Chicken Risotto is an easy weeknight dinner that features flavorful skinless boneless chicken thighs (seasoned with smoked paprika, Cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning). You can also use leftover chicken, grilled chicken, or cooked rotisserie chicken. This risotto is pure comfort food made with Arborio rice and is elevated with the addition of sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Impress your family and friends by making this restaurant-quality dish!
Homemade chicken risotto
This is one of the best and tastiest dinner meals I've made lately for my family. Risotto might be a fancy name that implies complex cooking, but it's not really complicated and the ingredients are simple! In a nutshell, this recipe features classic Italian-inspired homemade creamy risotto made with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, served with super flavorful chicken thighs. It's the perfect cozy comfort food to make during colder months. This recipe is also gluten-free. If you want more chicken and rice dinner ideas (that are also gluten-free!), don't miss this creamy chicken and wild rice and one-pan chicken thighs with mushroom rice.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Well-balanced meal. This quick and easy dinner has everything you need to have a complete meal: protein (chicken), carbs (risotto), and veggies (sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach).
- Comfort food. Risotto is one of my favorite ways to cook rice. It turns rice into something super flavorful, creamy, and delicious. And, as a bonus, this recipe is gluten-free!
- Beautiful presentation. I love this recipe because you have an impressive dinner that looks like the main course from a fine dining restaurant with a small effort. It's great for entertaining family and friends - yet simple enough to make on a regular weeknight.
What is risotto?
The classic Italian risotto is made with high-starch white rice with round short grains such as Arborio rice. The rice is cooked gradually, with regular stirring, until it reaches a creamy consistency. In the end, the rice is made even creamier by adding a touch of butter and Parmesan cheese. Risotto is a classic Northern Italian rice dish that is usually served as a first course before the main course.
What kind of rice should you use?
- High-starch white rice with round short grains is the best rice for making risotto. The most popular variety is Arborio. Other popular varieties of rice that work well in making risotto are Carnaroli, Maratelli, and Vialone Nano.
- Do not use Basmati or Jasmine rice. Do not use long-grain rice. Their starch content is not high enough to produce the proper creamy consistency. The size of their grains will also not work well for risotto.
Main ingredients
- Chicken. I used skinless boneless chicken thighs. You can also use skinless boneless chicken breasts or tenderloins. Or, use leftover cooked chicken, grilled chicken, or rotisserie chicken if you like!
- Arborio rice is high-starch white rice with round short grains. It's the best rice for making risotto which results in a creamy consistency. Do not use jasmine rice or basmati rice.
- Garlic adds pungency and flavor to the risotto.
- White wine. Use a dry white wine variety. Or, use chicken stock instead.
- Chicken broth. You can use chicken stock, beef stock, or vegetable stock. The more flavorful, the better for risotto! You can also use broth (even though the stock is preferred). Make sure it's very warm or hot before adding it to the rice.
- Butter is folded into the risotto at the very end for creaminess.
- Parmesan cheese adds creaminess and salty flavor to the final dish. Make sure to use a block of cheese and shred/grate it yourself. Also, make sure the cheese is at room temperature.
- Sun-dried tomatoes. I used sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil which I drained and then used some of the oil in the cooking of the minced garlic and rice.
- Spinach is added at the very end. Risotto works well with veggies, but make sure to add them at the very end.
- Spices and seasoning. You will need smoked paprika, chili powder, Cayenne pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Quick overview of how to make chicken risotto from scratch
More detailed instructions are provided in the recipe card below. But, in a nutshell, here is how you make it:
- The rice is gradually cooked in white wine and chicken stock until it reaches a creamy consistency. I provide detailed instructions on how to make the most creamy risotto using appropriate rice (Arborio).
- I elevated a simple risotto with the addition of sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.
- Then it's made even creamier by adding butter and freshly shredded (or grated) Parmesan cheese.
- While you gradually cook the risotto, you will also sear the most delicious skinless boneless chicken thighs (seasoned with smoked paprika, chili powder, Cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning).
- Make it a complete meal by serving the chicken over the risotto! That's it! Easy and impressive dinner!
Variations, substitutions, and cooking tips
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan such as a cast-iron skillet to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning.
- Do not wash and do not drain rice before making the risotto as that would get rid of a lot of starch that you actually need to achieve a creamy texture.
- When is risotto done? Risotto should have a rich and creamy consistency and should not be overly thick (mushy).
- What if risotto gets too thick? Add a small amount of chicken stock or broth to thin it out on low-medium heat. If you run out of stock, just use hot water.
- Serve it right away as risotto tends to get mushy and dry really fast.
- Can you use rotisserie chicken? While I cooked skinless boneless chicken thighs for this recipe, you can skip this step and just make the risotto and top it with cooked rotisserie chicken to make it even more simple! Or, use leftover cooked chicken or grilled chicken.
- Can you use frozen spinach? I used fresh spinach but you can use frozen kind - thawed and drained really well from all liquid.
- Use other veggies in addition or instead of spinach. You can use/add kale, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, or artichoke hearts.
- Cheese. I used Parmesan, but you can also use Asiago cheese or Pecorino Romano.
What to serve with it
Because chicken risotto is a rich and creamy dish, serve it with a slice of good quality bread and a side salad:
- Bread. This is a great recipe for using flavorful kinds of bread, such as olive bread, garlic bread, Italian bread, baguette, or breadsticks.
- Salad. Make a simple salad, such as Simple Spinach Salad with Pine Nuts, Parmesan Cheese, or Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese and Lemon-Honey Poppy Seed Dressing.
More chicken and rice recipes you might enjoy
All these recipes are gluten-free:
- One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Mushroom Rice
- One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice
- One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Rice
- Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Wild Rice
- Chicken and Wild Rice in a Creamy Parmesan Sauce
Chicken Risotto
Chicken Risotto is an easy weeknight dinner that features flavorful skinless boneless chicken thighs (seasoned with smoked paprika, Cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning). You can also use leftover chicken, grilled chicken, or cooked rotisserie chicken. This risotto is pure comfort food made with Arborio rice and is elevated with the addition of sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Impress your family and friends by making this restaurant-quality dish!
Ingredients
Risotto
- 4 cups chicken stock
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped (drained of any oil)
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1.5 cups arborio rice
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅔ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated or shredded, at room temperature
- 4 oz fresh spinach
- salt and pepper
Seasoning for chicken
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Chicken
- 1.5 lb chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- parsley chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
Risotto
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan such as a cast-iron skillet to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning. Note: while you cook the risotto, you can also cook the chicken as directed in the recipe card below.
- Heat chicken stock in a separate saucepan until hot and keep it hot.
- Drain oil from sun-dried tomatoes, leaving just enough (about 1 tablespoon) for sauteeing garlic. Sautee minced garlic with chopped sun-dried tomatoes for about 1 or 2 minutes in a cast-iron skillet (or another heavy-bottomed pan).
- Add rice and stir it with a wooden spoon or spatula to coat it with olive oil. Saute the rice in olive oil for about 1 minute on medium heat, stirring. Make sure the rice doesn't burn.
- Add white wine and cook on medium heat, occasionally stirring, until the wine is completely absorbed by the rice.
- Add ½ cup of hot chicken stock to the rice and stir occasionally on medium-low heat until the stock is almost absorbed. You don't have to stir constantly, just once every minute or two.
- When the stock is almost absorbed, add another ½ cup of chicken stock to the rice and repeat the process. Continue to add chicken stock in ½ cup increments until the texture of the rice is soft but not too soft. You might not have to use all of the chicken stock. Or, you might have to use more. The rice should have an "al dente" texture (a bit hard to bite but in no way crunchy) and the grains should be visibly separate (not mushy).
- Reduce heat to low and add butter and grated parmesan. Stir everything well until the parmesan is melted.
- On low heat, add spinach and stir it in. Remove from heat, cover the pan with the lid and allow the spinach to wilt for a couple of minutes. Stir again to incorporate wilted spinach into the risotto.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Cook chicken
- Note: you can cook the chicken at the same time as you make the risotto.
- Combine seasonings for chicken in a small bowl. Slice chicken thighs into smaller pieces (but not too small). Generously season the chicken thighs with the seasonings on both sides. You don't have to use the whole amount.
- Heat an empty large, high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet (such as stainless steel or cast iron) over medium heat for 3 minutes. This allows the skillet to heat through.
- Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add chicken thighs. Cook the chicken on one side on medium heat for 5 minutes, without moving it. This allows the chicken to sear.
- Flip the chicken thighs over, reduce heat to low-medium, and cook for about 5 more minutes or longer until it's cooked through. The meat thermometer should register 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the chicken. Remove from heat. Remove chicken from the skillet.
Assembly
- Add cooked chicken on top of the risotto and serve. Top with chopped fresh parsley, if you like.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information
Chicken Risotto
Amount per Serving
Calories
811
% Daily Value*
Fat
49
g
75
%
Saturated Fat
16
g
100
%
Trans Fat
0.4
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
8
g
Monounsaturated Fat
21
g
Cholesterol
200
mg
67
%
Sodium
970
mg
42
%
Potassium
1117
mg
32
%
Carbohydrates
38
g
13
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
7
g
8
%
Protein
44
g
88
%
Vitamin A
3545
IU
71
%
Vitamin C
12
mg
15
%
Calcium
279
mg
28
%
Iron
5
mg
28
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
Can you please tell me how to make it. I would really appreciate it. Thanks Dawn
Hi Dawn, the recipe details are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post:
https://juliasalbum.com/chicken-risotto/#recipe
This is DELICIOUS! I made it for dinner tonight! Thank you!!
You know it is good when we hum to each bite. My hubby said it was so good like 4 times. Hardest part was tending to the risotto. I had the hubby grill the chicken instead.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to leave your wonderful review - it means a lot ot me. And so glad, the recipe was enjoyed! 🙂
Lovely autumnal food, I have bags and bags of risotto rice here and can never think of what to do with it, thanks
This recipe is a perfect use for those risotto bags!!
Can I use farro risotta instead of arborio rice risotta?
Hi Kazy, yes, farro should work great in this recipe!
Julia, I made this for my wife’s birthday dinner tonight. Turned out fantastic! This is going into the regular rotation. This was the first time I had a risotto turn out really well. 5 stars!
Tim, so glad this recipe turned out well!! What a great way to celebrate your wife's birthday! 🙂
Tried this recipe and did not like the taste. I would note make again
Judy, the sun-dried tomato flavor can be quite strong, I agree. You might like this recipe if, next time, instead of adding sun-dried tomatoes at the start of the recipe, add them towards the end, together with spinach. That should mellow out their flavor. And reduce the amount of sun-dried tomatoes by half.
Made this this evening. What a big hit. Def making again. Used Rosie chicken to save time and sweated it in the spices. Sooooo good
Debi, I am so glad this recipe was a success! 🙂 Thank you for sharing this excellent feedback! ❤️
I'd love to try this, but am worried it will be too spicy with the chilli powder and cayenne pepper (I don't like spicy food at all). Would it be ruined if I leave these out? Or is it still mild with them in? Thanks so much for you advice, in advance x
Merissa, you can leave out the cayenne powder without any loss of flavor.
I wouldn't recommend leaving the chili powder out. Many brands of generic chili powder are not spicy at all (not even mildly). They just really add rich flavor.
Most of the generic chili powder I buy (generic brands, sold in small plastic or glass jars) are not even spicy but add so much flavor. You can taste it before using it to ensure it's not spicy. (or even ask the grocery store staff which brands are not spicy - they might know).
Can I substitute orzo for the arborio rice?
Denise, yes you can. But in this case, you don't have to go through all these steps to release starch from the rice. If you use orzo, the recipe becomes very simple and very quick, similar to this one:
https://juliasalbum.com/shrimp-orzo/
Made this tonight and it’s so scrumptious! I will make it again and again. Thank you for this recipe!
Brenda, I am so glad you gave this reicpe a try - thank you for your wonderful review! ❤️
Can I make this and serve the next day? Will that over-cook the dinner? I wanted to make it for a potluck but would have to make the night before then warm it up the next day. What are your thoughts?
Gloria
Gloria, even though I personally prefer to serve this immediately (it's best that way!), I did reheat this the next day when I made it. My suggestions would be:
1) To reheat it on very low heat, gradually, adding liquid (cream or chicken stock) to thin it out. Do not reheat on high heat as that will separate the sauce and the risotto will turn greasy and will lose all its creaminess.
2) Do not reheat in the microwave oven for that reason.
3) Reheat in the preheated oven at 300 F for about 15 to 20 minutes, checking frequently.
Excellent!
Thanks! 🙂
This was really good the entire family enjoyed it. Next I think I’ll cook the chicken in the oven though.