If you’re one of the many people who think risotto is just for ordering at restaurants, let us set the record straight. Risotto is SO easy to make at home and is perfect for romantic dinners, holidays, and for making any ol' weeknight special. It’s creamy, carb-y, and best of all, it can be paired with everything from protein to vegetables (you can even make it vegan). Check out our 17 best risotto recipes, then get to the kitchen—the more times you make risotto, the better it will be.
First things first, what is risotto? Risotto is an Italian dish in which rice is cooked low and slow with broth until it achieves a super-creamy texture. For the creamiest risotto, you need to use the right kind of rice (arborio is the most common), then add a TON of broth to it. Unlike cooking regular rice, where the ratio is 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, risotto will often utilize up to 4 cups of broth to achieve its creamy texture. The trick is to add it slowly rather than all at once.
Once you’ve got the basic formula down, you can really get creative with your add-ins. Want something extra fancy (and full of protein?). Try our lobster risotto, our , or our shrimp risotto. Looking for something special with more of a vegetable focus? Try our mushroom risotto, our pumpkin risotto, our vegan charred lemon-asparagus risotto, or our butternut squash risotto. These might just be the best way to showcase seasonal produce.
It’s true, risotto does live up to its reputation for being something you have to babysit on the stove, adding ladleful after ladleful of stock to it… mostly. If all that stirring is a real turn-off, but you’re still craving creamy rice, you’ve got options: You could BAKE it, like in our baked pumpkin risotto or our , or you could make it in one of your favorite time-saving appliances, like our Instant Pot risotto or our slow cooker quinoa risotto with carrots and asparagus. Give those recipes a try, then feel free to riff on them. Risotto is a labor of love, so make it your own.
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1
Mushroom Risotto
Since you're putting all the effort (just keep stirring) into making a nice meal, you deserve GOOD cheese for your risotto. A grated block of fresh Parmesan is going to taste 1,000x better than the pre-grated fake stuff. Trust us.
Get the Mushroom Risotto recipe.
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2
Instant Pot Risotto
The Instant Pot is like a time machine, particularly when it comes to risotto. Start with warm broth just as you would with a stovetop version, and you'll have a creamy, dreamy risotto in no time. Bonus? No arm workout!
Get the Instant Pot Risotto recipe.
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3
Lobster Risotto
Here, a simple combination of fresh aromatics, white wine, and seafood stock transforms humble Italian rice grains into the dreamy, cheesy, luscious rice porridge that we’ve all come to love. Adding fresh, faintly sweet lobster meat is all that’s needed to take your risotto over the top.
Get the Lobster Risotto recipe.
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4
Risotto Rice
Risotto may seem intimidating, but we've got all the tips you need to make it perfectly, every time. All you need is an hour, some arborio rice, good-quality chicken broth, a little butter and cheese and wine, along with your favorite aromatics like onion, garlic, and basil.
Get the Risotto Rice recipe.
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5
Butternut Squash Risotto
A lot of butternut squash risotto recipes call for roasting the squash first. Not this one. Here, everything cooks in the same pot, which means the butternut squash kind of becomes the sauce too. The results are insane.
Get the Butternut Squash Risotto recipe.
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6
Vegan Charred Lemon-Asparagus Risotto
This recipe is not that different from regular risotto but is made extra-special (and vegan-friendly) with vegan butter and a to-die-for homemade “Parm” topping made of cashews.
Get the Vegan Charred Lemon-Asparagus Risotto recipe.
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7
Pumpkin Risotto
Take your favorite risotto recipe into fall with the addition of pumpkin puree, sage, and just a pinch of nutmeg. We love the creaminess the shaved ricotta salata adds, but Parm's fine if that's all you got.
Get the Pumpkin Risotto recipe.
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8
Baked Risotto with Lemon, Peas & Parmesan
If you’ve never made risotto because you didn’t want to stand there stirring forever, then this recipe is for you. It packs all the satisfying flavor of a slow-stirred version into a fraction of the hands-on time! Change up the veggies with the seasons—broccoli, asparagus, or roasted zucchini would all be great.
Get the .
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9
Shrimp Risotto
Risotto isn’t just for ordering at restaurants. It’s a dish that is actually quite easy to make at home—even “fancy” seafood risottos like this one. The trick is to first marinate the shrimp, then cook them in the same skillet we cook the rice. The result: The skillet retains a subtle, briny essence that forgoes the need to make a shrimp stock.
Get the Shrimp Risotto recipe.
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10
Baked Pumpkin Risotto
Baked, not stirred, this recipe for pumpkin risotto takes some of the work off the chef without sacrificing that classic risotto flavor and texture. And it's not just pumpkin and butternut squash that bring the fall flavor in this dish—a sprinkle of goat cheese, parsley, and the tart-sweet touch of dried cranberries round out the earthy autumnal vibes.
Get the Baked Pumpkin Risotto recipe.
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11
Slow-Cooker Quinoa Risotto with Carrots and Asparagus
We're using quinoa in a whole new way with this slow-cooker risotto-style recipe. Carrots, asparagus, and peas make it extra-springy, but feel free to swap them out for different seasonal veggies the rest of the year.
Get the Slow-Cooker Quinoa Risotto with Carrots and Asparagus recipe.
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12
Creamy Asparagus and Bacon Risotto
This creamy risotto recipe is unreal, not in the least because the onions in it are cooked right in the bacon fat. Feel free to swap out the asparagus for other seasonal vegetables if you like!
Get the Creamy Asparagus and Bacon Risotto recipe.
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13
Mushroom Risotto with Riced Cauliflower
This creamy mushroom risotto is a decadent weeknight dish to whip up when you're feelin' a bit fancy but want a lower-carb option. Use store-bought or homemade cauliflower rice, whatever works.
Get the Mushroom Risotto with Riced Cauliflower Medley recipe.
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14
Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto
Show the fancy restaurant dish who's boss by making risotto at home. Sun-dried tomatoes make this one a little sweet, a little tangy, and perfect for impressing someone for a romantic dinner.
Get the Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto recipe.
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15
Shrimp Scampi Risotto
Love shrimp scampi, and want something even more impressive? This risotto turns that delicious shrimp dish into a full meal, complete with carbs, butter, and romance.
Get the Shrimp Scampi Risotto recipe.
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16
Black Tea and Mushroom Risotto
Mushrooms and... Lipton black tea? Trust us, it works. It's als0 great for dinner parties—your guests will be kept guessing as to the secret ingredient. We won't tell if you won't!
Get the Black Tea and Mushroom Risotto recipe.
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17
Risotto Alla Vodka
How much do we love this risotto? Let us count the ways... here are two: It's got generous amount of that savory, creamy sauce we know and love, à la penne alla vodka, and gives us an excuse to make a fun co*cktail with the leftover booze. Wins all around.
Get the Risotto Alla Vodka recipe.
