Instant Pot Risotto with Asparagus

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This Instant Pot Risotto with Asparagus will be your go-to recipe for risotto! If you have never made risotto in your Instant Pot, you are going to go crazy over how SIMPLE it is! The result is creamy, delicious risotto without stirring over a hot stove! The best part? It’s ready in about 30 minutes!

A bowl of Instant Pot Risotto with Asparagus with a green arugula salad on the side.

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!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

  • 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!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

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

Ingredients needed to make instant pot risotto with asparagus.

INGREDIENT NOTES

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!

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS: STEP BY STEP

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.

Asparagus cooking in an Instant Pot.

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

Arborio rice, garlic and onions cooking in an instant pot.

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.

Chicken stock being added to the instant pot risotto.

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

What the risotto looks like when it is done cooking.

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

Asparagus and additional ingredients being added to the instant pot with the arborio rice.

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

Instant pot risotto with asparagus ready to serve.

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS

  • 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 & REHEATING

  • 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 AND SUBSTITUTIONS

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.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can you make risotto without wine?

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

Can you replace arborio rice with another rice in risotto?

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.

What can you serve with this Instant Pot risotto?

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!

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A bowl of instant pot risotto with asparagus in a white bowl with a spoon of it above the bowl.

OTHER INSTANT POT RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

I hope you love this Instant Pot Risotto with Asparagus! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!

Instant Pot Risotto with Asparagus

This Instant Pot Risotto with Asparagus will be your go-to recipe for risotto! If you have never made risotto in your Instant Pot, you are going to go crazy over how SIMPLE it is! The result is creamy, delicious risotto without stirring over a hot stove! The best part? It's ready in about 30 minutes!
5 from 18 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4
Calories 460 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz. asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces See Note 1
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 4 tbsp butter, divided salted or unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 cup onion, diced (one small onion)
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 2 cups chicken stock or chicken bone broth
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tsp of lemon zest plus more for serving
  • 1/2 tsp salt + pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode (medium heat). Add olive oil. When oil is hot, add asparagus and cook 2-3 minutes until crisp-tender. Remove from Instant Pot and set aside. ((Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your asparagus. I look for skinny asparagus for quick cooking!))
  • Add 2 tbsp of butter to the Instant pot. When melted, add garlic and onion and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring often so garlic doesn't burn.
  • To the garlic and onions, add arborio rice and stir. Cook 1-2 minutes. Press CANCEL on Instant Pot.
  • Add chicken stock/bone broth and stir. Make sure broth is covering rice. Place lid on Instant Pot and select manual setting, (pressure cook) at HIGH pressure. Set time for 6 minutes (pot will take 5-6 minutes to come to pressure). When timer beeps, allow 5 minutes of natural pressure release (don't do anything). When 5 minutes is up, do a quick pressure release.
  • Open the Instant Pot and stir in half and half, Parmesan cheese, remaining 2 tbsps butter, lemon juice/zest and cooked asparagus. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve immediately, adding more lemon juice/zest, Parmesan cheese and freshly ground pepper to taste!

Notes

Note 1: Cut tough ends off asparagus (usually about an inch off the bottom). I like buying thin asparagus because it’s tender, pretty and cooks quickly!
Nutrition information is only an estimate. Info is based on the Very Well Fit Nutrition Calculator.
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Nutrition

Calories: 460kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 16gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 1034mgPotassium: 313mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3.3gVitamin D: 8µgCalcium: 329mgIron: 3mg
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Recipe Rating




12 Comments

  1. Adding any sort of cream/ half and half is an insult to risotto. The whole point of using Arborio rice is that it creates a creamy consistency on its own.

  2. 5 stars
    Risotto can be so tricky to cook, but this recipe turned out perfectly! The risotto was tender and creamy – and worked out great for our family dinner last night!