Instant Pot Risotto With Asparagus

Risotto can be a labor of love to make. While it’s not HARD, the traditional method of making risotto is just a bit time consuming!

Once you make this Instant Pot risotto recipe, you might never go back to the traditional method! It’s so.darn.easy and comes out perfect every time! Even if you are an Instant Pot newbie!!

This recipe is a delicious spring risotto that is the perfect dish for busy weeknights! While the risotto is cooking, throw together a quick arugula salad and some garlic bread and dinner is served!

Want to make an AMAZING risotto the traditional way (it’s still easy, I promise)? Try my Pumpkin Risotto with Mushrooms and Bacon!

• Simple, hassle-free way to make risotto!
• Super creamy and delicious — you’d never know it was made in the Instant Pot!
• Lots of delicious options to customize this risotto.
• Done in about 30 minutes!

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious, creamy instant pot asparagus risotto:

Chicken Stock/Bone Broth: If you can find chicken bone broth, USE IT! It adds such great flavor and richness! I can typically find it in my regular grocery store with all the other soups and stocks and it usually comes in a paper container (not a can). If you can’t find it, good quality chicken stock or chicken broth works, too.

Asparagus: I like getting fresh asparagus that is thin, for quick cooking!

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: With your Instant Pot on the Sauté function, add olive oil and asparagus. Cook asparagus to crisp tender. Remove and set aside.

Step 2: Add butter, garlic and onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add rice. Stir to combine.

Step 3: Add chicken stock. Place lid on Instant Pot and select manual setting, (pressure cook) at HIGH pressure. Set time for 6 minutes. When timer beeps, allow 5 minutes of natural pressure release (don’t do anything). When 5 minutes is up, do a quick pressure release.

Step 4: This is what the rice will look like when you take the lid off after cooking!

Step 5: Stir in half and half, Parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tbsp butter, lemon juice/zest, asparagus.

Step 6: Stir, stir, stir until creamy! Season with salt and pepper.

• Before closing the lid on the Instant Pot to cook the risotto, just give it a quick stir to ensure no rice is stuck to the bottom of the pot. If that happens, you may get the dreaded burn warning!
• Freshly grated Parmesano-Regiano is SO DELISH in this dish! Of course you can use pre-grated Parmesan, but freshly grated just takes it over the top! It melts so well, too making this super creamy risotto!

• Storage: Store risotto in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. I LOVE these storage containers for storing leftovers of any kind!
• Reheating: You can either reheat this risotto in the microwave or in a pan. Either way, it’s good to add a splash of chicken stock or half and half just to thin it out a bit–it makes it extra creamy when reheating, too!
• Freezing: You can freeze risotto! Freeze in an airtight container (again, these storage containers are great!) for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge (or on the counter) and reheat according to reheating instructions above.

Additions: Here are some great additions to this creamy lemon asparagus risotto:

• Extra Fresh Vegetables: Feel free sauté some additional veggies with the asparagus! Peas are delish in this dish! Stirring in tomatoes or fresh spinach at the end would also work well.
• Shrimp: Cook up some shrimp when you sauté your asparagus and stir it in at the end! Yum!

Substitutions: Feel free to use any of these substitutions!

• Heavy Cream/Whole Milk: These both work fine to replace the half and half.
• White Wine: Risotto is traditionally made with white wine, although I didn’t write it into this recipe. If you want that delicious flavor from the wine, substitute 1/4 cup of the chicken stock for 1/4 cup of dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
• Cheese: Parmesan is traditional, but I honestly don’t discriminate when it comes to cheese! Fontina, mozzarella or gruyere are some good options!
• Chicken Stock/Bone Broth: While both of these will give your risotto the MOST flavor, chicken broth or vegetable broth or stock can also be used as substitutes.

Absolutely! Just substitute the wine with chicken stock, chicken broth or chicken bone broth.

Yes, you CAN. However, keep in mind arborio rice is perfect for risotto because of the high starch content–this makes the risotto super creamy. Orzo or pearled farro work as decent substitutes, as they are both higher in starch.

This risotto makes an excellent side dish for perfectly cooked chicken breasts or grilled meats. You can also just serve it as a main course with a crisp arugula salad on the side and lots of yummy garlic bread!

• INSTANT POT CHICKEN PENNE
• EASY INSTANT POT RED BEANS AND RICE
• INSTANT POT CHICKEN THIGHS AND POTATOES

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