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This Easy Chicken Risotto Recipe is a delicious one pot recipe that cooks easily on the stove top. This is a family favorite dinner idea.

Chicken risotto in a skillet with a wooden spoon
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I hope you enjoy this simple weeknight meal. It is my go-to stovetop recipe for a busy weeknight.  It is a great recipe for a weeknight meal and a great way to use leftover chicken.

If you love skillet chicken recipes as much as my family, then you should try our most popular recipe, Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe. We have even made Skillet Chicken and Rice Burritos for a quick and easy meal idea.

What is Risotto?

Risotto is a classic Italian dish that is made with high starch white rice that creates a creamy texture when cooked. Parmesan and butter is added to make this dish even creamier to be served as a main dish or as an appetizer.

Why You Will Love this Recipe:

  • Complete Meal Idea – We love this recipe as it is a complete meal. Adding in the cooked chicken with the rice makes the perfect skillet dinner.
  • Amazing Texture – We love that this risotto rice is full of flavor and is the ultimate comfort food.
  • Simple Ingredients – We love making this dish for an impressive meal idea. Since the ingredients are simple, I can make it as a date night in or for a weeknight dinner idea.

Ingredients:

Chicken risotto ingredients - olive oil, chicken breasts, salt and pepper, onion, garlic, rice, chicken broth, parmesan cheese, butter, parsley
  • Olive Oil
  • Chicken Breast
  • Salt and pepper
  • Onion
  • Minced Garlic 
  • Arborio Rice
  • Chicken Broth, warmed
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Unsalted Butter
  • Fresh Parsley

Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas:

  • Chicken – We used chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can also make it with chicken thighs.
  • Dry White Wine – Feel free to substitute the chicken broth for white wine or chicken stock.
  • Seasoning – Feel free to change the spices to what you prefer. You can add in paprika, fresh thyme, or red pepper flakes.
  • Veggies – You can also add in veggies towards the end of cooking time for added flavor. Slice mushrooms, chopped broccoli and asparagus are always a great addition.

Step by Step Instructions:

Seasoning diced chicken in the a clear dish

Step 1 – Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper.

Heating oil in the skillet

Step 2 – In a large skillet or saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Cooking diced chicken in skillet

Step 3 – Add the chicken pieces and cook until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

Cooking the onions into the skillet

Step 4 – In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed, and cook the onions until they’re translucent.

Stirring in the garlic in with the onions

Step 5 – Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Adding the rice into the skillet with the onions

Step 6 – Stir in the Arborio rice and cook for about 2 minutes until the edges of the grains start to turn translucent.

Pouring chicken broth into the risotto

Step 7 – Add ½ cup of the warm chicken broth to the pan to deglaze it, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Continue to add the remaining chicken broth one ladle at a time, stirring frequently.

Adding in the diced cooked chicken in a skillet

Step 8 – Once the rice is al dente and creamy (you may not need all the broth), stir in the cooked chicken to warm it through.

Adding in parmesan and butter to the cooked risotto and chicken in a skillet

Step 9 – Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and butter until the risotto is creamy and rich.

Chicken risotto in a skillet with a wooden spoon

Step 10 – Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the risotto garnished with chopped parsley and additional parmesan cheese if desired and enjoy! 

Recipe Tips:

  • Diced Chicken – Dice chicken in about the same size so that it cooks evenly.
  • Adding in Chicken Broth – Wait until each addition of the chicken broth is almost fully absorbed before adding the next ladleful.
  • Cooking Rice – Cook the rice until it is al dente or according to package.
  • Use the right rice – When making this risotto, make sure to use Arborio rice. This recipe will not work for Jasmine or Basmati rice or any long-grain rice. The starch content is not high enough to create this creamy texture.
Cooked Chicken risotto in a skillet in a wooden spoon

Serving Suggestions:

This recipe is a complete meal idea. But we do like to make sure we serve with a side of roasted vegetables such as roasted asparagus or zucchini. Make sure to also serve with a side of homemade garlic bread to make sure to every last drop.

A close up image of a bowl of chicken risotto

Frequently Asked Questions:

How to Store Leftovers:

Store your leftover risotto in the fridge in an airtight container. It will stay good for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze?

Once the risotto has cooled to room temperature, store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat:

When ready to serve, thaw the risotto in the fridge overnight. Then reheat the risotto in a baking dish in the oven.

More Easy One Pot Recipes:

We love hearing from you. If you make this Chicken Risotto Recipe, please leave us a comment or star review.

Chicken Risotto

5 from 4 votes
You'll love this quick & easy chicken risotto recipe. This simple chicken parmesan risotto recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and the everyone loves it.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
resting 3 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings 4
Cuisine American
Course Dinner
Calories 467

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper.
  • In a large skillet or saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  • In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed, and cook the onions until they're translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  • Stir in the Arborio rice and cook for about 2 minutes until the edges of the grains start to turn translucent.
  • Add ½ cup of the warm chicken broth to the pan to deglaze it, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Continue to add the remaining chicken broth one ladle at a time, stirring frequently. Wait until each addition is almost fully absorbed before adding the next ladleful.
  • Once the rice is al dente and creamy (you may not need all the broth), stir in the cooked chicken to warm it through.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and butter until the risotto is creamy and rich.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve the risotto garnished with chopped parsley and additional parmesan cheese if desired and enjoy!  

Recipe Notes

Use a wide, shallow pan to help the rice cook evenly and absorb the liquid better.
The key to creamy risotto is constant stirring, which releases the rice’s starches.
Arborio rice is traditional for risotto because of its high starch content, which contributes to the dish’s creaminess.
Always heat your broth before adding it to the rice to help maintain the cooking temperature.
Adjust the liquid amount as needed; the risotto should be moist but not soupy.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 467kcal, Carbohydrates 44g, Protein 33g, Fat 16g, Saturated Fat 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0.2g, Cholesterol 104mg, Sodium 1333mg, Potassium 561mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 2g, Vitamin A 323IU, Vitamin C 3mg, Calcium 137mg, Iron 3mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Carrie Barnard says:

    Sorry for the confusion. The rice generally takes about 15-20 minutes until it’s cooked through. I have updated the cook time in the recipe card with this time as well.

  2. Diane says:

    About how long does the rice cook? The recipe says cook time is 15 minutes but after cooking the chicken, sautéing the onion, and cooking the rice for 2 minutes before adding broth, there isn’t much of the 15 minutes left. Does it absorb the broth very, very quickly? Thanks!