AIP Rice and Pasta (Rice ‘a’ Roni copycat)

This nostalgic Rice a Roni copycat (AIP ‘Rice’ and Pasta) recipe is the perfect comfort food. It’s creamy, satisfying and super delicious.

What is Rice A Roni made of?

Rice A Roni is a prepackaged box of pilaf-like mix that consists of rice, vermicelli pasta, and seasonings.

Why is Rice A Roni so good?

I have no idea. Maybe it’s the combination of sugar and MSG that’s so addicting. But I have very fond memories of the creamy rice and pasta mix. This may be a relic of the nineties but as a teen this was my go-to meal (along with ramen) that I could easily make on my own.

My AIP ‘Rice’ and Pasta may not have any actual rice and AIP pasta. But you get the same creamy, savory flavor that I remember.

How do you make Rice A Roni from scratch?

1. Bring the broth to a boil in a large saucepan with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.

2. Add a few tablespoons of oil to large frying pan over high heat. Add the garlic and onions then sauté until translucent, about 3-5 minutes.

3. Add the cauliflower and broccoli rice to the pan. Season with Italian seasonings and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine and continue to stir occasionally to keep from sticking to the pan.

4. Once the broth is boiling add the pasta. Take care to stir occasionally so that the pasta doesn’t stick to the pan. Once the pasta has finished cooking, add the pasta and pasta water to the pan of rice. The pasta water should have cooked down at this point and should be mostly pasta.

5. Stir to combine. Season to taste and then serve.

Tips for making the best AIP ‘Rice’ and Pasta.

• If you are using homemade chicken broth that doesn’t have any added salt, feel free to add 1/2 teaspoon to the broth used to make the pasta.
• The key to cooking the ‘rice’ is to let it sit for a bit in between stirring. That allows the moisture from the vegetables to cook off and end up like rice, not mash.

If you like this AIP ‘Rice’ and Pasta recipe, try these AIP pasta dishes.

• Asian Pork and Noodle Soup
• Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
• AIP Ground Beef Stroganoff
• Shrimp Scampi with Basil Pesto
• Pasta Carbonara
• Simple Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad

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Helpful Info For All Recipes

• I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise.
• I always use Himalayan sea salt or Celtic sea salt, unless otherwise noted.
• The majority of my recipes are strict AIP or include notations for reintroductions. However while I make every effort to label non-AIP ingredients and recipes sometimes they slip past me. If you have questions, please ask in advance.

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