This quick healthy chicken risotto recipe is a perfect easy meal made with chicken and mushrooms. It's a great way to use up any leftover chicken too!
Quick healthy chicken risotto is just the perfect comfort food to serve up for a weeknight dinner on those busy days.
It's delicious risotto recipe, simple to make and one that the whole family will enjoy.
For this recipe I use cooked leftover chicken.
This normally comes from a whole chicken I will have roasted the day before.
You can easily buy cooked chicken though. Or use other substitutes (see below).
Or if you want to quickly make your own shredded chicken from chicken breasts then just follow my easy instructions in the leftover chicken salad recipe.
This quick healthy chicken risotto is ready in just 40 minutes and doesn't take much prep time either.
One portion of this recipe will count towards 50% of your daily value protein requirement and it's low in fat too.
You could even serve this up for a dinner party. It's even better served with a lovely glass of cold white wine.
Chicken risotto is a great recipe to add to your list of easy recipes.
It's a complete meal but versatile enough for you to adapt by adding other vegetables.
See the FAQ's for ideas of what to serve with risotto.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Arborio Rice
- Chicken Stock
- Cooked Chicken
- Low Fat Cream Cheese
- Button Mushrooms
- Garlic Cloves
- Freshly Ground Salt And Black Pepper
- Parmesan Cheese (Optional For Garnish)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this easy chicken risotto recipe:
Step 1
- Heat olive oil and sauté the onion until softened.
Step 2
- Add the rice, then the stock. Reduce the heat, put the lid on and cook until the rice is tender and liquid absorbed.
Step 3
- While rice is cooking sauté the mushrooms and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4
- Once rice cooked to al dente remove pan from the heat and stir in the cooked chicken and cream cheese.
Step 5
- Stir the sautéed mushrooms, garlic, and their juices into the cooked rice.
Step 6
- Season to taste and serve.
Substitutions
- Olive Oil - you could use low calorie cooking oil spray. If using olive oil use a good quality one for cooking with.
- Onion - you could use shallots instead.
- Arborio Rice - this is the best risotto rice to use to give you a creamy chicken risotto recipe. I don't recommend any other types for rice for traditional risotto recipes.
- Chicken Stock / Chicken Broth - I use homemade chicken stock made from a leftover roast chicken carcuss. Otherwise use good quality chicken stock.
- Cooked Chicken - I use leftover roast chicken. You can also use rotisserie chicken or a grilled chicken breast cut up into small pieces.
- Low Fat Cream Cheese - you can use full fat if you want. It will alter the nutritional value though. Vary the amount if you want a less creamy risotto.
- Button Mushrooms - you can use other kinds of white fresh mushrooms chopped.
- Garlic Cloves - use fresh garlic cloves if possible.
- Freshly Ground Salt And Black Pepper
- Parmesan Cheese (Optional For Garnish) - if you don't have parmesan another hard cheese like Grana Padano or even grated cheddar cheese would do.
Equipment
For This Best Chicken Risotto Recipe You May Need….
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This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
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This is the casserole pot I use. It's made of cast iron with a smooth enamel finish to reinforce durability and resistance.
You'll see me using it in many of my recipes and recipe photographs.
Hygienic and easy to clean there is no absorption of colours and tastes. It's ovenproof and suitable for all hob types.
It also comes with a lifetime guarantee. You'll never need to buy another casserole pot after you buy this one!
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FAQ's
What To Serve With Chicken Risotto?
I like to serve this recipe with some garlic bread. You could easily serve it some green peas added in. Or for other vegetables on the side green beans or broccoli go well with it too.
How To Store Leftover Risotto?
Risotto is much better when it's made fresh although you can store leftovers for 2 - 3 days in an airtight container and re-heat gently on your stove (but not in a microwave).
Can You Freeze Leftover Risotto?
I'm not a big fan of freezing any leftover risotto so I wouldn't recommend it here.
Other Popular Healthy Risotto Recipes You Might Also Like
Quick Healthy Chicken Risotto Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 350 g Arborio rice or similar
- 600 ml hot chicken stock
- 200 g cooked chicken chopped
- 75 g low fat cream cheese
- 150 g Button Mushrooms sliced
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- Freshly ground salt and pepper.
- Some grated parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium sized pan gently heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over a medium heat and sauté the onion for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Add rice, stir for a further minute then add the stock. Reduce the heat to low put a lid on the pot and cook for 15 - 20 minutes until the rice is just tender and the liquid absorbed. Add more hot water if required.
- Meanwhile whilst rice is cooking, in a separate small frying pan gently heat the rest of the olive oil and sauté the mushrooms and garlic for about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Once rice cooked remove pan from the heat and stir in the cooked chicken and cream cheese.
- Stir the sautéed mushrooms, garlic, and their juices into the cooked rice.
- Season to taste and serve the risotto garnished with a little parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition Label
Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.
Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made this quick healthy chicken risotto recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
Raymund | angsarap.net
Love this, quick and easy but delicious, its definitely a comfort meal
Neil
Thanks Raymund. Yes, it's even better if you can make it with leftover roast chicken. So flavourful!
David @ Spiced
I like that addition of cream cheese for the ultimate of creamy risotto! I do love risotto, and it's been a while since we've made it. You have me craving it now, Neil! Looks delicious, my friend!
Neil
I always find that the addition of a little cream cheese just turns what could be an OK risotto into one that tastes amazing! Thanks David. Hope you are well and get a chance to make this when you can!
Charlie DeSando
Neil, I do a similar recipe but on the instant pot. Thanks for sharing this one
Neil
Thanks Charlie! Glad you like it. 🙂
Chef Mimi
This looks wonderful. Very comforting and full of flavoR.
Neil
Thanks Mimi. We've been enjoying a lot of home made risotto recently.