This has been a fun and delicious week! Cinco de Mayo is a great way to celebrate the Mexican heritage, especially with food. This week we enjoyed Queso Chicken, homemade burritos made with the leftovers plus refried beans, and tonight we will have fish tacos. Tuesday night we had the queso chicken with my copy-cat Rice-a-Roni Spanish rice. It is simple to make and oh my gravy good!
RICE, WHEAT FLOUR, ONIONS*, SALT, GREEN BELL PEPPER WITH SODIUM SULFITE FOR COLOR RETENTION*, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, PAPRIKA [COLOR], SPICES, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE, NIACIN, GARLIC*, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, FOLIC ACID, RIBOFLAVIN. CONTAINS SOY AND WHEAT INGREDIENTS.
Super Easy, Super Good
The prep for this is simple. Measure out 1 cup of instant rice and 1/2 a cup of fideo pasta. This pasta is very small and thin. If you don’t have fideo, you can break vermicelli or angel hair spaghetti into small pieces and it will do just fine.
This takes 2 cups of chicken broth. Usually I mix a tablespoon of chicken bouillon to each cup of water.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet. Add the rice and fideo mixture and sprinkle with the taco seasoning. Sauté until the rice and pasta is nice and toasted.
You can find my recipe for homemade taco seasoning here.
Pour the chicken broth into the pan and stir occasionally on a simmer. The pasta will get tender fairly quickly but the instant rice will take a few minutes.
Add your diced tomatoes with green chilis. It can be any brand. Remember not to drain the tomatoes. The rice needs the liquid and the flavors from the diced tomatoes will enhance the grains. The aromas are really going to come alive now!
The rice dish will thicken while the rice soaks up the juices of the chicken stock and the tomatoes.
Now doesn’t that look absolutely amazing?! It really brought the queso chicken to life, as well. I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know what you would like me to bring to your table next.
A Rice for All Occasions
Rice-a-Roni. Just the name alone brings back memories of commercials for the San Francisco treat. I must admit I was addicted to the beef flavor. Mom bought it for my lunches since I loved it so much and she made the chicken variety pretty often. When I grew up, I wasn’t the best cook so box mixes were my thing. Now that I am the chief cook and bottle washer in my home (I know, showing my age with that one), I would prefer homemade.
A few years ago, my hubby kinda made a face when I said I wanted him to pick me up some of the trusty box mixes. I finally got it out of him that he didnt really care for them. They were missing something he couldnt put his finger on. Well, we can’t have that can we? I stewed on it a while and started hunting in the pantry for things I knew were in the mix. I knew what my family did enjoy and the spices that made them so I felt I had a head start. It took two tries to get it ready for that night’s supper (burned the first one, sorry hubby) but he loved it so I knew I had something.
That time around was a chicken flavor. Since then I have made a beef and a Spanish rice. The latter is the most requested side-dish here in the Hancock-Crans household. It went perfectly with the queso chicken, but would highlight any of your main courses. Let’s get started.
This is for the Spanish rice but keep an eye out for future posts where I will show you how to make other varieties.
How To Make Rice a Roni
FAQ
What is the difference between Rice-A-Roni Mexican rice and Spanish rice?
What does Spanish rice contain?
What does Rice-A-Roni have in it?
Is Rice-A-Roni Spanish rice good for you?
Can you use rice a Roni for tacos?
Taco Rice-A-Roni Casserole You can also use Rice-A-Roni Spanish rice for a killer taco casserole! Combine rice with ground beef, cheese, black beans, and sour cream for the ultimate taco night. This recipe is a ‘dump and bake’ meal that comes together in a jiffy.
What can you eat with rice a Roni?
You can also use Rice-A-Roni Spanish rice for a killer taco casserole! Combine rice with ground beef, cheese, black beans, and sour cream for the ultimate taco night. This recipe is a ‘dump and bake’ meal that comes together in a jiffy. And your whole family will love this Mexican-inspired dinner dish. 5. Rice-A-Roni Chicken Soup
What does Rice A Roni taste like?
The delightful flavor of our Rice-A-Roni Spanish Rice comes from the combination of tender rice, vermicelli, and a blend of traditional Spanish seasonings, making it a zesty dish that will be loved by everyone in the family. Is Rice-A-Roni Spanish Rice spicy? The Spanish rice offers a pleasant taste without any spiciness.
How do you cook rice a Roni?
Rice-a-Roni is one of the trickiest boxed dinners to make. When prepared improperly, you end up with unpleasantly crunchy rice. This guide is here to provide a culinary commentary on the instructions that already come on the box. Bring your water and seasonings to a boil and then reduce the heat to “low.”