered.

Also, I found it helped to dampen my hands with water so that it was easier to roll the rice balls.

Step 9 - Take one rice ball and gently flatten. Add 1 teaspoon (5 grams, 0.176 ounces) of chicken in the centre. Do not overfill. Enclose the chicken in rice. Repeat.

Step 10 - Sprinkle each rice ball with sesame seeds. Serve with Japanese mayonnaise, soy sauce, or wasabi. Chilled or at room temperature.

Tips for Success

  • Make sure your hands are damp when you are shaping the rice balls.
  • I like to weigh my rice and filling into even portions before I start putting them all together. To do this, I weighed the rice into approximately 30 gram (1.058 ounces) balls and the filling into 5 gram (0.176 ounces) portions.
  • Marinate your chicken in the teriyaki sauce for at least 20 to 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to infuse into the chicken.
Rice balls filled with chicken on a plate.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve these chicken rice balls on their own as they can be quite filling.  They are ideal to be eaten on the day they are made and can be topped with a light drizzle of Japanese mayonnaise (or any kind of mayonnaise that you have on hand), toasted sesame seeds, pickled ginger, or wasabi.

Storage

These can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. After that the rice may start to become gritty creating an unpleasant texture to the rice balls.

If you have the rice balls stored in the fridge, you can remove them and allow them to naturally come to room temperature before eating them. Or, if you prefer you can eat them cold from the fridge.

FAQ

Why do my rice balls fall apart?

If you find the rice is sticking to your hands when you are shaping them, make sure you dampen your hands with water or oil.

This will also help them bind together. You may also need to add a bit more water to your rice to help it stick together. You can also place your rice in the fridge to make it easier to work with.

Can I make rice balls ahead of time?

Yes, you certainly can! These rice balls will last in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days.

You may find after this, though, the rice may become gritty and not as pleasant to eat.

Can I substitute sushi vinegar for rice vinegar?

If you substitute rice vinegar for sushi vinegar you must use a lot less than what you would use for sushi vinegar.

This is because rice vinegar has a much stronger taste than sushi vinegar. You will need to experiment with the quantity and gradually add rice vinegar and taste the rice to make sure it is not too strong.

What rice is used for what?

Ever wondered which might be the best rice to use for a dish you’re about to make.

Or maybe you’re just curious and want to know more about rice in general.

Why not check out our pages on what is basmati rice and what is jasmine rice.

Helpful Rice Cooking Tips

Want to know how to cook rice or just need a little refresher?

Check out how to easily cook basmati rice, sushi rice, and jasmine rice on the stovetop.

Or, why not check out our recipes on how to make basmati rice, jasmine rice, and sushi rice in the Instant Pot.

Chicken rice balls on a triangle plate.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.

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Recipe

Chicken rice balls in a pile on a plate.

Chicken Rice Balls

Emily
Sushi without the seaweed. These chicken rice balls make for a delicious snack and are so simple to make.
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
Prep Time 35 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Resting Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
ESTIMATED COST : $4.70, or $0.24 a rice ball
Course Main Course
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 20 balls
Calories 56 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 125 grams (4.40 ounces) chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
  • 1 cup sushi rice
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 tablespoons sushi vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons caster sugar (super fine sugar)
  • ½ teaspoon salt plus extra for chicken
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 (20 grams, ¼ cup) spring (green) onions finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted
  • Japanese mayonnaise to serve
  • Soy sauce to serve

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine chicken and teriyaki sauce. Lightly salt chicken. Mix well and let it marinate for 20minutes.
  • Rinse the rice under cold water until the water becomes clear. Drain well.
  • Place rice and 1 ½ cups water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil. Then, reduce the heat to low and bring it to a simmer. Gently stir the rice. Cover the rice and simmer for 15minutes. Remove from heat and then allow to rest for 15 minutes covered.
  • Transfer the cooked rice to a glass bowl. Break up the rice using a wooden spoon and gently mix through the vinegar, sugar, and salt.
    When the rice has become cool, cover with a damp tea towel. Set this aside. Place rice in fridge for 5 to 10 minutes, covered. This will make it easier to roll out later.
  • Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan. Place on medium to high heat. Cook the chicken until it is cooked through. Remove from heat. Finely chop the chicken.
  • Place chopped chicken in a small bowl. Add chopped spring onions and any juices from the frying pan. Mix to combine. Allow to cool.
  • Dampen your hands with water. Scoop 1 ½ tablespoons of rice and shape into a ball. Repeat until all the rice has been used up.
  • Take one rice ball and gently flatten. Add 1 teaspoon (5 grams, 0.176 ounces) of chicken in the centre. Do not overfill. Cover the chicken in rice. Repeat.
  • Sprinkle each rice ball with sesame seeds. Serve with Japanese mayonnaise, soy sauce, or wasabi. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Make sure your hands are damp when you are shaping the rice balls.
  • I like to weigh my rice and filling into even portions before I start putting them all together. To do this, I weighed the rice into approximately 30 gram (1.058 ounces) balls and the filling into 5 gram (0.176 ounces) portions.
  • Marinate your chicken in the teriyaki sauce for at least 20 to 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to infuse into the chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 rice ballCalories: 56kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2gFat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 190mgPotassium: 28mg
Nutrition Disclosure
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it went!

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Eloise says

    May 15, 2022 at 11:22 pm

    These look so delicious, I look forward to making them.

    Reply
Author image.

Hi, I'm Emily! There's much more to rice than just cooking it on the stove. It's so versatile and you can create so many beautiful dishes with it. From puddings and desserts to main meals and even finger foods. There is something for everyone!

More about me →

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