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Classic Creamy Risotto Recipe

This delicious classic creamy risotto recipe is made with dry white wine, hot chicken broth, and freshly grated parmesan. Enjoy it as your main meal topped with mushrooms or steak, or as a mouthwatering side dish! 

in the foreground is a bowl of creamy risotto with butter and parmesan on top, and then there are two bowls in the background full of rice and grated parmesan cheese

Why You’ll Love This Classic Creamy Risotto

Everyone loves risotto, but I know the thought of cooking it intimidates a lot of people! It may take a lot of stirring, but it’s really not a difficult dish for a home cook! Today I’ll teach you the step-by-step instructions to make this creamy risotto and impress all your guests. 

This risotto recipe doesn’t have any additional add-ins; it’s all about that tender arborio rice and creamy parmesan! However, you can easily make a mushroom risotto by using this recipe and simply adding some sauteed mushrooms to the top. 

It’s so versatile that you can top it with nearly anything you’d like. Steak, chicken, or other veggies are great options, but don’t stress about adding anything else – this dish can stand alone!

Key Ingredients to Make This Easy Creamy Risotto

the ingredients for this creamy risotto recipe on a white marble surface: chicken broth, parmesan cheese, butter, arborio rice, white wine, black pepper and salt, onion, garlic powder, and olive oil
  • Arborio Rice – can be found an most grocery stores.
  • Olive Oil- extra virgin.
  • Onion: Yellow (not sweet)
  • Seasonings – garlic powder, salt, and pepper. 
  • Dry white wine – pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc
  • Hot chicken broth – beef will work too.
  • Butter -unsalted.
  • Grated parmesan – plus more for serving

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make Creamy Parmesan Risotto

Step 1: Saute Onion

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and then saute your onion until it becomes translucent. This should take about 3 minutes.

sauteeing onions in a large pot with a wooden spoon

Step 2: Add Arborio Rice

Add in the rice and garlic powder and then cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 2  minutes. The grains should start to get translucent on the edges.

a wooden spoon stirring the rice, onion, and seasonings in a large pot

Step 3: Add Wine

Add the wine and cook while stirring until it’s absorbed.

stirring wine into rice risotto

Step 4: Add Broth and Stir

Add the broth, 1 cup at a time, cooking and stirring until it’s absorbed each time. This will take about 20 minutes.

adding broth to the risotto one cup full at a time while stirring

When all of the broth has been absorbed, the rice should be tender but hold its shape.

stirring in the broth to the risotto

Step 5: Add Cheese and Butter

When the rice is done, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese, butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until the butter and cheese are melted into the rice.

pot of risotto with parmesan and a pat of butter on top waiting to be stirred in

Step 6: Add More Parmesan and Serve

Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese on top and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

How do you make risotto creamy without the cream?

Thankfully, because of the type of rice used and the way it is cooked, it’s pretty easy to make risotto creamy without adding any cream or milk. The arborio rice itself can absorb a lot of liquid without becoming mushy, so you’ll have a very high moisture content and therefore super tender rice. Additionally, arborio has a high starch content so when you add the stock and broth the starches will meld the mixture together perfectly.

Is risotto rice or pasta?

Risotto is made from arborio rice; some people think it’s a pasta dish because of how tender the rice is.

What to Serve with Risotto

a bowl of classic creamy risotto with butter melted on top, pepper sprinkled on top, and additional parmesan melting

More Italian Recipes To Try

Other Tasty Rice Recipes To Make

If you tried this Classic Creamy Risotto or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

Creamy classic risotto in a bowl with melted butter on top and a spoon on the side

Classic Creamy Risotto

This delicious classic creamy risotto recipe is made with dry white wine, hot chicken broth, and freshly grated parmesan. Enjoy it as your main meal topped with mushrooms or steak, or as a mouthwatering side dish! 
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Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings4
Calories: 464kcal
Author: Marina Rizhkov

Ingredients

  • cup arborio rice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ cup dry white wine, pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc
  • 5 cups hot chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • ½ cup grated parmesan + for serving
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion, until the onion becomes translucent, about 3 minutes.
    2 tbsp olive oil, 1 medium onion,
    Onions sauteing in olive oil in a pot, mixing with a wooden spoon.
  • Add in the rice and garlic powder and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 2  minutes, until grains start to get translucent on the edges.
    1½ cup arborio rice, 1 tsp garlic powder
    Making risotto in a pot with a wooden spoon for mixing.
  • Add the wine. Cook and stir until it's absorbed.
    ½ cup dry white wine,
    Added rice into risotto recipe in a pot, mixing with a wooden spoon.
  • Add broth, 1 cup at a time, cooking and stirring until it's absorbed each time. This will take about 20 minutes. The rice should be tender but hold its shape.
    5 cups hot chicken broth
    Adding chicken broth to rice to make risotto in a pot.
  • When the rice is done, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese and butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until melted, then serve.
    1 tbsp butter, ½ cup grated parmesan + for serving, salt and pepper
    Added butter and parmesan atop risotto cooking in a pot with a wooden spoon.
  • Serve with additional Parmesan cheese on top. 
    Added butter and parmesan atop risotto cooking in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 1335mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 202IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 4mg
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