Instant Pot risotto is a perfectly creamy dish made in the pressure cooker! It’s a no-stir method of preparing risotto, and Parmesan and basil give the arborio rice such amazing flavor!

Making risotto in the Instant Pot saves a lot of time compared to the traditional method of preparation! It’s creamy, easy, and delicious!

white bowl filled with parmesan risotto cooked in the Instant Pot, paired with roasted vegetables

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Sometimes I think I must have been Italian in another life. I mean, really, what is not to love about Italian cuisine?

Now, I’ve never actually been to Italy (yet!), and I realize that much of what we consider to be Italian food is a bit Americanized, but still–bread, cheese, pasta, sauce–it’s just all so good!

I’ve loved risotto for a while now. I first began making it myself several years ago, and I love that it is a pretty versatile food.

You can add whatever veggies or herbs you have on hand, you can use it as a side or main dish, you can experiment with different aromatics and wines.

Traditionally, making risotto requires a bit of close attention.

You babysit the pot of rice as it cooks, stirring it nearly constantly and adding more liquid along the way until it reaches the perfect consistency.

I used to really enjoy the slow process of getting the rice just right (cooking can be very therapeutic!).

But now? Have I mentioned that I have three small children?

Let’s get real–standing over a hot pot of rice stirring it constantly is not exactly a possibility in my life right now.

I can only imagine the havoc that would go down while I gingerly ladled steaming broth into the risotto. Yeah…not happening.

white bowl filled with instant pot parmesan risotto and roasted vegetables

Why I Love Making Risotto in the Instant Pot

Once again, Instant Pot for the win. With the pressure cooker, making risotto no longer has to be the laborious process it once was.

I was a little worried that making risotto in the Instant Pot would yield a less than stellar result, but I was wrong. The risotto is just as creamy and the process is so much easier.

The first risotto I made with my Instant Pot was Pressure Cooker Risotto Bolognese by Barbara at Pressure Cooking Today. It was a dreamy one-pot meal that was full of flavor.

But more recently, I wanted a simple, weeknight risotto to enjoy as a side dish, so I made this easy Instant Pot risotto with some Parmesan and a bit of fresh basil.

I’ve made it numerous times since then, and it is such a comfort food!

I’m a huge fan of using a handful of simple ingredients to create something delicious, and this is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

New to Pressure Cooking? Check Out These Helpful Resources:

How to Make Instant Pot Risotto

It’s actually so very simple to make Instant Pot risotto!

You begin by using the Saute function to cook some onions in a bit of oil and butter.

The garlic and Arborio rice is added and cooked for just a bit before adding a splash of white wine.

Once the white wine is mostly evaporated and cooked down, the broth is added and the rice is cooked under pressure for 5 minutes.

After the rice is cooked, a quick release of pressure is performed. Add in some butter, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil if you have it. Season with salt and pepper to taste and you’re good to go!

You can serve this as a side dish–I have served it with sausage and peppers, as well as with roasted veggies.

I think it would also be perfect alongside some grilled chicken or fish!

If you’ve been hesitant to make risotto before, or if you just need a more hands-off approach, give this method a try.

It’s favoloso!

Instant Pot Cook Time for Arborio Rice

Arborio rice is a short-grain Italian rice named after the town of Arborio. It can absorb up to five times its weight in liquid, which gives it its creamy consistency when cooked.

The wonderful thing about pressure cooking arborio rice is that it results in a creamy rice without having to stir in liquid slowly!

I’ve found that a 5-minute cook time allows the rice to cook to perfection–tender, but not mushy.

Give it a try–I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

More Basic Staple Instant Pot Rice Recipes:

Recommended Equipment:

Instant Pot (I have the DUO60 model, which I love)
Chef’s Knife
Microplane Grater

Yield: 4 side servings or 2 main servings

Instant Pot Risotto with Parmesan and Basil

Name: Instant Pot Risotto with Parmesan and Basil
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 Tbs olive oil; 2 Tbs unsalted butter, divided; 1 small onion, diced; 3/4 cup Arborio rice; 1 tsp minced garlic; 1/4 cup white wine; 1 3/4 cup chicken broth; 2 Tbs fresh basil, chiffonade; 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; salt and pepper to taste

Instant Pot risotto is a faster, easier method of preparation than the traditional way of preparing risotto! It's a creamy and flavorful dish that pairs well with your favorite vegetables or meat!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs unsalted butter, divided
1 small onion, diced
3/4 cup Arborio rice
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup white wine
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
2 Tbs fresh basil, chiffonade
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Using the Saute function of your Instant Pot, heat olive oil and 1 Tbs butter together in the insert pot until butter is melted.
Add the onion and saute for a few minutes until it begins to turn translucent.
Add rice and stir for a 2-3 minutes or until the rice begins to turn opaque. Then add garlic, stirring for one minute more.
Add in white wine, stirring to combine. Allow contents to continue simmering as the wine cooks down and evaporates, about 2-3 minutes.
Pour chicken broth into the pot. Turn off the Saute function.
Place the lid on the pot and set the vent to sealed. Using the manual function, select high pressure and a 5 minute cook time. When the cook time is complete, use a quick pressure release.
Remove the lid and add remaining 1 Tbs of butter, Parmesan and basil, stirring well to combine.
Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Notes

This versatile dish pairs well with just about anything! I like to toss some vegetables with olive oil and Italian seasonings, then roast them and serve alongside the risotto for an easy meatless meal. Other serving suggestions include pairing it with sausage and peppers, baked or grilled chicken, or steak.