It’s here! The Copycat Rice a Roni Recipe you’ve been waiting for. This Instant Pot Rice-a-Roni tastes like a better, fresher version of that boxed favorite and it’s just as easy!
Did you grow up eating Rice-a-Roni? A pantry staple of busy moms for decades, it always delivered a tasty meal that kids would eat with no complaints. This is a lower sodium version made from scratch!
This rice recipe was originally published in March 2020. The photos and recipe notes were updated in June 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste: flavorful rice with fresh herbs on top, a delicious copycat recipe.
Serving Suggestions: pairs wonderfully with meatloaf or baked salsa chicken!
Cooking Method: I use a 6-quart Instant Pot pressure cooker for this recipe!
What you’ll Need
More good news? Making copycat rice-a-roni in the instant pot uses ingredients you probably already have stocked in your kitchen:
Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for full list of ingredients with measurements.
- Long grain or basmati rice
- Butter
- Spaghetti noodles
- Chicken broth
- Onion (minced)
- Garlic powder
- Tumeric (for color)
- Salt
- Fresh parsley
Tips & Tricks for Instant Pot Rice
- Make sure to use a long grain rice here! Short grain rice cooks faster and will give the rice pilaf a mushier texture. I’ve used both regular long grain white rice and basmati with great results.
- Want more chicken flavor? A cube or two of chicken bouillon, or the instant granules, added with the chicken broth is a yummy addition.
- To make this vegetarian, you can substitute vegetable broth. It’ll still taste good however it won’t taste exactly like classic rice-a-roni.
- Is your rice too wet when you first open the lid? Fluff the rice with a fork then let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
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