How to Make Rice-A-Roni in a Rice Cooker: Easy Method and Tips
Yes, you can make Rice-A-Roni in a rice cooker. Brown the rice and vermicelli in butter first, then add it to the rice cooker with the seasoning packet and the water amount on your box, minus about ¼ cup. Cook on the white rice setting.
When the cooker switches to warm, leave the lid closed for 5 to 10 minutes, then fluff. The box only gives stovetop and microwave directions, so these small changes stop it turning goopy.
- Browning the vermicelli is what gives Rice-A-Roni its toasty flavor. Do it in a skillet, or with your cooker’s sauté setting.
- Rice cookers lose less steam than a pan, so use slightly less water than the box says.
- Use a standard measuring cup for the water, not the rice cooker’s own cup or water lines.
- White rice setting for most flavors. A basic one-button cooker works too.
- Rest with the lid closed before fluffing so the pasta does not turn mushy.
Can you cook Rice-A-Roni in a rice cooker?
Yes. Rice-A-Roni is long-grain rice mixed with thin vermicelli pasta and a seasoning packet. A rice cooker cooks it the same way it cooks plain rice: it heats until the water is absorbed, then switches to warm.
The box does not include rice cooker directions, which is why so many people ask. The main differences are the browning step and the amount of water. Get those right and it tastes just like the stovetop version.
What you need
- 1 box of Rice-A-Roni, any rice flavor
- Butter or margarine, as listed on your box (usually about 2 tablespoons)
- Water, as listed on your box, minus about ¼ cup
- A skillet, unless your rice cooker has a sauté or brown setting
- A standard 1-cup measuring cup
A single box suits a 3- to 6-cup rice cooker. For a family-size box, use a cooker of at least 6 cups so it does not bubble over.
How to make Rice-A-Roni in a rice cooker
- Brown the mix. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the rice-vermicelli mix and stir often until the vermicelli turns golden brown.
- Move it to the rice cooker. Scrape the browned mix and butter into the inner pot.
- Add water and seasoning. Measure the water from the box, take away about ¼ cup, and add it with the seasoning packet. Stir well.
- Cook. Close the lid and choose White Rice, or press Cook on a basic cooker.
- Rest. When it switches to Warm, leave the lid closed for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Fluff and serve. Fluff gently with a fork. Taste, and add a little hot water and a few more minutes if the rice is still firm.
You can put the dry mix, butter, seasoning and water straight into the cooker. It works, but the vermicelli stays pale and softer and the flavor is milder. Browning first is worth the five minutes.
Which rice cooker setting should you use?
Use White Rice on a multi-setting cooker. Avoid Brown Rice or Porridge, which run longer and turn the pasta soft. On cookers with a Sauté or Brown setting, such as some Aroma and multi-cookers, you can brown the mix in the pot and then switch to White Rice.
A basic on-off rice cooker works fine. It will click over to Warm once the water has been absorbed.
Water for popular Rice-A-Roni flavors
Always start from the water printed on your box, because it varies by flavor and box size. Some flavors also ask you to add canned tomatoes. In a rice cooker, count the tomato juice as part of the liquid.
| Flavor type | What changes in a rice cooker |
|---|---|
| Chicken, Beef, Rice Pilaf, Herb and Butter | Box water minus about ¼ cup |
| Spanish Rice and Mexican Style (with tomatoes) | Add the tomatoes with their juice, then reduce the water by about ½ cup in total |
| Cheddar Broccoli and Four Cheese | Box water minus about ¼ cup; stir well after cooking so the sauce coats the rice |
| Family-size boxes | Box water minus about ⅓ cup; use a 6-cup cooker or larger |
Why is my Rice-A-Roni goopy in the rice cooker?
Goopy or mushy Rice-A-Roni is the most common complaint. It usually comes down to too much water or too much time on Warm. These fixes help.
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Goopy or sticky | Full box water amount, or cooker’s water lines used | Use ¼ cup less water, measured with a standard cup |
| Mushy pasta | Left on Warm too long, or Brown Rice setting | Use White Rice; serve within 15 to 20 minutes |
| Still crunchy | Not enough water, or lid opened early | Add 2 to 3 tablespoons hot water and cook again |
| Burnt bottom | Butter browned in the cooker for too long | Brown in a skillet, or stir constantly on Sauté |
| Bland | Vermicelli not browned | Brown until golden before adding water |
Easy add-ins
- Chicken: stir in cooked, chopped chicken after cooking. Our beef and rice recipes have more one-pot ideas.
- Vegetables: add ½ to 1 cup of frozen peas, corn or mixed vegetables on top before cooking.
- Broth instead of water: use low-sodium broth for a richer taste, as the seasoning packet is already salty.
- Cheese: stir in a handful of grated cheese while it rests.
Do not add raw meat to the rice cooker with the rice. It may not reach a safe temperature in the short white rice cycle.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make Rice-A-Roni in a rice cooker?
Yes. Brown the mix in butter, add it to the rice cooker with the seasoning and the box’s water minus about ¼ cup, and cook on White Rice. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes before fluffing.
What do you set a rice cooker on for Rice-A-Roni?
White Rice, or the single Cook setting on a basic cooker. Use Sauté or Brown first if your cooker has it, to toast the vermicelli.
How long does Rice-A-Roni take in a rice cooker?
Usually about 20 to 30 minutes on White Rice, depending on your cooker, plus 5 to 10 minutes of resting. The cooker switches to Warm on its own when it is done.
Do you have to brown Rice-A-Roni first?
No, but it tastes better. Browning toasts the vermicelli and keeps it firmer. Without it, the dish is softer and milder.
Can I cook Rice-A-Roni in an Aroma rice cooker?
Yes. Many Aroma models have a Sauté-then-Simmer or Brown setting for browning the mix in the pot. Then switch to White Rice and use the box water minus about ¼ cup.
Can you cook Knorr or other boxed rice and pasta mixes in a rice cooker?
Most rice-based mixes work the same way: use the stovetop water amount minus a little, and the White Rice setting. Pasta-only mixes are better on the stove, as they need stirring.
The bottom line
Rice-A-Roni works well in a rice cooker. Brown the mix in butter, use slightly less water than the box says, cook on White Rice, and let it rest before fluffing.
Your rice cooker can do much more than plain rice. See our guides to barley in a rice cooker and congee in a rice cooker.
- Rice-A-Roni, Rice-A-Roni Chicken Flavor product page.
- Whole Grains Council, Cooking Grains With Your Rice Cooker (why rice cookers need slightly less water).
- Top 10 Best Ceramic Cooker Under 100 2026 - October 30, 2026
- Top 10 Best Portable Ceramic Cooker 2026 - October 30, 2026
- Top 10 Best Compact Ceramic Cooker 2026 - October 30, 2026
