A truly easy risotto recipe! No standing over the pot stirring and stirring. This creamy butternut squash and green bean risotto is a delicious entrée or side dish. It is perfect for a weeknight dinner or when entertaining family and friends.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time45 minutesmins
Course: Side dish or entrée
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: easy risotto for beginners, Easy risotto recipe, Risotto, risotto with butternut squash
5 ¼cupsreduced sodium chicken stock or reduced sodium vegetable stock
2tablespoonssalted butter
1cupchopped onion
2cupspeeled and cubed butternut squashcut into bite-sized pieces
4teaspoonschopped fresh thymedivided
1 ½cupsArborio rice
⅓cupdry white wine
1 ½cupsgreen beanscut in 1-inch pieces and steamed
⅓cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt
Pepper
⅓cupcrumbled blue cheese
Instructions
Bring stock to boil in large saucepan then turn off heat, cover and set aside.
Melt the butter in large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion, a pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the butternut squash and 2 teaspoons of thyme and sauté 3 to 4 minutes. The squash should just begin to turn golden brown on the edges.
Add the Arborio rice and stir for 2 minutes.
Add wine and simmer until evaporated, about 1 minute.
Slowly add the warm stock all at once and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the risotto uncovered for 20 to 22 minutes. Stir once or twice. The rice will be just tender, and the risotto will be creamy. Turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid, and let the risotto sit for 5 minutes.
Stir the green beans and Parmesan cheese into the risotto. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle the risotto with blue cheese and remaining 2 teaspoons of thyme and serve.
Video
Notes
Chicken stock adds rich flavor to this easy risotto recipe. To make vegan or vegetarian risotto, use vegetable stock.
Cut the butternut squash in bite sized pieces to ensure that it cooks in the same amount time as the rice.
Fresh thyme is my first choice, but dried thyme is an acceptable substitution.