RICE-A-RONI, chicken flavor, unprepared
Whole food · Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes
Photo: Wikipedia
Rice-A-Roni, chicken flavor, is a boxed mix of long-grain rice and vermicelli pasta, pre-seasoned with chicken broth powder and spices. When cooked, it yields a fluffy, savory side dish with a distinct, salty chicken flavor and a slightly chewy texture from the pasta bits. Nutritionally, it's a high-carb, low-fat, low-protein base that serves as a quick energy source.
Calorie split: 12% protein · 85% carbs · 3% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its nostalgic, savory 'chicken' flavor and the satisfying, comforting texture that comes from the rice-pasta blend. It's a versatile canvas that can be easily customized with added vegetables or protein to create a complete, one-pot meal.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The mix is very high in sodium and refined carbohydrates, which can contribute to blood-sugar spikes and isn't ideal for low-sodium diets. To counteract this, pair it with a significant portion of steamed vegetables and a lean protein like grilled chicken or tofu to add fiber and balance the meal, and consider using only half the seasoning packet.
Key benefits
- Extremely quick and convenient meal preparation
- Provides a high amount of carbohydrates for quick energy
- Low in fat and contains no cholesterol
- A familiar, comforting flavor profile for many American households
- Shelf-stable and has a long pantry life
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Rice-A-Roni was invented in San Francisco in 1958 by a local pasta manufacturer and a rice producer who decided to combine their products into a single box, marketing it as 'The San Francisco Treat.'
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 8.2 g |
| Energy | 356 kcal |
| Energy | 1490 kj |
| Protein | 10.6 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 1.0 g |
| Ash | 4.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 76.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.2 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.70 g |
| Sucrose | 1.3 g |
| Glucose | 0.27 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.83 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 71.6 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 18.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 2.8 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 31.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 126 mg |
| Potassium, K | 153 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 884 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.4 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.18 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 1.0 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 32.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.59 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.10 mg |
| Niacin | 5.1 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.56 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.18 mg |
| Folate, total | 26.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 4.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 22.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 28.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 9.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 3.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 29.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 51.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 2.0 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 105 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.15 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.04 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.14 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.04 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.07 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.24 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.22 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.60 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.39 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.33 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.33 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.30 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 0.29 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.46 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.43 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 0.42 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.01 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.01 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.01 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is Rice-A-Roni a rice or a pasta?
It's a blend of both. The mix contains long-grain rice and broken vermicelli pasta pieces, which are toasted together before packaging.
Why does the vermicelli in the mix look darker?
The pasta pieces are toasted in oil during the manufacturing process to develop a nutty flavor and golden-brown color before being mixed with the rice.
Can I cook Rice-A-Roni without the seasoning packet?
Yes, you can. Cooking it with just water or broth will give you a plain rice and pasta blend, allowing you to season it yourself with your preferred herbs and spices.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.56 kcal/g · 12% calories from protein · 1.2 g fiber · 0.7 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 5.78 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.