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Are you a Rice-A-Roni lover? We are going to blow you away with our homemade Rice-A-Roni recipe. It is so much tastier than the store-bought kind!
Once you see how easy it is to make homemade Rice-A-Roni, you will never switch back! Our chicken Rice-A-Roni recipe has no artificial ingredients in it, and we show you how to make gluten-free Rice-A-Roni if you prefer.
Use this homemade version in your favorite healthy rice bowls or as a side dish recipe. It’s versatile enough to use with any protein, and tastes great, too!
Ingredients for Homemade Rice-A-Roni
- ½ Cup White or Brown Rice
- ¼ Cup Spaghetti or gluten-free spaghetti, broken in small pieces
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 ½ Cup Chicken Stock (if following a gluten-free meal plan, make sure you choose gluten-free stock)
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Oregano
How to Make Rice-A-Roni
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan.
- Add rice and pasta on medium-high heat.
- Toast the rice and pasta while stirring until golden brown.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Cover with a lid and simmer for 25-35 minutes until or pasta and rice are tender.
- Additional butter may be added if desired.
- Stir and serve this delicious side dish.
Does rice have gluten?
We are often asked if there is gluten in rice. The good news is, all rice is gluten-free! This includes all varieties, brown rice, white rice, and wild rice.
Even Asian or sticky rice, also called “glutinous rice,” is gluten-free. We like to refer to this list of naturally gluten-free foods when picking ingredients for gluten free recipes like this one.
Tips for Gluten-Free Recipe for Rice-A-Roni
- Use a gluten-free spaghetti noodle if following a gluten-free meal plan. For a typical Rice-A-Roni, a vermicelli pasta is used. However, the gluten-free versions of this thin pasta tend to fall apart before the rice is cooked, so we recommend a spaghetti noodle.
- Brown rice will make your gluten-free Rice-a-Roni even healthier, adding more fiber than traditional white rice.
- Cook the rice in chicken stock; this will give that comforting flavor found in the box mixes.
- Use a low sodium chicken stock, as you don’t want it to get too salty while the rice cooks!
- If following a gluten-free meal plan, look for gluten-free chicken stock.
Can I freeze Rice-A-Roni?
Yes. Our homemade Rice-A-Roni freezes perfectly. Just add any extras in a freezer Ziploc bag and freeze for up to one month. When you have a busy night, just defrost and microwave.
What kind of rice is best in Rice-A-Roni?
Traditional Rice-A-Roni calls for long-grain white rice, alongside with the vermicelli or spaghetti. I happen to love Uncle Ben’s rice, the long grain rice which is parboiled, but you can use any rice you prefer.
What to Serve with Rice-A-Roni
No matter what your protein, gluten-free homemade rice-a-roni is the perfect side dish! We love it paired with our peri peri chicken or slow cooker whole chicken. But it’s also just as tasty with pork, beef, even fish. Use it as the base for all your Healthy Rice Bowls too!
You really can’t go wrong with this side dish. We love that the ingredient list for our recipe is about half the size of the ingredients on the box mix. A healthy recipe starts with real ingredients, and that’s definitely what’s in this healthy rice dish!
Rice-A-Roni One-Pot Meal
We just love the versatility of this dish! You can easily make this a one-pot meal by adding your favorite protein and mix up the flavors.
Or by adding a few additional ingredients that take the deliciousness up to another level. Try making Rice-A-Roni Spanish rice by adding some sauteéd peppers and onions and a couple of dashes of paprika.
Or try some of our favorite mix-ins:
- Button Mushrooms
- Sauteéd Mushrooms and Onions
- Candied Bacon (you haven’t lived until you try this)
- And if you really want to take this recipe over the top, try substituting butter for our Garlic Butter Recipe. It is just amazing!
Our Favorite Rice Recipes
Want more gluten-free recipes?
Gluten-free Side Dishes:
- Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots (Gluten Free)
- Smashed Brussels Sprouts (Gluten Free)
- Gluten Free Biscuits
- Irish Mashed Potatoes (Gluten Free)
- Gluten Free Stuffing
- Gluten Free Au Gratin Potatoes
- The Best Gluten Free Tortillas
Gluten-free Desserts:
📌 Save this recipe on Pinterest for later!
Homemade Rice-A-Roni Gluten Free
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Brown Rice
- ¼ Cup Gluten Free Spaghetti broken in pieces
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 ½ Cup Chicken Stock
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Oregano
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium pot
- Add rice and pasta, toast slightly
- Add remaining ingredients
- Cover with a lid and simmer for 25-35 minutes until pasta and rice are tender
Notes
- Use gluten free spaghetti noodles: Gluten-free vermicelli noodles will fall apart.
- Use brown rice for a healthier version
- Cook the rice in chicken stock: This gives that comforting flavor found in the box mixes.
- Use a low sodium chicken stock: You don’t want it to get too salty while the rice cooks!
- If following a gluten-free meal plan, look for gluten-free chicken stock.
Nutrition
This post was updated on November 21, 2019.
Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe!