Chicken and Mushroom Baked Risotto (Printable Version)

Creamy oven-baked risotto with tender chicken, mushrooms, and herbs. No stirring needed.

# What You 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

# How To Make:

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.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The oven does practically all the work while you catch up on life
  • That restaurant-quality creaminess without standing at the stove for 45 minutes
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for tomorrow's lunch
02 -
  • Keep your stock hot before adding it to the pan to maintain the cooking rhythm
  • Letting the mushrooms cook until their liquid evaporates prevents a watery final dish
  • The risotto might look slightly loose when you first take it out of the oven but will thicken as it stands
03 -
  • Dice the chicken into uniform pieces so everything finishes cooking at the same time
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh for the best melting texture and brightest flavor