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Instant Pot Chicken Risotto Recipe With Lemon - Gather & Celebrate

Instant Pot Chicken Risotto Recipe With Lemon

Instant Pot Chicken Risotto Recipe - Easiest Way

Looking for tasty main dish Instant Pot recipes for easy dinners? This creamy risotto with tender chicken pieces is the ultimate “one-pot” perfect comfort food.

Last updated on March 4th, 2024 at 05:56 pm

Instant Pot Chicken Risotto Recipe – Easiest Way



Looking for tasty main dish Instant Pot recipes for easy dinners? This creamy risotto with tender chicken pieces is the ultimate “one-pot” perfect comfort food. If you’ve never had this northern Italian rice dish with its wonderful creamy consistency, you’re in for a treat! This pressure cooker risotto is one of our favorite dinner recipes.

If this is your first time cooking with Arborio rice, it’s simply a type of pearly white rice used in many rice recipes. It’s a short-grain rice used primarily in the preparation of good risotto.

Instead of making this dish the traditional way by standing with a wooden spoon over a hot stove or waiting hours on a slow cooker, grab your electric pressure cooker. Pressure cooking saves time and is one of the easiest ways to get a delicious meal on the table. Once you see how easy it is to make risotto this way, you may never return to the traditional method of constantly stirring over high heat again like the original Italian stove-top version calls for!

Do a quick release of the steam as soon as the cooking circle has finished. You want the rice to be al dente and if it sits in the pressure cooker too long, it will become mushy.

What Is Instant Pot Chicken Risotto?

Risotto is a northern Italian rice dish cooked with broth until it reaches a creamy consistency. Depending on the meal, the broth can be from meat, fish, or vegetables. 

Risotto is one of the most common ways of eating rice in Italy and Italians usually served risotto as a first course before the main course. This recipe for chicken risotto is the main course meal, however. It pairs beautifully with a salad or steamed vegetables.

Print the recipe card with full instructions and ingredients for this delicious Instant Pot risotto recipe below!

For the wine, I recommend a Pinot Grigio, but you can also use a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.


Instant Pot Chicken Risotto With Lemon Recipe
Yield: 4 servings

Instant Pot Chicken Risotto With Lemon Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Time to Pressure +Cook: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Looking for tasty main dish Instant Pot recipes for easy dinners? This creamy risotto with tender chicken pieces is the ultimate “one-pot” perfect comfort food. If you’ve never had this northern Italian rice dish with its wonderful creamy consistency, you’re in for a treat! This pressure cooker risotto is one of our favorite dinner recipes.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil extra virgin, divided
  • ¼ cup butter unsalted
  • 1 pound chicken breast boneless, skinless bite-sized pieces
  • ½ red onion medium, chopped
  • 1/2 pound baby portobello mushrooms; thinly sliced
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • 1 ¾ cup chicken broth
  • 1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 3 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon zest
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • Parmesan cheese freshly grated, additional to serve
  • kosher salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

    1. 1. Select the Sauté mode and adjust the Sauté setting to high. Add one tablespoon olive oil to the unit. Once hot, add the chicken and generously season with salt and black pepper. Sauté, stirring frequently, to brown chicken on all sides, approximately 3-4 minutes. 
    2. Transfer the chicken to a plate with a slotted spoon and add the remaining olive oil and butter to the unit. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and dried thyme. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. 
    3. Sauté onion mixture, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and begins to develop some color, approximately 4-5 minutes. 
    4. Add the Arborio rice and “toast” for 1-2 minutes by stirring continually in the hot butter and oil. Add the white wine and deglaze the container by gently scraping with a spatula to remove any browned bits from the bottom. 
    5. When the liquid is reduced by one half, press Cancel to turn the unit off. Return the chicken and any juices from the plate to the container and pour the chicken stock on top. 
    6. Cover and lock the lid into place. Set the pressure release valve to the sealing position and then select the “Manual” pressure cook button on the high setting. Set the cook time to 6 minutes. 
    7. At the end of the cooking time, do an immediate quick release of the remaining pressure. Once the pin drops and there is no more steam coming out, carefully open lid.
    8. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired, and stir to combine. 
    9. Cover and let sit for 4-5 minutes to allow any excess liquid to be absorbed creating a creamy texture. Remove the lid and give the risotto a quick stir before transferring to individual serving bowls. Serve this Instant Pot lemon chicken risotto immediately. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Notes

If this is your first time cooking with Arborio rice, it’s simply a type of pearly white rice used in many rice recipes. It’s a short-grain rice used primarily in the preparation of good risotto.

Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

If you don’t have any garlic cloves on hand, feel free to substitute ½ teaspoon garlic powder in this instant pot chicken recipe.

For the wine, we recommend a Pinot Grigio.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 619Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 162mgSodium: 1277mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 50g

Frequently Asked Questions


What are the most common mistakes when cooking risotto?

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when cooking risotto:

1. Using the wrong type of rice. You need a high-starch, short grain rice like Arborio, Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano. Long grain rice won’t give the proper creamy texture.

2. Not toasting the rice first. Dry toasting the rice in olive oil briefly before adding broth develops more starch for creaminess.

3. Adding all the liquid at once. The liquid must be added gradually and allowed to absorb fully before adding more. This allows the starch to release.

4. Not simmering gently. Risotto needs consistent gentle simmering. Too high heat will make the rice mushy. Too low and it won’t cook properly.

5. Letting it sit off heat. Risotto should be stirred constantly during cooking. Letting it sit makes it overcooked and mushy.

6. Not stirring frequently enough. Frequent stirring helps break down the starch in the rice.

7. Cooking too long. The rice should have a slight bite, not be fully soft. Take it off heat while it still has a slight crunch.

8. Adding too much liquid. Use just enough broth to cook the rice through, but not drown it.

9.Not seasoning enough. Risotto needs generous salt, pepper and Parmesan to balance the richness.

Avoiding these common errors will help you achieve the perfect al dente rice with a smooth, velvety sauce. Patience and practice is key for risotto success!

What do you eat with chicken risotto?

Here are some tasty options for side dishes and other accompaniments that pair nicely with chicken risotto:

Garden Salad – A fresh, simple green salad is a great way to balance the richness of the risotto.

Garlic Bread – The classic crusty, buttery garlic bread is a nice complement to the creaminess of the risotto.

Steamed Vegetables – Lightly cooked broccoli, carrots or asparagus supply color and freshness.

Pan Roasted Vegetables – Hearty veggies like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower or squash lend more heft.

Parmesan Crisps – Thin, crispy baked wafers of parmesan offer a salty, crunchy garnish.

Polenta Fries – Crispy fried cubes of polenta give a sweet corn contrast.

Herb Focaccia – Fluffy focaccia with rosemary, oregano and olive oil is an ideal starch side.

Tomato Caprese Salad – Simple sliced tomatoes with mozzarella and basil make a fresh pairing.

Mushrooms – Sauteed mixed mushrooms add earthiness and texture.

Crostini – Toasted bread rounds top risotto beautifully and sop up the sauce.

The options are vast! From a simple salad to baked breads or vegetable sides, you can easily find a delicious accompaniment that complements creamy, comforting chicken risotto.

What kind of party or event can you serve chicken risotto at?

Chicken risotto makes a fantastic appetizer for all kinds of parties and events, including:

Cocktail Parties – Easy to eat while mingling and holding a drink. Provide small spoons for the risotto.

Baby Showers – New moms appreciate the comforting dish. Garnish with edible flowers for a cute touch.

Bridal Showers – Elegant starter before the main meal. Serve in miniature croustade shells.

Dinner Parties – Impress guests right off the bat with this gourmet first course.

Birthday Parties – Special enough for the guest of honor but still crowd-pleasing.

Holiday Parties – Festive twist on a classic by using seasonal veggies or herbs.

Graduation Parties – Sophisticated welcome for recent grads moving on to the next chapter.

Game Day Parties – Hearty scoop alongside spicy wings and nachos.

Potlucks – Easy to transport and serves a crowd. Always a hit.

Backyard BBQs – Pitcher of sangria in one hand, small bowl of risotto in the other!

With its creamy comfort and flexibility to dress up or down, chicken risotto makes a stellar addition to apps and starters at any party or get-together. It truly satisfies a crowd as an elegant passed appetizer or ready-to-eat bite.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner or a great main dish for a party, no need to spend a long time with constant stirring! Just head to the grocery store, grab your ingredients, and listen for those Instant Pot beeps while whipping up this pressure cooker chicken risotto. Your family will be licking the bottom of the pot!

Don’t Forget To Save This Recipe On Pinterest ⤵︎

Instant Pot Chicken Risotto
Instant Pot Chicken Risotto
Instant Pot Chicken Risotto
Instant Pot Chicken Risotto

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