Looking for a risotto recipe? Try one of our best risotto recipes for a midweek meal or easy entertaining. They're quick, easy and hassle-free. From vegetarian risottos such as wild rice and mushroom, to chicken risotto for midweek and posh seafood risottos to serve at a dinner party. We have some inventive ideas using barley, spelt and farro as an alternative to your risotto rice.

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Easy risotto recipes

Perfect risotto

With a little bit of know-how (and some soothing, meditative stirring), a creamy, umami-rich risotto with perfectly cooked rice is guaranteed. Here’s how to master this classic dish and make our best seafood risotto.

Seafood risotto in a bowl with spoon

Freekeh risotto with spring greens

Freekeh is made from cracked, roasted green wheat. It works well for risotto as the grains keep their bite when cooked, and it's under 300 kcals.

Risotto with freekeh and spring greens in a large silver pan with serving spoon

Watercress and asparagus emmer risotto

Emmer is an ancient wholegrain which works well in this creamy risotto with spring greens, pecorino and white wine.

Watercress risotto in a bowl with asparagus on top

Spring risotto

A super green risotto is perfect for packing in veggies while tucking into a bowl of comfort.

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Two plates of spring risotto topped with an egg yolk

Vegetable risotto

A green-speckled risotto, made vibrant with peas, baby spinach and asparagus. Chives, mint, lemon zest and pecorino add extra bursts of flavour, too.

Herby greens and pecorino risotto

Vegan risotto

Fennel, courgette, peas and parsley make for a wonderfully green risotto. This one is flavoured with a little nutritional yeast in place of parmesan, to keep it plant-based.

Vegan Courgette and Pea Risotto in a White Bowl

Pea, courgette and artichoke barley risotto

Barley is a great alternative to normal risotto rice, and when paired with pea, courgette and artichoke, makes for a delicious summery dish that feels indulgent but is under 300 calories. If you're looking for a low calorie vegetarian meal, here are our ideas.

Courgette and Pea Risotto Recipe with Artichoke

Pea and ham risotto

This risotto combines tender ham hock flakes with sweet frozen peas, brilliant for a summery Italian dish to enjoy outdoors.

Check out more of the best ham hock recipes.

Two plates of risotto topped with peas and ham and resting on a weaved table mat

Pea risotto

This veggie risotto is simple, bright and packed with plenty of fresh and zesty flavours. It’s a welcoming dish at any time of year.

Bowl of pea risotto next to a glass of water

Cheddar and spring onion risotto with balsamic tomatoes

Try our creamy risotto oozing with mature cheddar cheese topped with pan-fried cherry tomatoes bursting with flavour.

Risotto with Cheddar Cheese Recipe with Balsamic Tomatoes and Onions

Smoked ham hock and barley risotto primavera

The best recipe for slow-cooked risotto. First cook the ham hock then shred the meat and create this indulgent (but quite easy) barley risotto. The spring veg work a treat with the ham. Worth every bit of effort.

ham hock and asparagus risotto primavera

Leek and parmesan risotto

Our seriously simple risotto recipe is ideal for meat-free Monday. Spring onion and leek risotto is cooked traditionally in white wine and topped with parmesan.

Leek and parmesan risotto

Chicken risotto with beans & kale

Broad beans are in season from June to September, and this recipe for creamy but fresh barley risotto with chicken, beans and kale is a great way to make the most of them while you can.

Barley risotto recipe

Courgette risotto

A fresh and creamy risotto which makes the most of baby courgettes. It's also flavoured with mint, lemon and plenty of salty parmesan. Check out more of our best risotto recipes.

Courgette risotto with mint, lemon and parmesan

Orzo risotto with cavolo nero, peas and chilli

Check out this creamy veg risotto with cavolo nero, crunchy peas and punchy chilli. Make this quick and easy recipe for a warming midweek meal. Plus, it's low in calories too.

Pasta Orzo Risotto with Cavolo Nero

Crab risotto with spinach and peas

Make our vibrant crab risotto, with lots of green goodness from peas and spinach. This is a low-calorie dinner for the whole family.

Pea Risotto Recipe with Spinach and Crab

Vegetable risotto verde

Check out this show-stopping risotto verde recipe. It's low calorie and a great way to feed a crowd. Full of seasonal summer veg this dish has under 450 calories per serving. More vegetarian meal ideas here.

Vegetable Risotto Recipe

Hot-smoked salmon, dill and lemon risotto

You don't have to spend hours cooking to make something delicious. This hot-smoked salmon, dill and lemon risotto is full of light, fresh flavours and is ready in just 30 minutes. We've got some great ideas for recipes that use up leftover red wine here.

Hot-Smoked Salmon Risotto Recipe with Dill

Chicken risotto

Cook a dinner you can count on tonight with our simple, warming dish. This easy risotto recipe comes flavoured with chicken thighs, smoked bacon lardons and plenty of parmesan.

A risotto in its cooking pan with herbs on top

Tomato risotto

Topped with shredded basil and parmesan, this comforting tomato risotto is singing with Italian flavours.

Two bowls of tomato risotto next to a chopping board with basil on top

Porcini and spinach risotto

Dried porcini mushrooms are a really useful ingredient to keep in your store cupboard. Added to this creamy risotto with fresh mushrooms and spinach they give a deeply savoury concentrated flavour. A smart quick vegetarian supper for two.

Porcini Mushroom Risotto Recipe with Spinach

Prawn risotto

This comforting risotto utilises the entire crustacean, as the shells form a rich seafood stock for the rice to absorb before incorporating the plump cooked prawns.

A bowl of prawn risotto topped with three large prawns

Black seafood risotto

Check out this seafood-packed risotto, featuring clams, mussels, squid and langoustines. It comes from the kitchens of Covent Garden’s Ave Mario.

A red and white patterned bowl full of risotto with squid, clams and langoustines

Saffron risotto

This soothing risotto is delicious on its own, or served with a roast chicken and the roasting juices from the tin. An impressive entertaining idea, if you've got friends round for dinner.

An aerial shot of saffron-coloured risotto on a white plate

Butternut squash risotto

Indulgent but easy enough for weeknights. This butternut squash risotto with sage will hit the spot when you need Italian comfort food. Ready in half an hour.

A pot of butternut squash risotto with sage leaves

Mushroom risotto

Try our creamy mushroom risotto recipe with zesty lemon. This quick veggie risotto dish is easy to make and ready in 35 minutes.

Mushroom Risotto Recipe with Lemon

Leek risotto

Fried anchovy and breadcrumbs top this leek risotto, made beautifully creamy thanks to parmesan, butter and cream.

Leek risotto in a bowl topped with fried anchovy and breadcrumbs

Baked bolognese risotto

If you like bolognese and risotto, then you'll love our baked bolognese recipe with risotto. This hearty dish is super easy to make and will soon become a firm family favourite. Try our baked bolognese sauce for an easy dinner idea.

Bolognese Risotto Recipe

Scallop and prawn risotto

Our recipe for scallop and prawn risotto is easy to make but looks and tastes impressive. Make it as part of a dinner party to really impress your guests. Here are some individual pudding recipes to serve as dessert.

Prawn Risotto Recipe with Scallops

Jerusalem artichoke risotto

Check out our risotto recipe with Jerusalem artichokes and chopped hazelnuts. This simple one-pot is an easy, midweek winter warmer recipe for the whole family.

Jerusalem Artichoke Risotto Recipe

Spelt and mushroom risotto

Try this creamy risotto uses pearled spelt as a healthier alternative to classic risotto rice and dried porcini mushrooms for a more intense flavour.

Spelt Risotto Recipe with Mushrooms

Mushroom risotto with wild rice roast garlic

This recipe for wild rice and mushroom risotto with roast garlic is vegetarian, low salt and sugar and under 500 calories but packed with flavour.

Wild rice and mushroom risotto with roast garlic

Vegan mushroom risotto

Typically laden with butter and cheese, risotto is well known for its comforting and indulgent qualities. Here we've invented a much lighter (and totally vegan) option that still packs in plenty of umami flavours.

Check out more mushroom recipes.

Vegan mushroom risotto

Brown-buttered crab risotto

Our indulgent recipe for brown-buttered crab risotto is really easy to make and ready in just 35 minutes, making it a great option midweek.

Brown-buttered crab risotto

Sausage, radicchio and barolo risotto

A stylish but fuss-free one-pot that delivers on flavour – perfect for your next dinner party. If you don't want to go to the expense of using barolo, use another sturdy Italian red.

Sausage Risotto Recipe with Radicchio

Wild mushroom and taleggio risotto cake

This wild mushroom and taleggio risotto cake is easy but looks impressive and serves a crowd. This recipe makes a great vegetarian dinner party dish, here are more vegetarian entertaining ideas.

Risotto Cake Recipe With Mushrooms

Quail, confit garlic and celeriac risotto

Try this easy but impressive recipe for quail, confit garlic and celeriac risotto from Oldroyd's in Islington.

Garlic Risotto Recipe with Quail and Celeriac

Beetroot risotto

Brighten up your risotto with beetroot for an easy vegetarian meal topped with goat's cheese and walnuts.

Beetroot Risotto Recipe

Bacon and roasted tomato risotto

This comforting risotto is ready in just 30 minutes and can be made using ingredients you may already have in your fridge and store cupboard - perfect to whip up after work.

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Bacon and Tomato Risotto Recipe

Radicchio and pancetta risotto

Radicchio and pancetta are a classic Italian pairing. Sharp and salty, they have been brought together to complement this creamy risotto, which can be whipped up for a quick midweek dinner.

Pancetta Risotto Recipe with Radicchio

For more midweek meals, try one of our stew recipes

Bean and pearl barley stew in a white pot

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