Difficulty Level: moderate
When it comes to weeknight dinners, the recipes I use at home have changed over the years thanks to gadgets like the Instant Pot and air fryer. The Instant Pot in particular turned horrible “stir forever” recipes into something you can make with your feet up.
This chicken pesto risotto wouldn’t nearly as easy without the Instant Pot. It really is transformative and makes risotto of any type relatively easy. I like food that tastes good the second it’s done and still holds up if a guest arrives thirty minutes late.
I’m still a little amazed that risotto can turn creamy without the constant stirring, and the texture comes out right as long as you don’t overthink it. Just let the pot do its job. So, if creamy risotto with tender chicken is something you want on a weeknight, this is the recipe for you.
Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Risotto Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless and skinless chicken breast (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 1.5 cups Arborio rice
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 medium yellow onion (finely diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Risotto Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté.
- Add olive oil. When it’s hot, brown the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes, just until it’s lightly golden. Season with salt and pepper. Move chicken to a plate.
- Drop in the onion and garlic. Sauté for about 2 minutes, until it smells good.
- Stir in the Arborio rice and toast it for 1 to 2 minutes, keep stirring so the grains get coated.
- Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom well so nothing sticks.
- Return the chicken to the pot and give it one stir. Put the lid on, set to Manual High Pressure for 6 minutes.
- When cooking ends, let it naturally release for 5 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
- Stir in pesto, heavy cream, and Parmesan until combined.
- Let it sit 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. A quick stir is enough.
- Taste and adjust salt or pepper.
- Serve right away, and add extra Parmesan and a small drizzle of pesto to finish.