Easy Ham and Cheese Lunchbox Sushi: Best 15-Minute Recipe
These quick and easy ham and cheese sushi rolls are a fun, kid-approved lunchbox solution made in just 15 minutes. Cream cheese acts as the secret glue, keeping everything moist and delicious without any fish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Cuisine: Japanese-inspired
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 nori sheets
- 2 cups cooked sushi rice (or leftover jasmine rice)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8–10 slices deli ham (thinly sliced)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4–5 slices Swiss cheese (or provolone, mild cheddar), cut in half
- Soy sauce for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Gently fold into warm cooked rice. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on a cutting board. Place one nori sheet on top, shiny side down. Keep a small bowl of water nearby.
- Wet your hands. Spread about ½ cup seasoned rice evenly over the nori, leaving a 1-inch strip at the top edge uncovered. Press gently to a thin, even layer.
- Spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese across the center of the rice (about 2 inches wide).
- Place 2 slices of ham on the cream cheese, slightly overlapping. Top with half a slice of cheese.
- Starting from the bottom edge, roll the nori tightly over the filling. Dab the exposed strip with water to seal. Place seam-side down.
- Let the roll rest for 2-3 minutes. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Using a sharp knife, cut each roll into 6-8 even pieces, wiping the knife with a damp paper towel between cuts.
- Serve immediately or pack in a lunchbox with a damp paper towel on top to keep nori from drying out.
Notes
Keep hands wet when handling rice to prevent sticking. Do not overfill the rolls. Use room temperature cream cheese for easy spreading. Let rolls rest before cutting to prevent them from falling apart. For lunchboxes, store uncut rolls wrapped in plastic wrap overnight and slice in the morning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll (6-8 pieces)
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 15
Keywords: ham and cheese sushi, lunchbox sushi, easy sushi recipe, kid-friendly sushi, no-cook sushi, 15-minute recipe