Homemade Rice-A-Roni, better than store bought

How many times on Price Is Right did I see Rice-A-Roni as one of the prizes they would win.  I didn't realize how easy it is to make.

Ingredients 

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp chicken bullion homemade recipe 

1 tsp black pepper 

1 tsp parsley 

1 tsp garlic powder 

1 tsp onion powder

1 cup basmati rice 

1/2 cup of broken spaghetti broke into 1 inch pieces

2 1/2 cups boiling water

Stuff you will need 

Pot with lid

Stirring spoon 

Directions

On medium heat, melt the butter.

Add everything but the spaghetti and water.  You want to toast the rice for about 2 minutes.

Add the spaghetti and stir till everything is mixed.

Add the boiling water.  Mix once again and make sure it is boiling.  Turn the heat off and cover with the lid.

Leave the lid on for 20 minutes.  If you play peek a boo, the steam will escape and will will end up with crunchy rice and spaghetti. 

Fluff with a fork and serve.

I found a knock off recipe for rice-a-roni. It says to break spaghetti noodles into 1 inch pieces. What is an easy way to do this without creating a huge mess?

Great question — that step can turn into spaghetti shrapnel if you’re not careful 😄

Here are the cleanest, least-mess ways to break spaghetti into ~1-inch pieces:

✅ Best & Easiest Methods (Minimal Mess)

1. Zip-Top Bag + Hands (Most Popular)

Put the dry spaghetti into a large zip-top freezer bag.

Seal it, pressing out most of the air.

Use your hands to gently snap and bend the noodles.

Shake the bag and break again if needed.

✔️ No flying bits

✔️ No extra dishes

✔️ Size doesn’t have to be perfect (Rice-A-Roni isn’t!)

2. Bundle + Paper Towel (Quick & Controlled)

Lay spaghetti flat on the counter.

Cover with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel.

Press down with both hands, snapping into sections.

Repeat until pieces are ~1 inch.

✔️ Fast

✔️ Easy to eyeball size

✔️ Paper towel catches fragments

3. Food Processor (Fastest, Ultra-Neat)

If you already have it out:

Break spaghetti in half to fit.

Pulse 1–2 short pulses only.

⚠️ Don’t overdo it or you’ll get crumbs

✔️ Very clean

✔️ Uniform pieces

⚠️ Methods to Avoid (Mess Makers)

Snapping spaghetti over the pot or sink (guaranteed scatter)

Smashing with a rolling pin (dust + uneven pieces)

Cutting with scissors in open air (pieces fly)

💡 Pro Tip for Rice-A-Roni

You don’t need exact 1-inch pieces — anywhere between ½–1½ inches works just fine once toasted and simmered.