Description
Creamy chicken risotto with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes whisks diners straight to Italian comfort cuisine. Silky arborio rice, tender chicken, and Mediterranean-inspired ingredients blend into a luxurious one-pan meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breast, diced
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1/2 cup white wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sear chicken pieces in hot olive oil over medium-high heat until golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 6-7 minutes, then remove from pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, toast Arborio rice for 2-3 minutes, ensuring each grain is lightly coated with residual oil and chicken drippings.
- Pour warm chicken broth incrementally, stirring continuously and allowing each addition to be fully absorbed before introducing the next portion, which helps release the rice’s natural starches.
- Continue adding broth and stirring for 18-22 minutes, maintaining a gentle simmer until rice reaches a creamy, al dente consistency with slight resistance when bitten.
- Fold in fresh spinach leaves and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, cooking until spinach wilts and tomatoes are heated through, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and incorporate freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and evenly distributed throughout the risotto.
- Season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, adjusting to taste.
- Let risotto rest for 2-3 minutes to achieve optimal creaminess before serving hot in warmed dishes.
Notes
- Choose high-quality Arborio rice for the creamiest, most authentic risotto texture that melts in your mouth.
- Toast the rice in oil before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and help it absorb broth more effectively.
- Keep broth warm in a separate pot to maintain consistent temperature and prevent rice from cooling down during cooking.
- For a lighter version, swap chicken for grilled shrimp or use vegetable broth to create a vegetarian-friendly option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg