Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto (With Bacon!)Erin ClarkeWell Plated by Erin

Butternut Squash Risotto

Roasted butternut squash fulfills its best future on this fall-forward Butternut Squash Risotto. Richly creamy and comforting, it is a risotto value standing over the stovetop for (however I promise, it’s not as labor-intensive as you may assume!). It makes a particular autumn meal.

Why You’ll Love This Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto Recipe

Feels Like You’re at a Fancy Italian Restaurant. In order for you the quintessential date-night-at-home dinner, it’s butternut squash risotto. (Or Steak Fajitas if you happen to’re extra right into a Mexican restaurant form of date.) Bonus: if you prepare dinner dinner at dwelling, you will get seconds!

Creamy and Indulgent. If you happen to grew up on creamy, tacky casseroles, this butternut squash risotto will scratch that nostalgic itch, however in an elevated method. It’s every thing you need in a consolation meals dish, however with extra magnificence than say, Broccoli Rice Casserole.

The Greatest Winter Squash. In comparison with the opposite widely-available winter squash varieties, I believe we will all agree that butternut squash is the most effective. It’s creamy, earthy with out being too earthy, and it has probably the most pure sweetness and taste. You’ll additionally discover it in my Quinoa Stuffed Butternut Squash and Crockpot Butternut Squash Soup. 

Plus Bacon! Is it a cliché? Sure. Is that going to cease me? Nope. As a result of it’s true: bacon actually does make every thing higher. The smoky, savory taste pairs fantastically with butternut squash—and different fall greens like Brussels sprouts (Brussels Sprouts Bacon Pizza) and candy potatoes (Candy Potato Salad with Bacon). Need your risotto vegetarian? You may completely depart it out and can nonetheless have a scrumptious dinner.

The right way to Make Butternut Squash Risotto

The Components

Butternut Squash. Comply with my recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds to upcycle the squash seeds right into a crunchy snack!

Additional-Virgin Olive Oil. For drizzling onto the squash earlier than roasting.

Salt and Pepper. You’ll want some for the squash and a few for the risotto.

Unsalted Rooster Inventory. Home made hen inventory is unbelievable for butternut squash risotto, however store-bought is simply wonderful. Make certain that the inventory is unsalted (or cut back the salt within the recipe to start out).

Unsalted Butter. Key to risotto indulgence.

Thick-Minimize Bacon. Thick-cut means further meatiness.

Shallot. A shallot is the entire vegetable, not the person cloves or sections inside.

Garlic. Two cloves are good for this recipe—we need to add some oomph, however we don’t need to overpower the opposite flavors within the dish.

Arborio Rice. Settle for no substitutes! Effectively, nearly no substitutes—carnaroli and vialone nano rice additionally work, however you may’t swap in an on a regular basis white or brown rice right here. Arborio has a singular high quality that permits the outside starches to interrupt away and create a creamy sauce, whereas the middle stays al dente.

Dry White Wine. Like sauvignon blanc or vermouth—or extra hen inventory.

Dried Thyme. If you happen to occur to have recent thyme readily available, you need to use that right here, however there’s no must exit and purchase it for this butternut squash risotto.

Parmesan Cheese. The nutty, umami taste of Parmesan stands as much as the flavors of the squash and bacon with out overshadowing them.

Chopped Contemporary Sage. A traditional pairing with butternut squash; you’ll additionally discover it in my Butternut Squash Pasta and Butternut Squash Soup Recipe.

The Instructions

Roast the Squash. If you happen to adore it as a lot as I do, make sure to try my Roasted Butternut Squash. 

Heat the Inventory. It’s essential that it’s heat for max risotto creaminess.

Cook dinner the Bacon and Shallot. The muse of good risotto taste.

Add the Rice and Garlic. Stir to coat.

Pour within the Wine. Simmer for only a minute.

Add the First Ladles of Inventory. Pour in 2 huge ladles of the hen inventory and stir within the remaining salt and pepper. 

Simmer. Let the risotto simmer over low warmth till the liquid is sort of utterly absorbed, stirring sometimes.

Repeat. Stir in 2 extra ladles of inventory; as soon as the liquid is absorbed, add 2 extra. Rinse and repeat till the risotto is creamy and the rice is tender however nonetheless a little bit bit al dente.

End. Stir within the Parmesan, sage, and squash. ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

Swap in One other Winter Squash. I like to recommend one which’s candy and flavorful like butternut. Delicata could be fabulous, as would honeynut squash if you happen to’re fortunate sufficient to get your palms on some. (It’s a hybrid that’s even sweeter than butternut!)

Attempt One other Meat. Crumbled sausage—one thing with fall vibes like hen and apple would work properly—could be swapped in for the bacon on this butternut squash risotto, or strive pancetta.

Change Up the Herbs. Sage and rosemary additionally pair properly with butternut squash, so be at liberty to make use of these as an alternative of thyme; thyme or rosemary could be swapped for the sage that’s stirred in on the finish.

Storage Ideas

To Retailer. Refrigerate butternut squash risotto in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.

To Reheat. Heat up leftovers in a pan on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave. Add extra water or inventory as wanted to skinny it.

To Freeze. Freeze risotto in an hermetic container for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating in accordance with the directions above.

What to Serve with Straightforward Butternut Squash Risotto

Rooster. This straightforward butternut squash risotto would make a stellar pairing with Rooster Saltimbocca, or serve it with Baked Bone In Rooster Breast or Air Fryer Rooster Thighs.

Pork. Plate your Pork Chops With Apples or Breaded Pork Chops with a aspect of risotto.

Salad. Maintain it mild with an autumnal salad like Apple Walnut Salad or Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad.

Greens. Fall greens like Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic or Roasted Cauliflower on the aspect are one other mild possibility.

Advisable Instruments to Make this Recipe

Dutch Oven. That is my favourite Dutch oven—and it’s an funding that can final for many years.

Saucepan. For simmering the inventory on the stovetop.

Ladle. One of the simplest ways so as to add inventory to butternut squash risotto because it cooks.

Recipe Ideas and Tips

Grate Your Personal Parmesan. For Parm that melts easily into the sauce, there’s merely no method round it: it’s important to grate your individual. Each the bagged shredded Parmesan and the type that is available in a bottle received’t soften like freshly shredded does, which can smash the velvety texture of the completed butternut squash risotto.

Cook dinner Till the Rice It’s Al Dente. Which accurately means “to the tooth” in Italian. The surface of the rice grains will probably be tender, however when you get to the center, there’s nonetheless a little bit chew to them. The facilities shouldn’t be laborious, however pleasantly agency.

Add Water If Wanted. Don’t cease if you run out of inventory if the rice isn’t al dente but! As a substitute, add water to the saucepan the place you have been simmering the inventory and begin including that to the risotto. Maintain going till the rice is completed cooking.

Associated Recipes

Butternut squash is all the time a success! Listed below are some extra scrumptious methods to place it to make use of:

View all recipes

Effectively Plated by Erin