• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
This Italian Kitchen
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Appetizers & Starters
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads & Sides
  • Desserts
  • Holiday Menus
  • Drinks
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Appetizers & Starters
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads & Sides
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Appetizers & Starters
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads & Sides
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Italian Recipes » Main Dishes

    Chicken Risotto

    July 5, 2022 by angelakallison 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Chicken Risotto

    Chicken Risotto is a delicious one-pot meal that's super flavorful and easy to make! This dish is simple to make and perfect for any occasion.

    Chicken Risotto in a bowl with parsley and cheese on top.

    This recipe for Chicken Risotto is truly a warm bowl of comfort. Full of pureed veggies and diced chicken thighs, this arborio rice recipe comes together fast and has so much flavor!

    If you love risotto recipes, be sure to try this Mushroom Pea Risotto. For a delicious chicken and rice casserole, check out this Chicken Broccoli Rice Ritz Casserole or this easy stovetop Stuffed Peppers Skillet.

    Eggplant lovers be sure to try this easy recipe for an Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich! And, if you have leftover holiday turkey, don't miss this Turkey Orzo Soup recipe.

    Why this Recipe is the Best!

    This recipe for Chicken Risotto is a far cry from boring chicken and rice dishes. This one-pot meal is packed full of flavor and is the comfort food you are craving!

    Chicken Risotto in a blue bowl with parsley and parmesan on top.

    To start, the dish has a pureed veggie combination of carrot, celery, and onion. This puree then gets cooked beforehand. Doing this adds a delicious depth of flavor and color to the rice.

    Here, I used diced boneless, skinless, chicken thighs, instead of chicken breasts. The thighs are not only more cost effective, but add a rich and deep flavor to the recipe.

    The entire dish is made in one pot for less mess and easier preparation. Plus, you don't risk losing any flavors that develop while making the dish in your dutch oven.

    If you've made risotto before, you were probably overwhelmed by the amount of stirring you had to do with the rice. Here, you add the risotto, turn the heat down low, and let the arborio rice work its magic.

    So, if you are looking for a quick weeknight dinner, or something delicious to entertain with, be sure to give this Chicken Risotto recipe a try. Read on to see how easy it is to make.

    Recipe Ingredients

    overhead photo of ingredients for recipe including broth, celery, red wine, and arborio rice.

    To make Chicken Risotto, you will need: chicken broth, arborio rice, parmesan, parsley, garlic, butter, olive oil, kosher salt, chicken thighs, celery, carrot, onion, white wine, and bay leaves.

    • Chicken: this recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs that are cut into small bite-sized pieces. You can use substitute chicken breasts here if you'd like. Be sure to trim off any excess fat from the chicken.
    • Arborio rice: this short grain rice is high in starch and perfect for making creamy risotto, without any cream! You can substitute any short grain rice, but know that it will change the final texture of the dish.
    • White wine: the white wine is used to deglaze the pan and give the arborio rice extra flavor. Try to use a dry white wine if you have one. You could also omit the wine and use extra broth instead.
    • Chicken broth: I like to use store-bought low sodium chicken broth for this recipe. That way you can adjust the salt. Be sure the stock is hot when adding it to the pan.

    How to Make Chicken Risotto

    If you are intimidated to make risotto, you shouldn't be! This one-pot recipe comes together quick and is full of delicious and comforting flavors.

    process shots showing how to make recipe including pulsing the veggies and browning them in a dutch oven.

    Step 1: dice the carrots, celery, and onion into large chunks. Place them in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment.

    Step 2: pulse the veggies until they form a paste. You want them pretty well diced here.

    Step 3: add olive oil to a dutch oven over medium high heat. Add in the diced veggies and cook until the veggies form an almost a paste-like texture.

    Step 4: to the pot of veggies, add in the diced chicken thighs and bay leaves. Cook the chicken until it starts to brown on the outside; about 5-6 minutes. No need to cook the chicken through at this point.

    process shots showing how to make the recipe including cooking the meat, adding in the broth and arborio rice, and stirring in parmesan and parsley.

    Step 5: deglaze the pan by pouring in the white wine. Bring to a simmer.

    Step 6: add in the hot chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, scrape up any bits that may have stuck to the bottom of the pan.

    Step 7: add in the arborio rice. Then, stir the mixture well, bring to low simmer, and cover. Cook, stopping to stir every 5 minutes or so, until the rice is al dente.

    Step 8: stir in the butter, parmesan, and parsley. Let the chicken risotto sit, covered, to thicken slightly before serving. Serve with more parmesan and parsley on top.

    chicken risotto recipe in a blue dutch oven.

    Tips for Making Chicken Risotto

    • Use a large dutch oven for this recipe. You will need plenty of space for cooking so opt for a bigger 4 quart dutch oven if you have it.
    • To make a creamy and rich risotto without any cream, use arborio rice. You can find it in the grain section of most grocery stores.
    • Chicken thighs are great for getting a melt-in-your mouth bite of chicken. Choose the boneless, skinless chicken for easy prep. Then, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces.
    • If your risotto has too much liquid, cover the pot and let it sit to thicken. Then, starch will absorb the liquid leaving you with the perfect creamy bite.
    • Refrigerate leftover risotto in an airtight container for up to a four days. You can also freeze individual portions for a quick and easy meal.
    overhead photo of chicken risotto in a large blue pot topped with parmesan and parsley.

    Risotto FAQs

    What is risotto?

    Risotto is a traditional Italian rice dish made with a high-starch, short grain rice called arborio. The starch content of the arborio grain help to make risotto creamy without any additional cream added to the recipe. This particular type of rice is essential for making traditional risotto.

    What is the difference between rice and arborio rice?

    Arborio rice is a short-grain, high starch rice that is traditionally used for making risotto. It is capable of absorbing a lot of liquid without becoming mushy. Traditional rice can become overcooked more easily and doesn't absorb as much liquid.

    Is there cream in risotto?

    Risotto seems like a rich dish that's full of cream, however, properly made risotto doesn't need any additional cream at all. The arborio rice is full of starch which helps to make the risotto creamy. To get this creaminess, be sure to use hot stock with the risotto and stir it frequently to release the starches.

    How to finish off risotto?

    Once your risotto is cooked, finish it by stirring in a couple tablespoons of butter. Then, add in parmesan and some diced parsley.

    More Italian One-Pot Recipes

    Italian Sausage and Lentils

    Cheesy Ham and Asparagus Pasta

    Sausage Kale Pasta Recipe

    Chicken and Broccoli Tortellini

    Shrimp Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes

    overhead photo of chicken risotto in a blue pot.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    chicken risotto
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Chicken Risotto

    One-pot chicken risotto is a simple and delicious meal flavored with pureed veggies and parmesan cheese.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time27 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Chicken Risotto, Risotto
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 523kcal
    Author: Angela Allison
    Cost: 6-8

    Equipment

    • food processor with blade attachment
    • 3 to 4 quart dutch oven

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup onion, cut into large chunks
    • 1 cup peeled carrot, cut into large chunks
    • 1 cup celery, cut into large chunks
    • 2 large garlic cloves, peeled
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized pieces)
    • 2 dried bay leaves
    • 1 cup dry white wine
    • 5 cup hot low sodium chicken broth
    • 2 cups Arborio rice
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
    • ¼ cup chopped parsley

    Instructions

    • Place the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped and almost paste-like in texture.
    • Pour the olive oil into the dutch oven over medium high heat. Add in the vegetable mixture and half a teaspoon of salt. Cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables have started to dry out.
    • Add in the cubed chicken, remaining salt, and bay leaves. Stir the chicken and cook until the chicken begins to brown slightly; about 5-6 minutes. Add in the wine and cook until it has mostly evaporated; about 5 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the pan while the wine bubbles and cooks.
    • Pour in the 5 cups of hot broth and bring to a boil. Add in the arborio rice and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and cover the pot to cook the rice. Stir the rice every 5 minutes scraping the bottom of the pan and continue cooking until the rice is al dente; about 20-25 minutes total.
    • Once the rice is cooked stir in the butter pieces until well combined. Then stir in the parsley and parmesan cheese. Turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes to allow the excess liquid to absorb. Serve with extra parmesan and parsley sprinkled over top.

    Video

    Notes

    • Use a large dutch oven for this recipe. You will need plenty of space for cooking so opt for a bigger 4 quart dutch oven if you have it.
    • To make a creamy and rich risotto without any cream, use arborio rice. You can find it in the grain section of most grocery stores.
    • Chicken thighs are great for getting a melt-in-your mouth bite of chicken. Choose the boneless, skinless chicken for easy prep. Then, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces.
    • If your risotto has too much liquid, cover the pot and let it sit to thicken. Then, starch will absorb the liquid leaving you with the perfect creamy bite.
    • Refrigerate leftover risotto in an airtight container for up to a four days. You can also freeze individual portions for a quick and easy meal.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 523kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 2897mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2979IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 4mg
    « No Bake Ricotta Cheesecake
    Farro Salad Recipe »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill

      July 05, 2022 at 7:49 pm

      5 stars
      I really enjoy the process of making risotto. I love that you made it into a main dish. Looking forward to making this soon for dinner!

      Reply
    2. Charla

      July 05, 2022 at 10:41 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious! I'm new to cooking risotto so I cannot wait to test out your recipe.

      Reply
    3. Ieva

      July 06, 2022 at 12:29 am

      5 stars
      My husband made this for me last night and I had to come here to say thank you! It was absolutely delicious, and I love how you pureed the vegetables to incorporate into the creamy risotto! We'll definitely cook it again!

      Reply
    4. Mahy

      July 06, 2022 at 2:19 am

      5 stars
      This risotto is amazing! I mean how yummy does it look?! I can only imagine the taste of it right now.

      Reply
    5. Debbie S. S.

      November 14, 2022 at 6:41 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe that you described and directed beautifully. It helped me understand more about cooking a great risotto. Nothing was altered or changed, btw!

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        November 15, 2022 at 4:08 am

        Thanks Debbie! I'm so happy you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    6. Mary Ann

      February 04, 2023 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for a one pot rice recipe to make when I found yours. Just made it, my husband and I loved it. It really was delicious.
      I'll be making it again. Thank you!

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        February 11, 2023 at 6:15 am

        Thanks for the comment Mary Ann. I'm so happy you and your husband enjoyed it! 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Angela, the recipe creator of This Italian Kitchen. Cooking alongside her Italian family, she grew up creating authentic meals and desserts.

    More about me →

    Authentic Pasta Dishes

    These classic Italian pasta recipes are guaranteed to please!

    • Sausage Kale Pasta
    • Italian Turkey Lasagna | Easy No Boil Recipe
    • Anchovy Breadcrumb Pasta
    • Cheese Beef Stuffed Shells

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    *Posts on this site may contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you

    Copyright © 2022 This Italian Kitchen

    95 shares