This Instant Pot Risotto recipe is the perfect way to make risotto without having to babysit a pot on the stove top. The best part is you still get extremely creamy and perfectly cooked arborio rice!! Promise! All you need is some arborio rice, oil and butter, garlic, white wine, chicken broth and parmesan cheese. It is ready in a 7 minute cook time and a 10 minute natural release.
If you love risotto for dinner then check out these other two Instant Pot Risotto Recipes:
Jump to:
- Why Youโll Love This Easy Risotto Recipe
- Ingredients Needed for Instant Pot Risotto
- How to Make Instant Pot Risotto
- Instant Pot Risotto Recipe Variations
- How to Serve Risotto
- How to Store Easy Risotto Recipe
- Instant Pot Risotto Recipe FAQs
- More Delicious Risotto Dishes
- Did you make this recipe?
- How to Make Instant Pot Risotto Recipe
- Leave a comment and rate this recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Risotto Recipe
- No babysitting the pot : The Instant Pot does all the work, so there's no standing at the stove stirring constantly.
- Perfect every time : Pressure cooking locks in the right moisture ratio, meaning no undercooked rice or soupy mess.
- Restaurant quality : It tastes like something you'd order from an expensive Italian restaurant, but made in your kitchen.
- Quick weeknight magic : Risotto can take up to an hour, but this version is on the table in about 30 mins.
Ingredients Needed for Instant Pot Risotto
- Salted Butter and Olive Oil Using both gives you the best of both worlds. The olive oil keeps the butter from burning, and the butter adds that rich, velvety flavor that makes risotto taste luxurious.
- Garlic & Kosher Salt Garlic builds the aromatic foundation, while kosher salt seasons more evenly than table salt.
- Arborio Rice This short-grain Italian rice is the key to creamy risotto. Its high starch content releases as it cooks, giving you that signature silky texture without needing any cream.
- White Wine Deglazes the pot and adds a subtle brightness. I recommend using a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Something you will drink, but avoid overly sweet wines.
- Chicken Broth The main cooking liquid for your risotto. Use a good quality broth to infuse the rice with savory flavor as it cooks.
- Parmesan Cheese Freshly grated Parmesan is the grand finale. It melts right in, thickening the risotto and adding a salty, nutty finish that ties everything together.
What is Arborio Rice
Arborio rice is the short grain Italian rice that is used to make Risotto. It contains quite a bit of rice starch, which is why risotto is a famously creamy dish.
MOM’S TIP: make sure you DO NOT RINSE your arborio rice! The extra rice starch that clings to the outside of the grains creates that creamy texture you love!
Recommended Equipment
You’ll need an electric pressure cooker for this recipe. This specific Risotto Recipe was tested in an Instant Pot. In our test kitchen we have the 9-in-1 and the 7-in-1 6 quart Instant Pot . If you are working with a brand other than Instant Pot, feel free to reach out and ask any questions (susie@momsdinner.net)
How to Make Instant Pot Risotto
Step 1
Turn Instant Pot onto saute and saute the garlic in the oil/butter for 1 minute.
Step 2
Add the arborio rice and saute for another 2 minutes.
Step 3
Pour in the wine, broth and kosher salt. Scrape any bits off the bottom of the pot.
Step 4
Turn off sautรฉ mode, pop the lid on the Instant Pot and set to cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Do a 10 minute natural release. Then quick release any remaining pressure.
Step 5
Stir the risotto and then add your desired amount of parmesan.
Step 6
Let cool and thicken, and it’s time to serve!
Instant Pot Risotto Recipe Variations
- Mushroom & Thyme Risotto Use a mix of cremini and shiitake mushrooms, sautรฉed until golden before adding the garlic and thyme for a minute. Finish with a splash of cream or truffle oil for extra richness.
- Lemon & Asparagus Risotto Perfect for spring. Stir in chopped, blanched asparagus and fresh lemon zest at the end for a bright, fresh flavor.
- Parmesan & Pea Risotto Add frozen peas after pressure release so they stay vibrant and sweet.
- Butternut Squash Risotto Roast cubed butternut squash first for deeper flavor, then fold it into the risotto after cooking with a touch of sage or nutmeg.
- Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto Stir in chopped spinach and diced sun-dried tomatoes for a Mediterranean twist. A little feta or goat cheese makes it extra creamy.
- Bacon & Sweet Corn Risotto Crisp up the bacon pieces in the Instant Pot, Then remove from the pot, reserving some grease to saute the onions and rice. Then stir in corn and reserved bacon crumbles before serving.
- Pesto Risotto After cooking stir a little homemade pesto through the risotto.
- Spring Risotto After cooking stir in a good amount of pesto, then add some frozen peas, a handful of fresh baby spinach and blanched asparagus.
How to Serve Risotto
You can serve this Instant Pot Risotto as a side dish or as a main dish. It goes great with these delicious Italian Dishes:
- Chicken Parmesan
- Pork Milanese
- Chicken Spiedini
- with Italian Meatballs over top (or Instant Pot Meatballs)
- with Beef Ragu over top (or Instant Pot Beef Ragu)
How to Store Easy Risotto Recipe
Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave, you can add some milk, water, or broth to reconstitute before reheating.
Instant Pot Risotto Recipe FAQs
If your risotto is just a smidge too thick you can add a couple tablespoons of milk or cream to loosen it up a touch.
If your risotto still has too much liquid after cooking, turn on the sautรฉ function (low) for a few minutes to simmer out some of the liquid. Make sure you stir a lot so it doesn’t burn to the pot. However, note that the parmesan cheese will thicken up some of that liquid!
More Delicious Risotto Dishes
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Did you make this recipe?
I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me
How to Make Instant Pot Risotto Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 fresh garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 ยฝ cups arborio rice - do not rinse your rice!!!!
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ยฝ cup white wine - something crisp like chardonnay or pinot grigio (make sure it is not sweet!!).
- 3 ยฝ cups chicken broth
- ยฝ cup grated parmesan cheese - more if you like it cheesy!
Instructions
- With your Instant Pot on saute mode (normal or less), add the butter and olive oil. Add the chopped garlic and saute for 1 minute.Watch carefully so the garlic doesn't burn.2 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 fresh garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- Pour in the arborio rice and kosher salt let it saute for 2 minutes.1 ยฝ cups arborio rice, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Pour in the wine and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Pour in the chicken broth and then turn the saute function off.ยฝ cup white wine, 3 ยฝ cups chicken broth
- Pop the lid on and turn the pressure vent to seal. Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure mode for 7 minutes.
- Do a 10 minute natural release, then release any remaining pressure with a quick release.There will still be a little standing liquid in the pot, that is ok. Give the pot a stir and it should incorporate, and the cheese will thicken it even more.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese.ยฝ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Let the Risotto cool for a minute or two and then serve immediately!Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over top for a delicious flavor addition.
Recipe Tips and Notes:
Kelsey says
This is incredible and SO easy. Serving it tonight with sliced beef sausage on top and Brussels on the side. Risotto is an impressive dish, and with this, no one will know youโre cheating! Brava! And thank you!
John says
I am a big fan of this risotto! It was really good!