Broccoli au gratin rice a roni is a delicious vegetarian comfort food made with rice, pasta, broccoli, and cheese. It can be made in just 35 minutes with 9 basic ingredients (including salt, pepper, and cooking oil) and can be paired up with a lot of different dishes.

The combination of broccoli and cheddar cheese can never go wrong. Whether you use this combination in a soup, casserole, an appetizer, or any other dish, it's loved by everyone.
Today's recipe, broccoli au gratin rice a roni also has both of these delicious ingredients in it. As the name suggests this dish has a combination of two very tasty dishes i.e. 'broccoli au gratin' and 'rice a roni'.
Adding carbs i.e. rice and orzo to the combination of broccoli and cheddar cheese makes this easy side dish even more delicious.
You can make this homemade rice a roni in just 35 minutes with 9 basic ingredients.
Jump to:
- What's rice a roni?
- What's needed to make broccoli au gratin rice a roni?
- Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
- How to make(step-by-step instructions)?
- Serving cheddar broccoli rice-a-roni
- Storing, freezing, and reheating tips
- Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
- Frequently asked question
- More easy orzo recipes
- More rice recipes from around the world
- Recipe
What's rice a roni?
Rice-A-Roni is a brand of boxed food products in the USA. It's a type of quick-cooking rice and pasta mix that typically includes rice, vermicelli pasta, and seasonings.
Something similar to Lebanese vermicelli rice but with more ingredients and flavors.
What's needed to make broccoli au gratin rice a roni?
Here's all you need to make this cheesy rice.
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
- Rice: Use any medium or long-grain white rice. Brown rice is fine too but cook it for a longer time.
- Orzo: Orzo is a pasta with the shape of rice grain. You can also use vermicelli instead of orzo pasta to make this rice a roni.
- Broccoli: I have used fresh broccoli but thawed frozen broccoli can be used too.
- Cheese: I prefer using sharp cheddar cheese but you can use mild cheddar cheese too.
- Oil: Olive oil or any neutral-flavored oil like canola oil or vegetable oil can be used in this recipe.
- Butter: Preferably unsalted butter. You can use salted butter too but then add extra salt carefully and only if necessary as cheddar cheese will be salty too.
Other ingredient details and nutritional information are shared in the recipe card.
How to make(step-by-step instructions)?
To make this homemade rice a roni recipe just follow the easy step-by-step instructions given below:
Step 1: Heat oil in a large skillet or pan. Add orzo and rinsed rice. Saute on medium heat until the orzo turns golden brown.
Step 2: Add vegetable stock, salt, and pepper.
Steps 3 and 4: Mix and cook covered until most of the vegetable broth gets absorbed.
Step 5: Add chopped broccoli and mix.
Step 6: Cover the pot again and cook covered for another 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat.
Step 7: Add shredded cheddar cheese and butter.
Step 8: Gently mix.
Your broccoli au gratin rice a roni is ready to be served.
Serving cheddar broccoli rice-a-roni
Serve this cheesy rice hot or warm.
Generally, it's served with salmon. But if you are a vegetarian like me you can serve this cheesy creamy side dish with dishes like garlic bread, roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables, and garlic mushrooms with it.
Storing, freezing, and reheating tips
Store the leftover rice a roni in an airtight container and refrigerate. It will be fine for 3-4 days.
You can also freeze it in air-tight, freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
The best way to reheat this dish is by using the microwave. But, you can also reheat covered in a pan on the stovetop. Add a splash of water or milk while reheating.
Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
- Instead of orzo, you can also use vermicelli in this recipe.
- Stir the rice grains gently otherwise, they will break.
- Use unsalted butter. You can use salted butter too but then add salt carefully as the cheese and butter both are salty.
- This dish tastes the best with a simple salt and pepper seasoning. However, if you want you can add other seasonings of choice too like garlic powder, dried parsley, etc.
Frequently asked question
No, orzo is a type of pasta so it's usually not gluten-free. But nowadays some brands also sell gluten-free orzo.Use that if you are on a gluten-free diet.
You can use vermicelli instead of orzo to make this dish.
More easy orzo recipes
Looking for some more great recipes made with orzo? Don't miss to check out the following links:
- Mushroom orzo with green peas
- Pesto orzo salad
- Greek tomato orzo-kritharaki
- Vegetable orzo soup
- Orzo salad with feta
More rice recipes from around the world
If you enjoyed this cheesy rice and want to make more rice dishes then the following recipes are worth trying out:
- Spanakorizo- Greek spinach rice
- Mexican bean rice
- Curried rice with vegetables
- Jeera rice
- Pumpkin rice with coconut milk
- Thai red curry rice with vegetables
- Edamame rice
- Pineapple fried rice
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Recipe
Broccoli au gratin rice-a-roni
Equipment
- 1 large pan or skillet with lid
- 1 Spatula
- Knife and chopping board
Ingredients
- ½ cup white rice uncooked
- ½ cup orzo uncooked
- 1 cup chopped broccoli
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan. Add orzo and rinsed rice. Saute on medium heat until the orzo turns golden brown.
- Add vegetable stock, salt, and pepper. Mix and cook covered until most of the stock gets absorbed.
- Remove the lid. Add chopped broccoli, mix, and cover the pot again. Cook covered for another 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Add shredded cheese and butter. Gently mix.
Video
Notes
- Instead of orzo, you can also use vermicelli.
- Stir the rice grains gently otherwise, they will break.
- Use unsalted butter. You can use unsalted butter too but then add salt carefully as the cheese and butter both are salty.
- This dish tastes the best with a simple salt and pepper seasoning. However, if you want you can add other seasonings of choice too like garlic powder, dried parsley, etc.
- More recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.
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