This quick and easy homemade Rice-A-Roni is a buttery, savory rice side dish made with toasted vermicelli, tender long-grain rice, and simple pantry seasonings. It has that familiar boxed rice flavor you grew up with, but it is made from scratch in one skillet with ingredients you can recognize.
It is the kind of easy side dish that makes a simple protein feel like a complete dinner. Pair it with perfect pan seared steak, slow cooker creamy beef tips, baked chicken, pork chops, or your favorite weeknight casserole.
More Easy Side Dishes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Rice-A-Roni Recipe
- Made in one skillet
- Ready in about 25 minutes
- Uses simple pantry staples
- Buttery, fluffy, and full of savory flavor
- An easy homemade alternative to boxed rice mixes
- Goes with everything from chicken to steak
If you are trying to make more homemade sides without adding extra work to dinner, this is one to keep in rotation right along with easy mashed potatoes and creamy macaroni and cheese.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- ½ cup vermicelli or thin spaghetti, broken into small pieces
- 2½ cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
How to Make Homemade Rice-A-Roni
Melt the butter in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the rice and broken vermicelli.
Cook, stirring frequently, until the vermicelli turns golden brown and the rice smells lightly toasted, about 4 to 5 minutes. This is what gives homemade Rice-A-Roni that rich, nutty flavor, so do not skip this step.
Pour in the chicken broth, then stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, black pepper, and salt. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and cook for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Keep the lid on while it cooks so the rice can steam properly.
Remove the skillet from the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
Serve it with Cowboy Butter Chicken Wings, or Chicken Sausage and Apple Stuffing for an easy, cozy dinner.
Tips for the Best Homemade Rice-A-Roni
Use long-grain white rice for the best fluffy texture. Short-grain rice can become too soft and sticky.
Keep stirring while the rice and vermicelli toast. The pasta can go from golden brown to burned quickly.
Use chicken broth instead of water for the best savory flavor. Beef broth is also delicious when you are serving this rice with steak and beer cheese soup or a hearty beef dinner.
Let the rice rest for five minutes after cooking. This small step helps the grains finish steaming and keeps the finished rice light and fluffy.
Make It Your Own
Use beef broth instead of chicken broth for a richer beef-flavored rice side dish.
Stir in frozen peas, diced carrots, or sautéed mushrooms during the last few minutes of cooking for an easy vegetable rice pilaf.
Add cooked shredded chicken, ground beef, or leftover rotisserie chicken to turn this side dish into a quick one-pan meal.
For a little extra richness, stir in another tablespoon of butter just before serving.
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if your family likes a little heat.
What to Serve with Homemade Rice-A-Roni
This easy rice side dish is perfect with so many family dinners. Try it with easy pan seared steak, slow cooker creamy beef tips, Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta, or chicken and stuffing meatballs.
It is also a great way to round out a cozy meal with meatloaf, grilled chicken, baked pork chops, or a simple rotisserie chicken.
PrintEasy One Pan Homemade Rice-A-Roni
This quick and easy homemade Rice-A-Roni is a buttery, savory rice side dish with toasted vermicelli and simple pantry seasonings. It cooks in one skillet and tastes even better than the boxed version.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: STOVETOP
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- ½ cup vermicelli or thin spaghetti, broken into short pieces
- 2½ cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat.
- Add the rice and broken vermicelli. Cook, stirring often, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the vermicelli is golden brown and the rice smells lightly toasted.
- Pour in the chicken broth. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, black pepper, and salt.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid has absorbed.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
Notes
- Thin spaghetti is an easy substitute for vermicelli. Break it into short pieces before using.
- Watch the vermicelli closely while it toasts so it does not burn.
- Use beef broth instead of chicken broth for a richer flavor when serving with steak, burgers, or roast beef.
- Stir in frozen peas, diced carrots, or sautéed mushrooms for an easy vegetable rice pilaf.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of broth or water.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, add the rice to a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of chicken broth or water. Cover loosely and microwave until hot. You can also reheat it in a skillet over low heat with a little butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use brown rice?
Brown rice requires more liquid and a longer cooking time, so it is not a direct substitute in this recipe. Long-grain white rice works best.
What can I use instead of vermicelli?
Thin spaghetti is perfect. Simply break it into short pieces before adding it to the skillet.
Can I use beef broth?
Yes. Beef broth gives the rice a deeper, richer flavor and is especially good alongside steak, burgers, meatloaf, or roast beef.
Why is my rice still hard?
The lid may not have fit tightly, the heat may have been too low, or it may simply need a few more minutes. Add a splash of broth, cover, and cook over low heat until tender.
Final Thoughts
This homemade Rice-A-Roni recipe is an easy, inexpensive side dish that belongs in every weeknight dinner rotation. It is buttery, flavorful, and just as simple as reaching for a box, but it tastes fresher and more homemade.
