Mushroom Risotto - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Mushroom Risottois soft short-grained rice that is cooked in broth with flavorful button mushrooms and sweet peas. The flavor combination is incredible and it’s the perfect side dish for any protein!

This classic Italian recipe can be served as main dish or a side paired with a hearty meat. This is a comfort meal that is planned and prepared with you in mind! Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Potatoes, some delicious Creamy Tomato Italian Parmesan Chicken or this filling and flavorful Classic Italian Wedding Soup are some of our favorite classic Italian meals to try.

Mushroom Risotto - The Recipe Critic (1)

Mushroom Risotto

I needed something light, comforting and manageable for the week and I knew Mushroom Risotto had to be made! It is a dish that can be warmed up quickly and taste good every day. It has simple ingredients and when combined all together adds this comforting and oh-so-good meal that makes your day go even better! This Mushroom Risotto is perfect for making ahead for your busy week or enjoying it right off the stove top.

I am all about making life simple. With life so busy all the time with the kids activities and endless errands to run, quick and easy meals, like this mushroom risotto and my favorite lemon garlic chicken to go with it are my savior! This is a quick and easy meal that my kids can warm up quick after school or pack along as a lunch. Check out my healthy meals round up and slow cooker dinner recipes for more great quick and easy meal ideas.

Ingredients

Even though this list looks long, the ingredients for mushroom risotto are really simple! Most of them are herbs or things that you already have on hand. This dish is so flavorful and easy to make, I know you are going to love it as much as my family does! The measurements are listed below in the recipe card.

  • Chicken or Vegetable Broth: Either will work, they add flavor and it is what you cook the rice in.
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Has a nice soft flavor and cooks well.
  • Onion: Finely chopped.
  • Butter: To cook veggies.
  • GarlicCloves: Minced.
  • Button Mushrooms: It’s a European and North American mushroom with tons of nutrients and packed with flavor.
  • Fresh Thyme: Earthy flavor perfect for this dish.
  • Salt and Pepper: Just a pinch.
  • Arborio Rice: The best rice to use! I have other tips for choosing rice below in the tip box.
  • White Wine: Use your favorite, I talk more about the wine below in the tip box.
  • Fresh Parmesan Cheese: Makes this so creamy and flavorful!
  • Frozen Peas: You could use fresh instead.
  • Fresh Parsley: For garnish and extra flavor.
Mushroom Risotto - The Recipe Critic (2)

Mushroom Risotto Recipe

This mushroom risotto is a very simple recipe and you are going to love how it turns out! The hardest part is cooking the rice the perfect amount of time so that it isn’t hard, but it doesn’t get mushy. You will be able to tell when it starts to get close, this is a recipe you don’t want to walk away from. It only takes 35 minutes, and you will be so in love with the flavor!

  1. Warm Broth: Start by warming the chicken broth. Either in a large bowl in the microwave or in a medium saucepan over medium heat bring to a simmer.
  2. Cook Onion and Mushroom: In a large pot heat the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until tender. Add 1 tbsp butter, garlic, mushrooms and thyme. Cook until the mushrooms have softened and are tender. Then season with salt and pepper. Remove and set aside on a plate.
  3. Add Rice: Melt the remaining 1 tbsp butter and add the arborio rice. Stirring on medium heat, cook the grains until the are lightly brown and start to toast about 2 minutes.Then add the wine and cook until the wine has absorbed.
  4. Add Broth: Add one cup of broth at a time to the rice and stir frequently until the rice absorbs the liquid. Continue to add one cup of broth and allow the rice to absorb after each addition. Stir often and cook until the risotto is al dente and not mushy. You may not need all of the broth.
  5. Add Veggies: Add the mushrooms, parmesan, and peas back to the rice and stir. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve while warm.
Mushroom Risotto - The Recipe Critic (3)

Tips for Making Mushroom Risotto

I love how mushroom risotto can taste different in so many ways! The brands you use, the rice you choose, and the wine you decide on are all going to change the flavor of the dish. The best part about cooking is you get to decide how you like it best. Here are some tips for choosing ingredients.

  • Best Rice to Use: The best northern Italian dish, risotto is elegant and simple, but there are a few tricks to getting it right. First, always use Italian short- grain rice like arborio or vialone; nothing else will do as a substitute for best results.
  • Best Wine: Mushroom risotto will make most wines taste delicious, but some will be amazing. In general, it’s especially good with earthier reds, like Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo, or fuller-bodied whites, like lightly oaked Chardonnay or Pinot Gris. It is always best to choose a wine that you enjoy and use that type of wine in the recipe.
  • Leave the Wine Out: Yes! You Can Make Risotto Without Wine. The good news is you can definitely make risotto without wine. White grape juice: Use white grape juice as a substitute when adding sweetness or deglaze the pan. For a punchier substitute, try mixing a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per cup of grape juice. Chicken or vegetable stock: Substitute stock for white wine when you want to add depth of flavor to a dish.
  • Using Red Wine: Some recipes get pretty specific about the kind of wine they want you to use: an oaky chardonnay in this reduction sauce, a hearty Italian red for that braise. All wines will chemically behave in the same way, so there’s no danger that a recipe won’t work if you use a red instead of a white or vice versa.
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Storing Leftovers

Mushroom risotto makes great leftovers, and is also a great recipe to make ahead of time. It reheats really well and is just as delicious reheated.

  • In the Refrigerator: You can store your leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container or in a shallow baking pan covered with foil for up to 4 days.
  • To Reheat: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place risotto in a shallow baking pan covered with foil and let it get warm, but make sure not to let it cook again.
Mushroom Risotto - The Recipe Critic (5)

More Yummy Rice Dishes

I love rice! It is a great way to switch up your dinner menu without adding a lot of extra work. These rice dishes are simple, delicious, and easy to make into a well rounded nutritious meal that doesn’t take all night to prepare. You have to try all of them!

Dinner

Better Than Takeout Fried Rice Recipes

Dinner

One Pot Creamy Parmesan Chicken with Mushroom Rice

25 mins

Side Dishes

Cheesy Zucchini Rice

25 mins

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Mushroom Risotto

By: Alyssa Rivers

Mushroom Risottois soft short-grained rice that is cooked in broth with flavorful button mushrooms and sweet peas. The flavor combination is incredible and it's the perfect side dish for any protein!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Start by warming the chicken broth. Either in a large bowl in the microwave or in a medium saucepan over medium heat bring to a simmer.

  • In a large pot heat the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until tender. Add 1 tbsp butter, garlic, mushrooms and thyme. Cook until the mushrooms have softened and are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Remove and set aside on a plate.

  • Melt the remaining 1 tbsp butter and add the arborio rice. Stirring on medium heat, cook the grains until the are lightly brown and start to toast about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the wine has absorbed.

  • Add one cup of broth at a time to the rice and stir frequently until the rice absorbs the liquid. Continue to add one cup of broth and allow the rice to absorb after each addition. Stir often and cook until the risotto is al dente and not mushy. You may not need all of the broth.

  • Add the mushrooms, parmesan, and peas back to the rice and stir. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve while warm.

Notes

Updated Feb 2023

Originally Posted May 2019

Nutrition

Calories: 786kcalCarbohydrates: 98gProtein: 34gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 2430mgPotassium: 682mgFiber: 7gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2448IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 743mgIron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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Mushroom Risotto - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good risotto? ›

Top 10 Tips for a Great Risotto
  • Always use warm stock. ...
  • Use a wide pan. ...
  • Use Arborio rice. ...
  • Toast the rice. ...
  • Deglaze with wine. ...
  • Watch your time. ...
  • Stir, but not too much. ...
  • Add the stock in small increments.
Feb 19, 2021

What is the secret ingredient in risotto? ›

Use Salted Water Instead of Broth in Risotto

It's an ingenious tip on many levels. First and foremost, you don't have to run to the store to buy stock, which saves you time and money. Also, the flavor of store-bought broths or stocks varies widely and can sometimes overpower the other ingredients in your risotto.

What is Gordon Ramsay's recipe for risotto? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 large shallot, chopped finely.
  2. 4 tablespoons olive oil.
  3. 8 ounces baby portabella mushrooms, sliced.
  4. 10 ounces arborio rice.
  5. 12 cup dry white wine.
  6. 4 cups low sodium chicken broth.
  7. 8 ounces plum tomatoes, skinned, seeded and finely chopped.
  8. 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped.

What protein pairs well with mushroom risotto? ›

What to serve with Mushroom Risotto
  • CRISPY Herb Baked Chicken with Gravy.
  • Crispy Pan Fried Fish – or serve this as the main with the Mushroom risotto on the side.
  • Garlic Prawns (Shrimp!)
  • Roast Chicken – or a Slow Cooker Roast Chicken.
  • Pork Roast with Crispy Crackling.
  • Standing Rib Roast (Prime Rib) or Marinated Roast Beef.
Jan 18, 2020

How do restaurants make risotto so creamy? ›

The technique of risotto is to slowly and gradually cook a starchy ingredient by adding liquid in small amounts and stirring. This technique's main purpose is to draw starch out of the main ingredient to give the dish a creamy texture.

How do restaurants get risotto so fast? ›

We par cook it. We make the recipe without finishing it with cream or butter or cheese. We pour the hot risotto onto a sheet tray to cool quickly and then store it in a container. Once we are ready to serve, we reheat the risotto with a little chicken stock, and finish with cream, butter, and some parmesan cheese.

What to add to risotto to make it taste better? ›

Aromatics like shallots, garlic, and thyme build layers of flavor, while gradually adding hot stock as you stir helps coax the starches out of the arborio rice for the creamiest risotto. We love incorporating mushrooms for added flavor, but feel free to make the dish without—or swap in your favorite vegetable!

What does vinegar do in risotto? ›

Using beef broth for the risotto was a new twist for us (we always use chicken broth and white wine), but it gives the creamy risotto this amazingly rich, earthy heft. And the white balsamic vinegar adds an invigorating pungency-- almost a mildly sour note, but in a really good way -- to the dish.

Why do you put butter in risotto? ›

It comes from the Spanish word for butter and means to gently work something—usually a dish—into a creamy consistency by blending in some sort of fat or butter. With risotto, at the very end, melt some butter in a spoon of hot stock (or wine) and work it into the rice to form a creamy texture.

How do Italians serve risotto? ›

In Italy, when it is not used as a complete meal, risotto is considered a main dish, and is usually served with small portions of meat or light vegetable side dishes. For example, it is very common to pair risotto with a couple of lemon escalopes, or with bresaola and arugula.

Why is risotto so expensive? ›

Shortages make prices spike

As the Po Valley continues to face devastating droughts, the farmers who grow their crops there are facing crop shortages, reports The Washington Post. The droughts have dried up the river where arborio rice (most commonly used for risotto) is grown.

What to accompany mushroom risotto? ›

What To Serve With Mushroom Risotto – 16 Easy Sides
  1. 1.Grilled Asparagus.
  2. 2.Lamb Roast.
  3. 3.Harissa Roasted Chicken.
  4. 4.Garlic Butter Shrimp.
  5. 5.Marinated Tofu.
  6. 6.Cajun Honey Butter Grilled Salmon.
  7. 7.Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts.
  8. 8.Lemon Herb Salad.
Jan 16, 2024

What is the best mushroom for risotto? ›

My favorite varieties to use for this risotto include shiitake, crimini, and oyster. If chanterelles and morels are in season, then I go for those. Ultimately, I like to use a mix of different mushrooms in my risotto. One note of caution: avoid using portabella mushrooms.

What are the ingredients in Trader Joe's mushroom risotto? ›

INGREDIENTS: SUPERFINO ARBORIO RICE, ONIONS***, MUSHROOM***, SALT, CORN STARCH, AUTOLYZED YEAST, SOY SAUCE* (SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT), DEXTROSE, CHABLIS WINE*, WHEY (MILK PROTEIN), SUGAR, CHICKEN FAT*, CHERVIL**, SOYBEAN OIL, PARSLEY**, NATURAL FLAVOR (NONHYDROLYZED FERMENTED YEAST), TURMERIC*, CELERY EXTRACT.

What can I add to risotto to make it taste better? ›

Here are seven great additions to try.
  1. Roasted Shrimp. Not only does a pile of roasted shrimp add a touch of fanciness to risotto, but it's also the ultimate last-minute addition, since it takes no more than a few minutes to cook. ...
  2. Beans. ...
  3. Crispy Chicken Thighs. ...
  4. Cooked Sausage. ...
  5. Fried or Poached Eggs. ...
  6. Ricotta. ...
  7. Seared Scallops.

What are the rules when preparing risotto? ›

Risotto rules: how to cook the perfect risotto
  1. Choose the right rice. There are different types of traditional risotto rice. ...
  2. 2. ... and the right amount. ...
  3. Use hot stock. ...
  4. Measure your stock. ...
  5. Add your stock little and often. ...
  6. Let it rest. ...
  7. Leave a little bite. ...
  8. Consistency is key.

Should you constantly stir risotto? ›

When cooking risotto on a stovetop, you're required to periodically stir it to ensure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Some people, however, stir it too frequently. This adds air into the risotto, cooling it down and making it gluey.

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