When you need something quick, easy, and downright delicious, pasta and rice are always there. After all, there’s hardly anything better than a big, warm bowl of comfort carbs at the end of a long day. But if you’ve ever had the displeasure of diving into mushy manicotti or crunchy quinoa, then you know that all grains are not built the same.
To track down the best and tastiest options around, we tested hundreds of delightful dry goods for the 2025 SELF Pantry Awards. We boiled, strained, and sauced our way to this list of pasta and grains that we’re sure will brighten any cupboard. Stock up now, serve them soon, and thank us later.
Pantry Awards 2025: Best Pasta and Rice
Shop your favorite category below or keep scrolling for the year’s very best pasta and grains.
Best Pasta
Best Gluten-Free Pasta: Goodles Gluten-Free Pasta
Why we love it: Goodles first went viral on TikTok for its homestyle, high-protein mac and cheese. (Not to call ourselves trendsetters, but we did award the brand a Pantry Award for their mac last year.) Now we’re psyched to report that Goodles’ gluten-free noodles hold up too. With 14 grams of protein and six grams of fiber, they’re packed with nutrients—and actually taste great. They recommend keeping a box on hand for nights when you need a no-brain-power-required dinner.
One tester said: “Unlike other gluten-free pastas, this one doesn’t have that hard, rubbery, al dente consistency. Honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference taste- or texture-wise from regular pasta.”
Best Rice
Best Instant Rice: Lundberg Family Farms Regenerative Organic Certified 2-Minute Jasmine Rice
Best Instant Rice
Lundberg Family Farms Regenerative Organic Certified 2-Minute Jasmine Rice
Why we love it: Rice is notoriously easy to screw up, and quick rice can get a bad rap. This one from stalwart brand Lundberg Family Farms is “as easy as it gets,” one tester says, and it’s made with nothing but water and rice. Just pop it in the microwave for two minutes and you have a delicious side dish, bowl base, or fried rice starter. No boiling (or boiling over) required.
One tester said: “I love that it was so fluffy and filling—it really goes well with any dish.”
Best Meal Starter: Paro Kitchari
Best Meal Starter
Paro Kitchari
Why we love it: Craving comfort food? Made with mung beans, basmati rice, and warm spices, Kitchari is a stunning side dish or a mouthwatering main course with a stew-like texture that comes together in 30 minutes over the stove. Eat it as-is, or get creative with toppings: Yogurt, eggs, meat, and tofu are all fair game. For the record, our testers say it hits the spot any way you make it.
One tester said: “The savory taste is very comforting and satisfying—I found myself simply eating this on its own straight from the pot. On the box, it says ‘it tastes like a warm hug,’ and that’s extremely accurate.”
How we picked the winners of the 2025 SELF Pantry Awards
This year, items we considered for the 2025 Pantry Awards had to meet the following criteria:
