Stretching a Box of Noodle-Roni

If your only slighly more adventurous and you want to save even more money try this. Buy your pasta on sale; often you can get it for 50 cents per pound or less. The rice is cheap, too... and you can use a cheap dry chicken boullion.

2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup THIN spaghetti, broken into 1 inch pieces, about 1/6 of a 1 pound box of dried pasta
3/4 cup white enriched rice
1 1/2 cups water with appropriate chicken boullion
1/2 small chopped onion
Salt

In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add spaghetti and rice and brown for about 4 minutes. Add broth or water, salt and pepper, and bring liquid to a full boil. Cover pot and REDUCE HEAT TO A SIMMER cook 18-20 minutes. Fluff with a fork, serve and enjoy.

Experiment... add leftover veggies and/or meat to this. You'll never have to buy Rice-A-Roni again!

This is a WONDERFUL tip, I don't have a large family, but this is still a great idea!!! I will definitely use it! Thanks!!!!!

Cindy

December 26, 20040 found this helpful

You can also stretch a box of Hamburger, Tuna, or Chicken helper the same way....I add a couple of handfuls of similar pasta (I have several on hand)...and often stir in a pound of a frozen veggie, a can of veggies, or fresh. This makes a hearty meal for a family of five, including 3 teenagers.

OMG....... you guys are great!! I never thought of that and I needed it when my kids where still at home...I had 3 kids and 2 adults and one box wasnt quite enough so I would make 2 boxes and part of it would go to waste. Thanks!!!

Jess
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts

December 15, 20170 found this helpful

I don't usually add more pasta to box meals but I always add in a bunch of veggies. I always start with onions and garlic, then maybe celery, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini.