Our 12 Best Risotto Recipes

Finished and garnished mushroom risotto in a bowl with cheese and herbs on the periphery.
Serious Eats / Mariel De La Cruz

We’ve devoted a lot of time and testing to the subject of risotto here at Serious Eats. In addition to publishing a guide to the classic hand-stirred method for this Italian rice dish, we’ve explored hands-off alternatives like pressure cooking, convenient make-ahead strategies, as well as other novel approaches. But given how many recipes we have, we thought it was about time to put them together in a collection. Below, find our twelve best risotto recipes to try and hopefully fall in love with.

Classic Risotto al Parmigiano

Overhead view of plate of risotto
Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Risotto is easy to make. In this basic recipe for risotto flavored with onion, white wine, and Parmigiano Reggiano, Daniel goes through the classic method step by step and summarizes what you need to know to get it right.

Creamy Risotto alla Milanese (Saffron Risotto)

A round ceramic plate holding creamy saffron risotto. There is a glass of liquid in the top left corner and a small bowl of grated cheese on the bottom left edge of the frame.
Serious Eats / Qi Ai

This is one of the most luxurious—and simplest—of risottos. This version of the Milanese classic uses Kenji’s method for getting an extra creamy risotto, which involves rinsing the rice with the stock you use to cook the dish and whipping the cream you add at the end.

Seared Sea Scallops With Leek Risotto and Lemon-Brown Butter Sauce

Overhead view of a serving of Seared Sea Scallops With Leek Risotto and Lemon-Brown Butter Sauce, garnished with biquinho peppers and chopped parsley.
Serious Eats / Emily and Matt Clifton

Seared sea scallops, a rich, creamy leek risotto, and an easy brown butter-lemon sauce come together in this show-stopping Valentine’s Day entrée. (We’ve tested this recipe at other times of the year and it’s just as delicious.)

Pressure Cooker Corn Risotto

Overhead closeup of pressure cooker corn risotto, served in a speckled bowl and topped with thyme leaves.
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Infused with corn cobs, enriched with corn purée, and studded with whole sautéed corn kernels, this risotto recipe wrings every last bit of flavor from sweet summer corn.

Pressure Cooker Mushroom Risotto

Finished and garnished mushroom risotto in a bowl with cheese and herbs on the periphery.
Serious Eats / Mariel De La Cruz

Well-browned fresh mushrooms, dried porcini, mushroom-infused stock, and a touch of soy and miso give this creamy risotto an intensely savory flavor.

Risotto ai Gamberi (Shrimp Risotto)

Overhead of a plate of shrimp risotto
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

A quickly cooked, deeply flavorful stock made with shrimp shells and heads is the key to this superlative risotto.

Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto With Frizzled Sage and Brown Butter

Overhead closeup of butternut squash risotto, topped with frizzled sage and grated parmesan.
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

This risotto incorporates all the fall flavors, getting a sweet and savory lift from roasted butternut squash-apple purée, as well as maple syrup, brown butter, and a touch of miso.

Easy Vegan Pressure-Cooker Miso Risotto

A closeup of vegan miso risotto, served in a large ceramic bowl.
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

Sake, a touch of soy, and white miso paste give this vegan take on risotto a unique flavor.

Veneto-Style Radicchio Risotto With Walnuts and Blue Cheese

Overhead view of Veneto-style radicchio risotto, garnished with walnuts and blue cheese.
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Radicchio adds color and complexity to this classic risotto dish from the Veneto region of Italy. Daniel’s version is topped with a combination of toasted walnuts, thyme, and blue cheese.

Extra-Rampy Ramp Risotto

Overhead closeup of extra-rampy ramp risotto.
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

This recipe features ramp-flavored, bright green risotto flavored with blanched ramp greens and whites, topped with herb ricotta and sautéed ramps.

Risotto al Salto (Crispy Rice Pancake)

A forkful of risotto al salto is held up to the camera.
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

This method of repurposing risotto is perfect if you have any left over: simply form a pancake with the risotto in a skillet and cook in butter until it develops a nice golden crust, then flip and repeat on the other side. Practically any risotto on this list will work, though smoother ones work best—chunky mix-ins might make the pancake more difficult to transfer and flip.

Baked Saffron Risotto With Mozzarella and Crispy Topping

Overhead view of baked saffron risotto, served in a round baking dish.
Serious Eats / Daniel Gritzer

Here, we turn the classically a-la-minute dish into a make-ahead baked casserole—like baked mac-and-cheese, but with rice.