Copycat Rice a Roni

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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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks 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:

Pressure Cooker Shrimp Paella  

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice (Halal Cart Copycat)

Instant Pot Brown Rice

Instant Pot Dirty Rice

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto

Instant Pot Brown Rice

Instant Pot Kale Rice

Instant Pot Rice and Beans (Jamaican Style)

Or Find All of My Pressure Cooker Recipes Here.

Step by Step Photos of Copycat Rice a Roni in Pressure Cooker

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