Ina Garten’s One-Pot Oven Risotto Recipe with Weeknight Ease

Ina Garten’s one-pot oven risotto transforms ordinary ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that speaks directly to comfort food lovers.

Mediterranean-inspired techniques elevate this classic dish beyond traditional stovetop methods.

Creamy textures mingle with rich, complex flavors that dance across your palate with surprising elegance.

Home cooks can achieve restaurant-quality results without constant stirring or complicated techniques.

Sophisticated yet approachable, the technique relies on strategic ingredient layering and precise temperature control.

Why You’ll Want to Try This Oven Risotto

• Effortless Cooking Magic: Transform a traditionally labor-intensive risotto into a hands-off, stress-free meal by using the oven method, eliminating constant stirring and allowing you to multitask while dinner practically prepares itself.
• Luxurious Texture Explosion: Experience a perfectly creamy risotto with tender Arborio rice that achieves restaurant-quality smoothness through strategic baking and final vigorous stirring, creating a velvety dish that melts in your mouth.
• Gourmet Flavor Harmony: Elevate a simple rice dish with sophisticated ingredients like saffron threads, fresh asparagus, and white wine, which blend together to create a complex, elegant flavor profile that feels like a restaurant-worthy meal prepared in your own kitchen.

Oven Risotto Grocery Checklist

Main Ingredients:

• Arborio Rice: Classic Italian short-grain rice perfect for creamy risotto with high starch content and ideal texture for absorbing flavors.

• Shallots, Asparagus: Fresh aromatic vegetables that add depth and spring-like freshness to the risotto.

• Chicken Stock: Rich, flavorful base that helps cook and infuse rice with deep savory taste.
• White Wine: Adds complexity and brightness to the overall dish.

• Saffron Threads: Luxurious spice that provides golden color and subtle earthy flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that enhances creaminess and adds rich umami notes.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall taste.

• Butter: Adds richness, silky texture, and rounds out the risotto's flavor profile.
• Olive Oil: Provides base for sautéing vegetables and adding subtle fruity undertone.

Bake a Perfect One-Pot Risotto

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for cooking.

Step 2: Sauté Vegetables

• Shallots (2 minutes)
• Asparagus (5 minutes until tender)

Transfer cooked vegetables to a separate bowl.

Step 3: Prepare Rice Base

In the same Dutch oven, add olive oil and Arborio rice. Coat rice thoroughly with oil.

Step 4: Create Liquid Foundation

• Chicken stock
• Saffron threads

Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and transfer to the oven. Bake for 35 minutes until rice becomes tender and liquid absorbs.

Step 5: Enhance Flavor Profile

• White wine
• Additional chicken stock
• Parmesan cheese
• Butter
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 6: Create Creamy Texture

Vigorously stir with a wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes. Adjust liquid if needed to maintain creamy consistency.

Step 7: Final Assembly

Gently fold reserved asparagus and shallots back into risotto. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed hot and straight from the pot for maximum flavor and creaminess.

Tips to Make Risotto Stress-Free

• Warm Stock Magic: Keeping chicken stock hot on the stovetop ensures even rice cooking and creates a silky, luxurious texture for your risotto.
• Stir Power for Creaminess: Vigorous stirring after baking releases rice starches, transforming your dish into an ultra-smooth, velvety delight.
• Gradual Liquid Love: Carefully add extra stock in small amounts to maintain the perfect creamy consistency without drowning the rice.
• Cheese Upgrade Trick: Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly and delivers a richer flavor compared to pre-packaged alternatives.
• Seasoning Finale: Waiting to add salt and pepper prevents over-salting, letting the Parmesan's natural saltiness shine through the final dish.

How to Store Leftover Risotto

• Reheat: Pour a splash of chicken broth or water into a skillet, add the cold risotto, and gently stir over medium-low heat. Warm gradually while stirring to restore its creamy texture, preventing scorching or drying out. This method helps revive the risotto's original silky consistency.
• Portion and Preserve: Divide leftover risotto into individual serving sizes using small freezer-safe containers. Each portion can be quickly thawed and reheated without waste, maintaining optimal flavor and quality. Label containers with the date to track freshness.
• Quick Storage Strategy: Cool risotto within two hours of cooking to prevent bacterial growth. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to minimize air exposure, which helps prevent oxidation and maintains the dish's rich, smooth characteristics. Store in the coldest part of the refrigerator for maximum preservation.

Risotto Variants You’ll Enjoy

• Seafood Sensation: Replace asparagus with a mix of shrimp, scallops, and fresh herbs like dill. Use seafood stock instead of chicken stock for enhanced maritime flavors.
• Mushroom Forest Style: Swap asparagus for a medley of wild mushrooms such as porcini, shiitake, and cremini. Add thyme and a splash of truffle oil for an earthy, rich profile.
• Vegetarian Garden Blend: Substitute chicken stock with vegetable broth and incorporate roasted butternut squash, spinach, and goat cheese. Sprinkle toasted pine nuts on top for extra crunch.
• Winter Comfort Edition: Add diced pancetta, roasted butternut squash, and sage. Use white wine with a touch of nutmeg to create a warm, comforting version perfect for cold evenings.

End Thoughts on This Risotto Dish

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s one-pot oven risotto, blending simplicity with sophisticated flavors.

Mediterranean influences dance through saffron-infused Arborio rice, creating a luxurious dining experience.

Comfort meets elegance in this effortless recipe that transforms ordinary ingredients into extraordinary cuisine.

Creamy textures and robust seasonings guarantee a memorable meal that whispers gourmet sophistication.

Ina Garten One-pot Oven Risotto Recipe

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4.9 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Mediterranean-inspired risotto brings comfort and elegance straight from Ina Garten’s kitchen. Parmesan, white wine, and creamy Arborio rice combine effortlessly for a luxurious dinner you’ll savor with pure culinary delight.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh asparagus, tough ends removed, cut diagonally in 1-inch lengths
• 1½ cups (10 ounces) Arborio rice
• 1 cup freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese

Liquids and Aromatics:

• 5 to 6 cups simmering chicken stock, preferably homemade
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1¼ cups thinly sliced shallots (2 large)

Seasonings and Finishing Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
• ½ teaspoon saffron threads
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing for a luxurious risotto preparation.
2. Select an 11-inch Dutch oven and warm of olive oil over medium heat. Sauté shallots for 2 minutes until they become translucent and fragrant.
3. Introduce asparagus to the shallots, cooking for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally until the vegetables reach a crisp-tender texture. Transfer the vegetables to a separate bowl, reserving for later incorporation.
4. Without cleaning the Dutch oven, add olive oil and pour in Arborio rice. Gently coat the grains, ensuring each kernel is glossed with oil to enhance flavor development.
5. Pour of chicken stock into the rice, sprinkling saffron threads for a rich golden color and distinctive aroma. Cover the Dutch oven and transfer to the preheated oven.
6. Bake for 35 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid and become tender, creating a foundation for a creamy risotto.
7. Carefully remove from the oven and introduce white wine, stirring to integrate the liquid and release any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pot.
8. Add an additional of chicken stock, grated Parmesan cheese, diced butter, 2½ teaspoons salt, and black pepper.
9. Vigorously stir with a wooden spoon for 2 to 3 minutes, encouraging the starches to release and create a luxuriously creamy consistency. Adjust liquid if needed to maintain a silky texture.
10. Fold in the reserved asparagus and shallots, allowing the vegetables to warm through and meld with the risotto.
11. Serve immediately, garnishing with additional grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of richness.

Notes

• Warm stock ensures even cooking and maintains that luxurious risotto creaminess throughout every single bite.
• Vigorous stirring transforms the final moments of preparation, releasing magical rice starches that create an incredibly silky texture.
• Gradual stock additions guarantee perfect moisture, preventing dry patches and keeping the risotto lusciously smooth.
• Freshly grated Parmesan melts like liquid gold, elevating flavor profiles with its rich, authentic cheese essence.
• Final seasoning allows the natural saltiness of Parmesan to shine, giving you complete control over the dish’s final taste.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 of 4 servings
• Calories: 294
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 1467mg
• Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Carbohydrates: 27g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 13g
• Cholesterol: 36mg