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Home » Main Dishes » Rice-A-Roni Isn’t Gluten-Free, But My Copycat Recipe Is

Rice-A-Roni Isn’t Gluten-Free, But My Copycat Recipe Is

Last Updated August 3, 2023. Published August 3, 2023 Good For You Gluten Free

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Rice-A-Roni Isn’t Gluten-Free, But My Copycat Recipe Is
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In this post, I share why Rice-A-Roni isn’t gluten-free (hint, it’s the “roni”) as well as my delicious and easy copycat gluten-free Rice-A-Roni recipe. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.

While most people in the gluten-free community know that rice is naturally gluten-free, they may not realize that Rice-A-Roni is not.

While the “rice” part is gluten-free, the “roni” part is not. Roni is short for macaroni, which is typically made from wheat flour.

Rice-A-Roni also delves into the gluten-free question on its website, saying it “cannot guarantee that any particular product is entirely free of gluten.”

Its Pasta Roni is made from wheat flour (gluten), and Rice-A-Roni contains orzo, vermicelli, and other pasta made from wheat flour (gluten).

Rice-a-Roni boxes at the grocery store

The company says that even Rice-A-Roni products that do not combine rice and pasta may contain trace amounts of gluten because they are made in the same facility as products made with wheat flour and other grains.

If you’re like me, you grew up eating the self-proclaimed “San Francisco treat” and want to recreate the flavorful one-pot rice and pasta dish again.

Well, you’re in luck. Because I created this wonderful copycat gluten-free rice-a-roni recipe for you to make and love with your family, all without the icky gluten.

bowl of gluten-free rice-a-roni

Copycat Gluten-Free Rice-A-Roni Recipe

To make this extraordinarily easy gluten-free rice-a-roni recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 square (70 grams) of Lotus Foods Brown Rice Ramen, crushed into small pieces. (Equals approximately 1/2 cup of broken gluten-free ramen or vermicelli noodles.)
  • 1 cup white long-grain rice, uncooked
  • 4 tsp of chicken boullion (I used Orrington Farm chicken-flavored boullion)
  • 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 3/4 cups water
ingredients for gluten-free rice-a-roni

Start by melting the butter in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Then add the broken pieces of the rice ramen and the white rice to the butter and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the pasta and rice are slightly brown.

pot with browned rice and ramen

Add the bouillon, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, and water to the pan, and bring the mixture to a boil.

Cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the water is absorbed and the mixture is cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 18-22 minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy.

gluten-free rice-a-roni in a pan with a spoon

FAQs and Substitutions

What kind of “roni” did you use? I used Lotus Foods Brown Rice Ramen because it offers thin, vermicelli-like noodles.

If you can’t find Lotus Foods Brown Rice Ramen, look for brown rice angel hair pasta or another thin pasta. You may need to adjust the amount of water needed depending on the thickness of the pasta.

What kind of rice did you use? I used long-grain jasmine rice.

close up on gluten-free rice-a-roni in a serving dish with a spoon

Are bouillon flavors gluten-free? Not all bouillon brands are considered gluten-free. I have an article dedicated to this topic, Gluten-Free Bouillon – Testing for Hidden Gluten, where you can find more information.

I enjoy Orrginton Farm’s chicken-flavored bouillon, and it’s labeled gluten-free, so I know it’s safe. I found it at Walmart, but you could also order it on Amazon.

Still, if you can’t find a safe bouillon at your local grocery store, you could mimic the taste by using chicken broth instead of water and adding salt to taste. I also recommend adding 1/4 tsp of turmeric for color.

Is it dairy-free? Yes, this recipe is dairy-free when you use dairy-free butter or oil instead of butter.

Want More Recipes?

Are you looking for more recipes? You might enjoy the following dishes:

  • Crispy Tofu and Rice Ramen
  • Flavorful Egg Roll Filling Inside Rice Paper Wrappers or Over Rice
  • Gluten-Free Fried Rice
  • Gluten-Free Ramen Noodles Soup

You might also enjoy these articles:

  • Guide to Gluten-Free Ramen Noodles
  • Is Rice Gluten Free?
  • Is Cream of Rice Gluten Free? I Tested It!

Gluten-Free Rice-A-Roni

Eat rice-a-roni again with my copycat gluten-free version of this classic San Francisco treat. My gluten-free rice-a-roni recipe is made with a few simple ingredients and cooked inside one pot for easy cleanup. Your family will gobble up this delicious side dish – enjoy!
4.50 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: rice-a-roni
Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 240kcal
Author: Jenny Levine Finke

Equipment

  • 1 large non-stick pan with a fitted lid

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 square (70 grams) of Lotus Foods Brown Rice Ramen crushed into small pieces. (Equals approximately 1/2 cup of broken gluten-free ramen or vermicelli noodles)
  • 1 cup white long-grain rice uncooked
  • 4 tsp chicken-flavored bouillon I used Orrington Farm chicken-flavored boullion
  • 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 3/4 cups water

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add broken pieces of the rice ramen and the white rice to the butter and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the pasta and rice are slightly brown.
  • Add the bouillon, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, and water to the pan.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the water is absorbed and the mixture is cooked through, about 18-22 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Notes

What kind of “roni” did you use? I used Lotus Foods Brown Rice Ramen because it offers thin, vermicelli-like noodles.
If you can’t find Lotus Foods Brown Rice Ramen, look for brown rice angel hair pasta or another thin pasta. You may need to adjust the amount of water needed depending on the thickness of the pasta.
What kind of rice did you use? I used long-grain jasmine rice.
Are bouillon flavors gluten-free? Not all bouillon brands are considered gluten-free. I have an article dedicated to this topic, Gluten-Free Bouillon – Testing for Hidden Gluten, where you can find more information.
I enjoy Orrginton Farm’s chicken-flavored bouillon, and it’s labeled gluten-free, so I know it’s safe. I found it at Walmart, but you could also order it on Amazon.
Still, if you can’t find a safe bouillon at your local grocery store, you could mimic the taste by using chicken broth instead of water and adding salt to taste. I also recommend adding 1/4 tsp of turmeric for color.
Is it dairy-free? Yes, this recipe is dairy-free when you use dairy-free butter or oil instead of butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 534mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.5mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @GoodForYouGlutenFree or tag #goodforyouglutenfree!

Filed Under: Main Dishes, Pasta, Products & Ingredients, Sides Leave a Comment

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Welcome to Good For You Gluten Free

Hi, I'm Jenny Levine Finke and am passionate about the gluten-free lifestyle. I'm a certified integrative nutrition coach and self-taught expert on [most] gluten-free things. I have celiac disease and know the struggles you're going through first-hand. This is why I've dedicated this blog to serving the celiac and gluten sensitive communities with important information, product and restaurant reviews, and simple recipes I hope you'll love. Read More…

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