Easy Risotto Recipe

5 from 4 votes

This easy risotto recipe is creamy, comforting and flavorful, and tastes delicious and made with or without white wine. Learn howto make risotto at home in 40 minutes that is just as delicious as your favorite Italian restaurant.

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Total Time35

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Author: Laura

Cost: $6

Equipment

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth
4 Tablespoons salted butter
½ cup onion finely diced (about ½ small onion)
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup arborio rice
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup parmesan cheese
Optional – ½ cup dry white wine (see step 4)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a 5-quart saucepan. Reduce heat and keep simmering.
Melt 3 Tablespoons butter with onion, and garlic in a 5 quart saucepan over medium heat and cook until the onion just starts to soften – about 3 minutes.
Then add rice and stir to coat.
Add ½ cup broth and cook over medium-low heat until mostly absorbed (takes about 3 minutes). (If using white wine, replace the chicken broth in this step only with ½ cup dry white wine).
Stir to ensure broth (or wine) is absorbed, then add additional ½ cup broth and cook without stirring until liquid looks mostly absorbed. Repeat until the broth is used and rice is cooked (about 25 minutes)
Turn off the heat and add sea salt, pepper, parmesan cheese and remaining 1 TBS butter and stir until combined and creamy.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Notes

Chicken broth. You can replace up to ½ cup of the chicken broth with dry, white wine for a more authentic flavor.
Salted Butter. unsalted butter works well too.
Onion. I suggest a sweet white or yellow onion.
Arborio Rice. There is no substitution for this rice.
Parmesan Cheese. you can substitute up to half of the parmesan cheese for grated Romano cheese if you'd like.

Best Wine to Use for Risotto:

The best choice is an acidic dry white wine that isn't sweet. Great options include:

Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Grigio

Tip: Always use a wine you’d actually drink. If it tastes good on it's own, it will taste good in your risotto.

Store/Freeze

Store leftover risotto in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Reheat, covered, in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.

Nutrition