Instant Pot Risotto Recipe
The easiest recipe for Instant Pot Risotto! No more fussing over the stove, this hands-off risotto can be easily adapted to your tastes.
How to Make the Best Instant Pot Risotto
If you’ve ever stood at the stove for 30 minutes, slowly adding ladle after ladle of stock while constantly stirring, you know that traditional risotto can be a labor of love. This Instant Pot risotto changes everything—delivering the same creamy, luxurious result with a fraction of the effort and hands-on time.
The beauty of making risotto in a pressure cooker is that the sealed environment creates the perfect conditions for the Arborio rice to release its starches and become wonderfully creamy. There’s no need for constant stirring or careful attention. Just saute your aromatics, add the rice and liquid, and let the Instant Pot do the work.
This recipe is incredibly versatile and makes the perfect base for endless variations. Add mushrooms for an earthy depth, stir in fresh peas and mint for a spring-inspired dish, or top with seared scallops for an elegant dinner. Once you master this basic technique, you’ll never go back to the stovetop method.
Instant Pot Risotto
The easiest recipe for Instant Pot Risotto! No more fussing over the stove, this hands-off risotto can be easily adapted to your tastes.
Ingredients
Risotto Base
Finishing Touches
Instructions
Prepare the Risotto
- Heat the oil on the saute function on the Instant Pot. Saute onion and garlic until tender and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add Arborio rice and saute for one minute.
- Add wine and cook this off, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a light simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in salt and pepper. If adding any dried herbs, add now.
- Set Instant Pot to High Pressure for 6 minutes. Manually release after 5 minutes (letting this naturally release all the way may result in rice that is slightly overcooked).
Finish and Serve
- Stir in the lemon zest, grated parmesan or other cheese, and optional butter.
- Stir in a little more broth to loosen it up and give it a nice creaminess.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Divide among bowls and top with fresh herbs and more finely grated cheese.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, use a combination of butter and olive oil.
- The manual pressure release after 5 minutes is key to achieving the perfect al dente texture.
- Feel free to add sauteed mushrooms, peas, or roasted vegetables before serving.
- Leftover risotto can be formed into balls, breaded, and fried to make arancini.
