Mushroom Risotto

For a delicious, elegant main dish, make this mushroom risotto recipe! It's rich and creamy, made with white wine, fresh herbs, and Parmesan cheese.

Mushroom risotto

My ideal Valentine’s Day would involve staying in and making this mushroom risotto recipe. My husband Jack LOVES mushrooms, and I love making risotto for date nights. They’re those rare occasions when you actually want to stand at the stove, stirring and stirring and stirring, because you’re also spending time with someone you love. The fact that all that stirring results in a comforting, flavorful meal is just the cherry on top.

Realistically, we probably won’t make this mushroom risotto for Valentine’s Day this year (thinking it would be hard to pull off with a toddler running around!). But if you’re having a date night in, I hope you will make it. White wine, Parmesan cheese, and fresh thyme fill the rice with rich flavor, and its creamy texture contrasts beautifully with the crispy, meaty mushrooms. Top it off with fresh parsley and extra cheese for an elegant main dish.

Overhead shot of mixed mushrooms on cement surface

Mushroom Risotto Recipe Ingredients

You could make this mushroom risotto recipe with just cremini mushrooms, and it would come out delicious. But if you want to take it to the next level, experiment with a mix of varieties. I have these types in the photo above:

  • Shiitake mushrooms
  • Oyster mushrooms
  • King oyster/trumpet mushrooms
  • Chanterelle mushrooms
  • Beech mushrooms

Any of these varieties would be fantastic, as would portobello mushrooms or maitakes. You’ll need 1 1/2 pounds total. Use a combination of whatever types you can get your hands on/whatever fits in your budget. Creminis, shiitakes, and portobellos are more affordable, while oyster mushrooms, chanterelles, and maitakes are pricier. I often use a mix of mushrooms at different price points to balance cost and flavor.

Mushroom risotto recipe ingredients

Aside from the mushrooms, you’ll need these ingredients to make this recipe:

  • Arborio rice – My favorite risotto rice! This Italian short-grain rice holds its shape as it cooks while simultaneously releasing starches that make the risotto thick and creamy.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – For richness.
  • Onion and garlic – For savory depth of flavor.
  • Fresh thyme leaves – Thyme and mushrooms go SO well together! I love the thyme’s fresh, citrusy flavor against the earthy mushrooms.
  • Dry white wine – It adds acidity.
  • Vegetable broth – Use store-bought, or make your own!
  • Pecorino cheese – It adds rich, umami flavor. Parmesan works here too! To make a vegan risotto, skip the cheese and top the mushroom risotto with a sprinkle of my vegan Parmesan.
  • Fresh parsley – For garnish.
  • And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Sauteed mushrooms in skillet with wooden spoon

Mushroom Risotto Recipe Tips

  • Don’t stir the mushrooms too much. The first step in this mushroom risotto recipe is to sauté the mushrooms. You want them to get tender in the middle and browned and crisp around the edges. The mushrooms need consistent contact with the hot pan in order to brown, so, for the best browning, it’s important that you stir only occasionally. Just give them a good toss every couple of minutes. If your pan is too crowded when you add the mushrooms all at once, feel free to work in batches.
  • But stir the risotto often. Unlike the mushrooms, the risotto needs a lot of stirring! Without frequent stirring, the starches will become gummy and burn in the pan, and you won’t end up with a smooth and creamy risotto.
  • Add the broth 3/4 cup at a time. Not all at once! After each addition, stir constantly until the rice has nearly absorbed the liquid, then pour in 3/4 cup more. The gradual additions allow you to control the consistency of the risotto. Cook until the overall texture is creamy but the individual grains of rice retain a slight bite.
  • Stir in some of the mushrooms, and pile more on top. The ones you stir in will soften slightly but infuse the risotto with umami flavor. The ones on top will stay lightly crisp, creating a fantastic combination of textures!
  • It will thicken as it sits. This mushroom risotto is best freshly made, but leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note that the risotto will thicken in the fridge, so you might need to stir in an extra splash of water or stock when you reheat it.

Creamy risotto in large skillet next to bowl of sauteed mushrooms

What to Serve with Mushroom Risotto

Simple and elegant, this mushroom risotto makes a fantastic dinner on its own. But if you’re craving a larger meal, you have plenty of great side dish options. It goes nicely with a quick veggie side dish like sautéed spinach, green beans, or roasted broccoli. It would also pair well with any of these salad recipes:

Round out the meal with homemade focaccia and a glass of white wine to drink!

Mushroom risotto recipe

More Favorite Date Night Recipes

If you love this mushroom risotto, try one of these date night dinners next:

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Mushroom Risotto

rate this recipe:
4.98 from 70 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
This mushroom risotto recipe is a delicious, elegant vegetarian main dish! It's rich and creamy, made with white wine, fresh herbs, and Parmesan cheese*.

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • pounds mixed mushrooms, chopped
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • cups uncooked Arborio rice, rinsed
  • cup dry white wine
  • 5 cups warmed vegetable broth
  • ½ cup grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese*, plus more for serving
  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, ½ teaspoon of the salt, and several grinds of pepper and toss to coat. Cook, stirring only occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until soft and browned. Remove from the pan and set aside. Work in batches if necessary.
  • Wipe out the pan and return it to the heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the onion, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon sea salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until softened. Stir in the garlic, thyme, and rice. Let cook for 1 minute, then add the wine. Stir and cook for 1 to 3 minutes, or until the wine cooks down.
  • Add the broth ¾ cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to be absorbed before adding the next. With the final addition of broth, stir two-thirds of the sautéed mushrooms into the risotto. Cook until the risotto is creamy and the rice has a slight al dente bite. Stir in the cheese and season to taste.
  • Top with the remaining sautéed mushrooms, garnish with parsley, and serve with more grated cheese, if desired.

Notes

*To make this recipe vegan, skip the cheese and top the risotto with sprinkles of vegan Parmesan.

79 comments

4.98 from 70 votes (40 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Patricia Conrad
    08.30.2024

    I’ve been dying to try this recipe and have everything except Arborio rice. Any chance I could use long grain white rice instead?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.30.2024

      Hi Patricia, I haven’t tried making this recipe with long grain white rice, so I’m not sure how it would turn out. Arborio rice has a higher starch content and absorbs more liquid than white rice, so it’s better suited to making risotto. I’d recommend getting it for this recipe!

  2. Julie
    08.30.2024

    5 stars
    First time making risotto and this is absolutely delicious. Used regular mushrooms, chicken broth and tried thyme, but it still came out wonderful. Thank you for the clear instructions!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.30.2024

      Hi Julie, I’m so glad you loved the risotto!

  3. Hazel
    08.09.2024

    5 stars
    Never made risotto before to be honest but this recipe is so yummy !!! I will definitely make it again and again

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.09.2024

      Hi Hazel, I’m so glad you loved it!

  4. John Schulz
    08.08.2024

    5 stars
    First time making risotto, and was worried about it not turning out correctly. Very good directions, turned out very good (if I do say so myself). I kept expecting Gordon Ramsay to kick in my door to scream at me, but we were very pleasantly surprised. Definitely will make again.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.09.2024

      Hi John, I’m so glad you enjoyed the risotto!

    • Annette Garrod
      09.16.2024

      5 stars
      I only had 400gm’s of mushrooms and chicken stock so added a chicken breast cubed when I cooked mushrooms. Was delicious. Thank you for your recipe that I used as my base

      • Jeanine Donofrio
        09.19.2024

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  5. Karri
    08.07.2024

    5 stars
    This was delicious, made a half batch, maybe had to use a little more broth because of that, it was amazing with a piece of Halibut on top and a lemon butter sauce…. Thank you!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.08.2024

      Hi Karri, I’m so glad you loved it!

  6. Heather
    07.24.2024

    5 stars
    Fantastic recipe! I’ve made it many times. Love it. I’ve added a chilli pepper for zing and use chicken broth instead of veggie broth.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.25.2024

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  7. Sharon
    07.15.2024

    5 stars
    Made this yesterday for company. Wonderful!! Everyone loved it. Since I didn’t want to be stirring while everyone chatting before dinner, I followed the “Make Ahead Risotto” directions – I think from Epicurious. Worked splendidly.

  8. Renee
    06.25.2024

    5 stars
    Turned out delicious!
    Thank you.
    The rest of my household doesn’t like mushrooms, so I know what I’m eating for the next 5 days lol.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.26.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  9. Lucy
    06.21.2024

    5 stars
    Years ago, first attempt at risotto was a disaster. I decided to give this recipe a try and it turned out amazing. Creamy with so much flavor.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      06.21.2024

      Hi Lucy, I’m so glad you loved the risotto!

  10. elaine jarvis
    06.07.2024

    Hi

    Can you freeze this risotto?
    thx Elaine

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      06.07.2024

      Hi Elaine, I haven’t tried freezing this risotto, but it might work. It will likely thicken when it freezes and thaws, and it might separate a bit. I’d recommend letting it thaw in the fridge and then reheating it on the stove, stirring often. Add water as needed to help it reach a creamy consistency.

  11. Daniel
    05.23.2024

    5 stars
    I never leave reviews for recipes, but this has to be one of the best risottos I have not only ever made, but also ever eaten. The risotto came out perfectly, the directions were easy to follow and just worked as expected. Creamy and umami from the mushrooms and cheese, my stomach hurts cause I just want to keep eating more, absolutely wonderful, definitely saving this recipe!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.24.2024

      Hi Daniel, thank you so much for your comment! I’m so glad you loved the risotto.

  12. Pp
    05.15.2024

    5 stars
    Loved it made it last night. Can I double or triple the ingredients for more servings.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      Hi Pp, yes, if you have a large enough pot!

  13. Beth
    04.29.2024

    There is a key error in this recipe. You call for Arborio rice, rinsed. The rice should never be rinsed as this removes all the starch that makes risotto creamy.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.02.2024

      Hi Beth, thanks for your comment! We’ve had great creamy results with rinsed rice, but feel free to skip the rinse if you prefer.

  14. Melissa T
    04.25.2024

    5 stars
    Beautiful recipe! A hit with my family

  15. gabie
    04.22.2024

    5 stars
    I’ve been sick the last few days and was craving something warm and hearty. This recipe was absolutely delicious and hit the spot! It was my first time making risotto and it turned out perfectly thanks the clear directions. Will definitely be making again!

  16. Robin
    03.30.2024

    5 stars
    Made this risotto last night. Delicious! I did not have fresh thyme so used dried (just used a little less than called for in the recipe) and did not have wine so I used chicken stock (for the entire recipe). It was really, really good. I was tempted to use olive oil and butter but used only the olive oil as called for in the recipe. This is a keeper! Thank you!

  17. Gowri Coomaraswamy
    03.28.2024

    Can I make part of this recipe a day ahead and finish just before the meal?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.29.2024

      Hi, you could make the risotto without the mushrooms a day ahead. It will thicken overnight in the fridge, but if you reheat it on the stovetop and add water or broth a little at a time to loosen it, it will get creamy again. I’d sauté the mushrooms on the day of the meal and fold them in right before serving.

  18. Rick T.
    03.20.2024

    Made this as a base to serve duck confit and it was wonderful. I did use shallot instead of the onion and used duck fat in place of the olive oil.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.21.2024

      Hi Rick, I’m so glad you enjoyed the risotto!

  19. Amy
    03.10.2024

    5 stars
    I made this recipe, and it was wonderful!! However – i am not able to find the nutritional value. Is this something you could please send me? I need to track calories, fat, carbs, etc. Thanks!!

  20. Mmmm. Such great flavors. I also like to soak dried mushrooms, chop them up, and also use the mushroom liquor.

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.