Ice Cube Tray Sushi
on Feb 08, 2026
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
If you know me you know I love sushi 🍣. But after one too many lopsided rolls and rice sticking to absolutely ev👏er👏y👏thing, I knew there had to be an easier way. Enter: Ice Cube Tray Sushi – the cutest, most foolproof sushi hack ever 🧊. You just press everything into the tray, give it a gentle flip, and suddenly you have perfect bite-size sushi cubes that look impressive but take zero rolling skills. If you’ve been searching for a beginner-friendly sushi recipe, then this fun, no-roll method is about to become your new obsession ✨.
Key Takeaways
- Ice Cube Tray Sushi is an easy, no-roll method for making sushi without any special skills.
- The sushi cubes are customizable, allowing you to use various ingredients like fish, veggies, or tofu.
- Preparing Ice Cube Tray Sushi takes only 15 minutes with less mess compared to traditional sushi making.
- You can add flavors like chili crisp or sesame oil to enhance the rice, and even layer cream cheese for silky texture.
- This sushi is perfect for parties, snacks, or lunchboxes, making it both adorable and practical.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Ice Cube Tray Sushi
🙅🏻♀️ No rolling required: If sushi rolling has ever stressed you out, this method is your new best friend. No bamboo mat, no technique — just press, flip, and enjoy.
🧊 So cute and bite-sized: The little sushi cubes come out perfectly shaped every time, which makes them ideal for parties, snack boards, and lunchboxes.
🍤 Completely customizable: Use raw fish, cooked shrimp, crab, veggies, tofu, or smoked salmon — you can make this sushi recipe work with what you love, or what you already have in the fridge.
✨ Less mess: No rice-covered countertops. No falling-apart rolls. Just neat, tidy sushi that actually feels doable on a weeknight.
⏱️ Ready in just 15 minutes: Once your rice is cooked, this comes together so fast. It’s one of the quickest ways to enjoy homemade sushi without turning it into a whole kitchen project.
Nonna’s Tip 🍚
When pressing the rice into each cube, wet your hands first. This keeps the rice from sticking to your fingers and helps you press it down evenly.
Variations and Substitutions for Ice Cube Tray Sushi
- If you like a bit of heat and texture throughout, try mixing a small spoonful of chili crisp 🌶️ or crispy garlic directly into the rice before pressing it into the tray.
- Use sushi-grade salmon, tuna, or a combo 🍣 of both. Because the cubes are small, slicing the fish extra thin makes layering easier and gives you a better bite every time. (Always buy your seafood from a trusted fishmonger or seafood counter and be sure to ask if it’s safe for raw consumption.)
- Swapping the cucumber for very thin slices of mango 🥭 gives these cubes a sweet-savory contrast that pairs especially well with salmon.
- For a nuttier base flavor, stirring a few drops of toasted sesame oil into the rice adds depth without overpowering the other layers.
- Add a thin layer of cream cheese between the avocado 🥑 and cucumber 🥒 for that classic, creamy sushi vibe.
Best Served With
- Some of this Homemade Spicy Mayo.
- A side of Asian Cucumber Salad 🥒 or Korean Carrot Salad 🥕.
- Some delicious Shrimp Fried Rice or this Salmon Rice Bowl.
- Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls 🦐 or Vegetable Egg Rolls.
Similar Recipes
Viral One Pot Sushi Cake
15 mins
Salmon Sushi Rolls
10 mins
Sushi Bake Recipe
25 mins
Salmon Sushi Cups
25 mins
Common Questions
Yes, you can assemble them in the ice tray a few hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. For the best texture, wait to add the nori until right before serving so it stays crisp.
If you’re using raw fish, yes — sushi-grade tuna or salmon is important for safety. If that’s not available, cooked shrimp, crab, smoked salmon, or tofu are really great alternatives.
You can, but sushi rice works best because it’s slightly sticky and holds the shape better. If using regular rice, press it firmly and consider seasoning it lightly with rice vinegar.
Press each layer down as you build, especially the rice. Packing everything firmly before inverting is the key to clean, sturdy pieces.
Yes, this can easily be scaled! Small bowls, ramekins, or even teacups work. Just line them well with plastic wrap and press firmly.
Ice Cube Tray Sushi
Ingredients
- 1.25 cups cooked rice
- salt, to taste
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon honey
- ½ avocado, thinly sliced
- 1 pound sushi grade salmon, tuna, or both. I used a mix of both that I sliced thinly into 16 pieces.
- 16 teaspoons spicy mayo, 1/2-1 teaspoon in each rectangle
- ½ sheet nori, cut into 16 small rectangles
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the rice wine vinegar and honey. Then, toss it with cooked rice and set aside.
- Add a long piece of plastic wrap over a standard ice cube tray.
- In each insert, press down the saran wrap as you add a small piece of sushi-grade tuna or salmon.
- Note: for food safety, always purchase seafood labeled safe for raw consumption from a trusted fishmonger and follow proper refrigeration guidelines.
- Follow by adding a thin slice of avocado.
- Add a teaspoon of spicy mayo or kewpie into each cube.
- Next, press down the rice mixture, packing it tightly into each cube.
- Top with 16 small nori rectangles, one on each section.
- Invert the tray, removing the plastic on top. Enjoy with soy sauce and your favorite garnishes.
Nonna’s Notes
- Spicy Sushi: If you like a bit of heat and texture throughout, try mixing a small spoonful of chili crisp or crispy garlic directly into the rice before pressing it into the tray.
- Fish Varieties: Use sushi-grade salmon, tuna, or a combo of both. Because the cubes are small, slicing the fish extra thin makes layering easier and gives you a better bite every time.
- Fruit Swap: Swapping the cucumber for very thin slices of mango gives these cubes a sweet-savory contrast that pairs especially well with salmon.
- Toasty Rice: For a nuttier base flavor, stirring a few drops of toasted sesame oil into the rice adds depth without overpowering the other layers.
- Cream Cheese Roll: Add a thin layer of cream cheese between the avocado and cucumber for that classic, creamy sushi vibe.
- Seafood Safety: For food safety, always use seafood labeled safe for raw consumption and follow proper refrigeration guidelines.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
