The $2 Pantry Staple I’ve Been Buying for 17 Years (Perfect for Nights When You Don’t Want to Cook)

Ever since I was a child, rice has been a staple in my life — white rice, brown rice, even wild rice (although it’s technically not rice). You name it, I happily gobbled it up. I loved rice pilaf so much, I even requested it for my birthday every year. 

You see, growing up my parents would let my siblings and me decide what we’d all eat for dinner on our “special day.” Happy Meals and pizza may seem like obvious choices for a six-, or nine-, or 10-year old, but I always chose barbecued chicken, zucchini with Parmesan, and rice pilaf. I was born in July, so it lined up well.

It wasn’t just any rice pilaf, though. My mom kept a box of Rice-A-Roni in the pantry at all times, and especially during my birth month — and every since I got my first apartment, I have too.

I wasn’t old enough to understand what makes Rice-A-Roni Rice Pilaf so savory and spectacular, but now that I am an adult, I get it. It’s everything you want in a simple rice pilaf, and it’s even simpler to make. The long grain rice is parboiled — to cut down on cook time — and flavored with dried chicken broth and fat, onions, garlic, and chives, among other ingredients and spices.

Just add a few tablespoons of butter and some water and, in about 20 minutes, you get a seasoned fluffy pilaf. Make sure to keep an eye on the rice as it simmers; I’ve accidentally cooked it a bit too long before and had some of the rice stick to the bottom of my pan. (Unless you like a little crunch to your rice, in which case, go for it!) 

I’ve spotted a box for just $1.48 at Walmart, and use it throughout the year on weeknights that are particularly busy. Once cooked, the box makes about three cups of rice, which is enough for my husband’s and my dinner, plus lunch leftovers for one of us the next day (unless we are hungry, and finish the whole box that night).

I remember as a kid, thinking how delicious the side dish tasted and it still holds up today. I’ve been buying boxes for 17 years now to make that same barbecued chicken, zucchini and Rice-A-Roni pilaf for my husband me and nearly every summer Sunday (in addition to my birthday, of course).

While I’m partial to serving the rice pilaf with the chicken and zucchini for nostalgic reasons, there are so many ways to serve the side dish. It’s great with some steamed asparagus and tender grilled salmon filets, or pork chops and applesauce, once the cooler fall temperatures begin. It’s a good thing to have handy when you just want something easy and tasty to serve with your protein and vegetables.

Buy: Rice-A-Roni Rice Pilaf, $1.48 for 7.2 ounces at Walmart

What staples do you always stock in your pantry for fall? Tell us about it in the comments below.