Chicken and Mushroom Baked Risotto (Printable Version)
Creamy oven-baked risotto with tender chicken and earthy mushrooms, no stirring required
# What You’ll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 12 oz), diced
→ Vegetables
02 - 9 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Rice & Liquids
05 - 1½ cups Arborio rice
06 - 4 cups chicken stock, hot
07 - ½ cup dry white wine
→ Dairy
08 - ¼ cup unsalted butter
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
→ Herbs & Seasoning
10 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
11 - 1 tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Oils
13 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and half the butter in a large, oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until lightly golden (about 5 minutes). Remove to a plate.
03 - Add the remaining olive oil to the pan. Sauté the onion and mushrooms with thyme until softened and any released liquid has evaporated (about 6–8 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
04 - Stir in the Arborio rice and cook for 1–2 minutes, allowing the grains to toast lightly.
05 - Pour in the white wine, stirring until mostly absorbed.
06 - Return the chicken to the pan. Pour in the hot chicken stock, stir well, and bring to a gentle simmer.
07 - Cover the pan tightly with a lid or foil and transfer to the preheated oven. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the rice is just tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
08 - Remove from the oven. Stir in the remaining butter, Parmesan, and parsley. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.
# Quick Tips:
01 -
- The oven does all the heavy lifting so you can actually enjoy time with your people instead of being stuck at the stove
- That crispy chicken skin and earthy mushroom combination creates depth of flavor that tastes like you spent hours simmering
02 -
- I once forgot to heat my stock ahead of time and ended up with slightly uneven cooking so now I always keep my stock simmering on a back burner
- The resting period after baking is crucial because the rice continues absorbing liquid and the sauce thickens to that perfect consistency
03 -
- Don't skip toasting the rice in the pan before baking because this step develops incredible nutty flavor
- Let the dish rest covered for 5 minutes after removing from the oven before stirring in the final butter and cheese