Yaki Onigiri with Cheese (Japanese Grilled Rice Ball)
Crispy on the outside and melty cheese on the inside—this Yaki Onigiri is an easy-to-make snack! Learn how to make delicious Japanese grilled rice balls with this recipe. Read on!
Looking for easy onigiri recipes? Try my Tuna Mayo Onigiri, Salmon Onigiri, or Egg Onigiri!

I’ll walk you through the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Yaki Onigiri:

How To Make Yaki Onigiri: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions! For the video and all the detailed ingredients and instructions, you can go to the printable recipe card below.

Step 1
Mix the cooked rice with soy sauce, then place the rice in a small bowl and add the cheese in the center.

Step 2
Form the rice into a triangle shape.

Step 3
Cook the onigiri in a frying pan.

Step 4
Flip them over and cook.

The outside is golden and crispy, while the inside is filled with gooey, melty cheese that’ll have you coming back for more!
Storage
Wrap each onigiri in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge for a couple of days or in the freezer for up to one month. If refrigerated, the rice can dry out and harden, so it’s best to microwave it before eating to restore its fluffy texture.
For frozen onigiri, heat it in the microwave directly—don’t thaw at room temperature, as this can make the rice dry.

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I hope you enjoy this Yaki Onigiri! If you try it, don’t forget to leave a rating to share your thoughts—I love hearing from you!

Yaki Onigiri with Cheese (Japanese Grilled Rice Ball)
Print Pin SaveEquipment
- Frying pan 26cm (10 inch)
Ingredients
- 13 oz Cooked Japanese rice, 360g, 4 small bowls of rice
- 1 Tbsp Soy sauce
- Cheese, as needed
- Vegetable Oil, for grilling
Instructions
- Combine: Place the cooked rice in a large bowl, add soy sauce, and mix well.
- Shape the Onigiri: Put some rice in a small bowl and place cheese in the center. Wet your hands with water, then shape the rice into a triangle (or round) by gently pressing with your palms and fingers while rolling it several times
- Cook the Onigiri: Heat a frying pan over medium heat, add a little oil, and cook the onigiri for about 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 3 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Storage: Wrap each in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for a couple of days and one month in the freezer.
- If you’re having trouble making a triangle, try using an onigiri mold—it makes shaping super easy!
- While the triangle shape is the most traditional, you can also make round or cylinder-shaped onigiri.
- Instead of a frying pan, you can also cook them in a toaster oven or on a grill.
Can you use cold leftover rice for this, or should you use freshly cooked rice?
Yes, you can use cold leftover rice! Warming the rice a little in the microwave will make it easier to shape into onigiri. I hope you like the recipe:)