This Copycat Rice a Roni recipe is even better than the boxed version. Make it in the Instant Pot for a hands off quick, easy, and healthier side dish.
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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
You ever have a random craving for a meal from your childhood? Happens to me quite often. I'll be thinking of what to create in my kitchen and I'll get a sudden urge for a dish I hadn't had in years. That's how it was when it came to this Rice a Roni.
Even as an adult, I used to buy the flavored rice and pastas from the dried goods section of the supermarket. Once I realized that these things were full of sodium and other no no ingredients, I stopped buying them.
As a matter of fact, I discovered that it was much easier and cheaper to make flavored rice out of ingredients I already had in my pantry.
Hence this homemade copycat rice a roni was born. I recall the first time I made it to go along with a delicious steak dinner I made for hubby and myself. Apparently he used to eat rice a roni as a kid too and loved it. So I made this copycat rice a roni, plated it beside a delicious steak and asparagus dinner, and waited for the verdict.
Initially, he thought it came from the box and he claimed I doctored it up somehow because it tasted so delicious. He was in shock when I told him it wasn't from a box. As a matter of fact, he didn't believe me, still doesn't believe, and always looks in the trash for a rice a roni box as evidence when I make it.
I tend to make all my rice in my Instant Pot now and this copycat rice a roni is no different. Reason being is that with the right ratio, rice cooked in the pressure cooker always comes out perfect. I tend to walk away and forget to lower the stove when it comes to stove top rice. The pressure cooker allows me to place my ingredients in the pot, set my timer, and go on to the rest of my meal. Perfection and no more burned rice bottom.
The great thing about this rice a roni is that you can prep the majority of the ingredients ahead of time. No need for a rice a roni seasoning packet when all the dry herbs and spices are in your cupboard. The only herb in this recipe that isn't dried is the parsley. Dry parsley can be substituted but fresh parsley is so much better.
I hope you enjoy this homemade copycat rice a roni as much as we do. I hope your family believes you when you tell them it's not from the box. As always, Enjoy 🙂
Looking for more Instant Pot recipes with rice? Try these out:
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice (Halal Cart Copycat)
Instant Pot Rice and Beans (Jamaican Style)
Or Find All of My Pressure Cooker Recipes Here.
CopyCat Rice a Roni in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon butter
- 2 oz thin spaghetti noodles broken into small pieces
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1 ¼ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon dry thyme
- ½ teaspoon minced dry onion
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley* chopped
Instructions
- Combine dry thyme, minced dry onion, garlic powder, salt, and turmeric. Set aside.
- Set pressure cooker to sauté. Once Hot, add butter and let melt. Once melted, add thin spaghetti noodles and stir until toasted, about 2 minutes.
- Add rice and stir for about 30 seconds, until slightly toasted.
- Add spice mixture and chicken broth and stir, ensuring that there are no pieces stuck to the bottom. Turn off sauté mode on pressure cooker and set pressure cooker on Manual mode for 8 minutes. Cover pressure cooker, making sure valve is set to sealed.
- Once pressure cooking time is done, allow to natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure by moving valve to "venting"
- Open lid and add chopped parsley. Fluff with fork and Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Step by Step Photos of Copycat Rice a Roni in Pressure Cooker
Pin Copycat Rice a Roni for later
Linda C. says
Could I do this in a beef flavor by just subbing beef broth? Or do I need to adjust the spices also?
Tanya says
Hi Linda, I haven't tried it with beef broth so I couldn't 100% tell you how it would turn out. However, I don't see why it wouldn't work. If it were me, I'd keep the spices the same.
Linda C. says
Thanks, I love the old rice a roni stroganoff recipe using beef rice a roni. Looking for lower sodium than the original, which by using low sodium broth I should accomplish. Thanks. If I try this out I will let you know.
Jillian says
This recipe was so delicious! Thank you so much for sharing it with the world. I have one question--can you double the recipe? Thanks!
Tanya says
Hi Jillian, So glad you enjoyed it. Yes you can double the recipe, just keep the cook time the same 🙂
Randi says
Can I use brown rice?
Tanya says
You can but you would need to modify the cook time. Brown rice requires a longer cook time.
Barbie says
It works! So great, thank you! Rice-a-Roni is such a guilty pleasure from my childhood. You've made me so happy.
Tanya says
awww, thank you 🙂
Brandi G says
I made this tonight and hubby raved over it! It wasn't as creamy as I had expected even though I added 1 1/2 cups chicken broth per the comments. Super easy! Just as easy as a box but way better! Definitely going in my rotation!
Sandi says
Can you cook boneless chicken breast in with the rice at the same time? Can’t wait to make this tonight!
Tanya says
you sure can. If you were to add breast (1lb), I would cut it into 1 inch pieces and give it a quick sauté in the pot before adding the other ingredients. I would increase the broth to 1.5 cups as well.
Jill says
We loved it! Will certainly make again...
Brandie says
It said burn once I started cooking. Never had this happen in a recipe before. Any suggestions?
Tanya says
Hi Brandie,
Sounds like the pot wasn't deglazed after cooking the onions. Instant Pots, especially the more recent ones, will give off a burn notice if anything is stuck to the bottom of the pan while pressure cooking. It doesn't mean your food is actually burning but could be a piece of food that is directly on the pot. As soon as you add your broth, take a wooden spoon and stir the bottom to ensure nothing is stuck to the bottom before pressurizing. I'll update the notes section to include this helpful tip as well.
Dre says
I used to love Rice a Roni growing up! I've never thought to make it from scratch. I'm going to give your recipe a try and see how it works out for me. Thankfully, I have all of these ingredients on hand already. Thanks for sharing!
Leslie Schroeder says
This sounds great. I’m not thrilled about thyme. Can you suggest or have you used any other spices?
Thanks,
Leslie
Tanya says
Hi Leslie, I've only used thyme because I actually love it. It should be just as good if you omit. Marjoram would be a good substitute.
Erica says
I just made this and it turned out PERFECT!! I did add an extra 1/4 c. of chicken broth. This is delicious an I’ll be making it again!! Thanks for the great recipe!!
Tanya says
Thank you Erica! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Kim says
Followed the recipe; much of the rice and spaghetti noodles stuck to the bottom. Of the remaining amount, the rice was under cooked..... any advice???
Tanya says
Hi Kim. I stir everything, making sure that there are no bits stuck to the bottom before I put the pressure cooker on. So after I add the rice, I stir and after I add the broth I stir as well with a wooden spoon, making sure there are no bits on the bottom of the pressure cooker. This should stop anything from being stuck to the bottom. I also recommend rinsing the rice and using long grain rice only. We tried Jasmine and although tasty, it was a bit hard. Long grain worked perfectly. Make sure it's cooked at high pressure as well. I realize newer IP's have the option to change it but all my IP recipes are cooked at high pressure. Mine is also cooked in a 6qt as well. We prefer a fluffy rice. If you want something more moist, feel free to increase the broth by 1/4 cup.
SeattleGrace says
Hi there! My InstantPot is the newer model that doesn’t have a manual button...do you cook this on low or high pressure?
Tanya says
Hi 🙂 It's high pressure.
N Steele says
I made this last week, while it was very tasty, I found it a bit dry. Can you recommend how much water I would add to help make this a moister result?
Tanya says
Hi N Steele, I would recommend adding about 1/4 cup of water if you think the rice is too dry. Also, the type of rice chosen to make this dish will affect the texture as well. We found that long grain rice worked perfectly but jasmine rice for some reason was a bit dry.
April says
Ahhh spaghetti noodles. I must try this out but without a instant pot since I don't have one. My mouth waters every time I see this recipe. It look so good!
Tanya says
Thank you April! This for sure could be made without an instant pot. I just like the hands off cooking of an instant pot.