This homemade Chicken Rice a Roni recipe is a flavorful and easy side dish that pairs perfectly with any protein. It's made with simple ingredients including rice, pasta, and chicken bouillon, making it the perfect addition to your weeknight meal rotation.
Jump to:
- ❤️ Favorite things about this recipe
- 📝 Ingredients you'll need
- 🥣 Before you begin: essential tools
- 🥄 Step by step: instructions
- 👩🍳 Variations to make it your own
- 👍 Let's make the perfect recipe: Amira's tips
- 🧺 How to store leftovers
- ⌛ Time saving tips: make ahead and shortcuts
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- 💬 Your questions answered: FAQs
- 📣 Related Recipes
- Homemade Chicken Rrice a Roni
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
❤️ Favorite things about this recipe
- This homemade San Francisco treat only takes about 25 minutes, making it perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a quick and tasty side dish.
- Forget the boxed stuff, this homemade Chicken Rice a Roni has so much more flavor and is made of real ingredients.
- Your first bite of this will bring back vivid childhood memories of family dinners around the table.
This recipe is a great way to enjoy this simple rice side dish without having to make a trip to the grocery store. The combination of chicken flavoring, rice, and pasta creates a perfect texture and flavor that will have you going back for seconds.
Next time try this hamburger rice casserole, a complete dinner in one recipe.
📝 Ingredients you'll need
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📋 Ingredient Notes / Variations
- Butter - I like to use salted butter for this recipe. However, unsalted butter can also be used.
- Olive oil - If you don't have olive oil on hand you can use any neutral flavored oil.
- Vermicelli noodles - These thin noodles add a nice texture to the dish, but you can also use angel hair or spaghetti.
- Bouillon cubes - Chicken bouillon cubes are used to make the chicken broth. If you prefer, you can use pre-made chicken broth instead.
- Garlic powder - This adds an extra layer of flavor, but if you don't have any on hand, you can omit it or use minced garlic instead.
- Onion powder - This spice adds a deeper flavor making sure your dish tastes just like the boxed kind.
- Dry parsley - This herb adds a pop of color and freshness to the dish. If you have fresh parsley, feel free to use that instead.
- Mushroom umami - This is optional however if you have it, I recommend that you use it because it adds a rich, savory flavor to the dish.
- Basmati rice - Any long-grain white rice will work for this recipe. Basmati and jasmine are great options.
- Boiling water - Make sure that your water reaches a full boil so that your rice and pasta cook quickly.
🥣 Before you begin: essential tools
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- large pot or large skillet with a lid
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🥄 Step by step: instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a pot over medium heat add butter and olive oil.
- When butter melts add vermicelli noodles and stir constantly to golden brown, this will take minutes
- Break chicken bouillon cubes with your fingers over the vermicelli and stir for another 20 seconds
- Add all the remaining spices and rice, stir for about 2 more minutes until rice is well coated with fat and spice mix.
- Pour boiling water, wait for the pot to come to rapid boil.
- Lower the heat, cover and simmer on low for 17-20 minutes or until rice is done.
- Turn heat off, fluff and serve.
👩🍳 Variations to make it your own
- You can add even more protein and flavor to this simple side dish by using bone broth in place of the bullion cubes and water.
- Add a cup of small broccoli florets to the rice-vermicelli mix while it's cooking for some fresh vegetables.
- For a cheesy chicken and rice try adding one cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the rice when it's finished cooking.
- For a creamy touch add a half cup of sour cream or a can of cream of chicken soup to your rice once you finish cooking it.
👍 Let's make the perfect recipe: Amira's tips
- For more flavor, you can sauté rice-vermicelli mix instead of just browning the pasta.
- For the same texture cut the pasta into pieces that are the same size as the rice grains.
- Don't overcook the rice and pasta mixture so make sure that you watch your pot closely, as you don't want it to burn.
- To make this a hearty meal, pair with some cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts or a rotisserie chicken with this simple recipe.
🧺 How to store leftovers
Refrigerate - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Freeze - This dish can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure that you use a freezer safe container.
Reheat - Reheat the rice on the stovetop over medium heat until warm. Or single servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
⌛ Time saving tips: make ahead and shortcuts
My family prefers to eat this rice mix when it's freshly made. However, it does hold up to reheating well, so you can make it ahead if you desire. If you find it's a little dry add a small amount of liquid like chicken broth or water when reheating to thin it out some.
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
This great recipe pairs well with just about any chicken recipe. However, one of our favorite chicken recipes to serve with this hearty side dish is Lemon Dill Chicken. You can also never go wrong with a family classic side dish such as this Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli.
💬 Your questions answered: FAQs
Yes, there is msg in rice-a-roni. One great thing about making it at home is that you can make sure that it's not in your rice.
📣 Related Recipes
- Are you a fan of rice? If so, this Instant Pot Rice is the perfect side dish to make for all your family meals.
- This Yellow Rice is another one of my go-to easy recipes to make when I need a flavorful side dish to serve with chicken recipes.
- Cracker Barrel Chicken and Rice is another hearty and delicious chicken recipe that can feed the whole family.
- Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice is a quick one pot dinner that you'll pit on repeat. An Asian inspired dinner with tender chicken, a blend of vegetables, rice and scrambled egg that is both satisfying and delicious.
Do you use Rice A Roni often for quick side dishes? I would love to know in the comments below what is your favorite?
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! Thank you.
Homemade Chicken Rrice a Roni
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup vermicelli noodles uncooked
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dry parsley
- 1 teaspoon mushroom umami optional
- 1 ½ cup basmati rice washed but not soaked
- 3 cups boiling water
Instructions
- In a pot over medium heat add butter and olive oil.
- When butter melts add vermicelli noodles and stir constantly to brown, this will take minutes
- Break bouillon cubes with your fingers over the vermicelli and stir for another 20 seconds
- Add all the remaining spices and rice, stir for about 2 more minutes until rice is well coated with fat and spice mix.
- Pour boiling water, wait for the pot to come to rapid boil.
- Lower the heat, cover and simmer on low for 20 minute or until rice is done.
- Turn heat off, fluff and serve.
Notes
- You can use chicken stock or broth instead of bouillon and water if you prefer to.
Nutrition
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Stephanie Forstall
Thank you so much for this post! It came out perfectly on my first try.