Melt butter in a skillet. And gently sauté the onion until it is translucent and just changing color. Remove onion and set aside in a dish.
Add rice and noodles and sauté until lightly browned.
Stir in chicken broth, bouillon, salt (if using ), and pepper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly, incorporating seasonings throughout the broth, rice and noodles. Bring to a boil.
Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 20-23 minutes, checking periodically that the rice-a-roni is not sticking to the pan.
Mix additions through, garnish with chosen toppings and enjoy!