Cheesy Bacon Croquettes
Try these irresistible cheese, bacon and white rice croquettes on National Bacon Day! Serve with store-bought marinara or Alfredo sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Minute® Instant White Rice
- 1 1/4 cups Italian bread crumbs, divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- vegetable oil, for frying
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Instructions
With a crunchy exterior and a cheesy center, these bite-sized croquettes are the perfect snack or appetizer to make for your next gathering. They’re simply delicious and guaranteed to impress everyone!
Step 1
Prepare rice according to package directions. Allow to cool completely.
Step 2
Mix together rice, 3/4 cup bread crumbs, mozzarella, bacon, Parmesan and eggs until well combined.
Step 3
Using wet hands, scoop 1/4-cup portions of rice mixture and roll into balls. Roll croquettes in remaining bread crumbs until coated. Transfer to parchment paper–lined tray.
Step 4
Meanwhile, fill large saucepan with enough oil to come 3 inches up side. Heat over medium heat until deep-fry thermometer reads 350˚F.
Step 5
Working in batches, carefully drop rice balls into hot oil; fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Using slotted spoon, transfer rice balls to paper towel–lined tray. Cool slightly.
Recipe Tip
Serve with store-bought marinara or Alfredo sauce, for dipping.
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Ideal Snack or Appetizer
Add this delicious recipe to your list of snack ideas to make for game day, a family gathering, or a fun dinner party. These Cheesy Bacon Croquettes can be made ahead of time, rolled and stored in the fridge until your guests arrive. They are best served immediately after frying for that crispy outer shell and warm, gooey inside!
Unlike traditional croquettes, these have a secret ingredient in the filling. Cooked and chilled Minute® White Rice helps to hold everything together with a hearty touch! We suggest making the rice ahead of time and letting it fully cool before mixing everything together so that your croquettes don’t fall apart on account of any excess water. You can also use leftover rice from a previous meal to make these. For even more added flavor, try cooking your rice in broth.
Tips For Deep-Frying
If you feel intimidated by deep-frying, here are a few quick tips and tricks to keep in mind. Also, if you have an air fryer, you can use that in place of deep frying to get the same results. Just use it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
-Make sure the oil is hot before adding the croquettes. This way you avoid them absorbing oil before they actually begin to fry.
–Place the croquettes gently in the oil so they don’t splatter hot oil everywhere. Also, work in batches to that the croquettes are not on top of one another and can fry evenly.
-Lastly, once the croquettes are golden brown and cooked through, place them on a paper towel to absorb any extra oil.
Make-Ahead Tip: As we said before, you can prepare and roll your croquettes ahead of time, and place them in the fridge for up to 1 day before frying. They are also freezer-friendly, just make sure to fry them directly from frozen.
Find more life hacks and recipe ideas in our Quick Tips section. Looking for more recipe ideas? Try our 15 Minute Chicken and Rice Dinner or some appetizer and starters, like these croquettes. If you are looking for a no-fuss weekday meal try our Cheesy Chicken and Rice Recipe with Broccoli.
