What to Serve with Risotto (27 Best Side Dishes + Main Course Ideas!)
Exactly what to serve with risotto! These proteins and side dishes pair well with risotto for a uniquely special meal.
Risotto is a creamy rice dish common in most Italian households.
It’s super versatile for many different and incredible flavor profiles, and even though it’s made from simple inexpensive ingredients, it feels a bit decadent.
The traditional method consists of arborio rice (or white rice) cooked in chicken broth until it reaches a creamy consistency.
To adapt the flavor profile to your meal or taste buds, you can use a different type of broth, white wine, butter, olive oil, parmesan cheese, or lemon juice.
This stunning Italian rice dish is typically used as a side dish, so you may want some ideas for a main course to make it a complete meal.
If you’ve wondered what protein goes with risotto (and want more side dish ideas too) you’re in the right place!
Here’s a big list of ideas, so your dinner party menu with risotto is top notch.
What meat to serve with risotto
1. Crispy chicken thighs
Chicken thighs with a crispy skin are one of those simple dinners that give you so much bang for your buck.
They’re an inexpensive protein, and you can bake them right in the oven.
The inside stays flavorful and juicy, and the skin gets a bit crunchy.
A great swap from the traditional chicken breast!
2. Seared scallops
Seared scallops are a delicious protein to serve with risotto.
They’re somehow both rich and light, sort of like risotto itself.
By searing them, they retain their slightly sweet flavor, but achieve a caramelized crust that takes them to a new level.
They cook in about 10 minutes, with almost no prep.
You’ll love how easy they are!
3. Garlic shrimp
Garlic butter shrimp makes the perfect quick dinner.
The lemony, garlicky sauce makes them super flavorful with just a few simple ingredients.
Serve them right on top of the risotto for a restaurant-quality dinner that’s sneaky easy.
4. Breaded chicken breast
A breaded chicken breast such as chicken cordon bleu is always a delicious crowd pleaser.
The crunch of the golden brown crust balances the smooth creaminess of risotto perfectly.
The chicken breast is stuffed with ham and cheese, and coated with golden brown breadcrumbs.
It gets baked in the oven, but it’s so tasty that everyone will think it’s fried.
5. Italian sausage
A meat like brats or Italian sausage on top of risotto is comfort food at its finest.
You can even use crumbled sausage and mix it right in, like in this one pan meal.
6. Steak
A pan seared steak with garlic butter turns delicate risotto into a hearty meal that big eaters will love.
The garlic rosemary-butter sauce makes it restaurant quality.
The steak and risotto cook on the stovetop, and both are done in about 20 minutes.
7. Lamb
An oven roasted rack of lamb makes for a really elegant meal!
After marinating it in a delicious, Mediterranean garlic and herb marinade, it cooks in the oven in just 15-20 minutes.
Everyone will be seriously impressed if you serve them a lamb and risotto dinner.
8. Prime rib
For a seriously extraordinary dinner, worthy of any very special occasion, try serving prime rib with your risotto.
It really takes only a few ingredients to turn this tender cut of meat into pure magic.
9. Salmon
Baked salmon is super easy to prepare, but packs a flavorful, impressive punch.
After a quick 5 minutes of prep, it cooks in the oven in about 15 minutes.
Healthy, fast, AND easy? Now that’s a win-win!
10. Lobster
Lobster risotto is truly a decadent and addictive meal.
The light sweetness of the lobster is perfect with the creamy, savory risotto.
You’ll feel like Gordon Ramsey when you pull this meal off!
11. Poached egg
The simplicity of a poached egg atop risotto turns basic, inexpensive ingredients into a delicacy.
The oozy, golden center melts into the creamy rice to make it even saucier.
This is what to serve with risotto for a vegetarian or meatless meal.
And heck, it can even turn risotto into a breakfast dish!
What side dishes go with risotto
12. Parmesan garlic green beans
Garlic parmesan green beans are a delicious vegetarian side dish that’s both quick and flavorful.
If you think you don’t like string beans, you’ve never tried these.
Even the heartiest eaters will appreciate how you’ve transformed them!
13. Sautéed mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms become downright decadent when sauteed in garlic butter.
A dash of soy sauce helps the sautéed mushrooms caramelize, and creates a deep flavor you wouldn’t expect from a vegetable.
14. Garlic spinach
Garlic sauteed spinach cooks in 10 minutes, and is yet another way to transform a healthy food into something everyone wants to eat.
A little olive oil, garlic, and a sprinkle of salt downright revolutionizes boring old baby spinach.
15. Green salad
Never underestimate a simple green salad with lemon vinaigrette.
The dressing is so easy to make, with such bright fresh flavors that’ll balance the creaminess of risotto perfectly.
It blows store-bought dressing out of the water, so it’s totally worth the extra bit of effort.
16. Garlic bread
Crunchy garlic bread is a must have for any type of Italian cuisine.
Crispy, warm bread, topped with buttery garlic bliss is best homemade.
Grab a loaf of French bread from the store, and you’ll be amazed how different it tasted from frozen garlic bread.
17. Roasted asparagus
Perfectly roasted asparagus is super simple to make in the oven.
The flavor caramelizes and intensifies, and the tips get a little golden brown.
You can even customize the flavor by adding different seasonings and toppings.
18. Bruschetta
If you’ve never tried bruschetta, prepare to be amazed by this simple dish.
Grilled bread gets rubbed with garlic, olive oil, and salt, then commonly topped with fresh tomatoes.
Sometimes basil and balsamic vinegar is included as well.
It feels like a restaurant dish, but confirms the notion that the simplest ingredients prepared well always taste the best.
19. Antipasto salad
Antipasto salad is a hearty Italian salad that commonly incorporates salami, mozzarella, olives, and cherry tomatoes.
While it’s robust enough to be a meal on its own, its Italian origins make it an excellent accompaniment to a dinner that includes risotto.
20. Brussels sprouts
Sautéed brussels sprouts are surprisingly delicious.
Even if you think you don’t like brussels sprouts, you might like these.
They get a little charred, crispy, and caramelized on the outside. Inside, they’re tender and almost meaty.
They might just become your go-go quick and easy side dish!
21. Cheese and olive platter
Continuing with the Italian cuisine theme, a cheese and olive platter is always a crowd pleaser.
A variety of cheeses, marinated olives, salami or prosciutto, and maybe some crackers and grapes will have everyone munching, chatting, and enjoying themselves.
22. Roasted carrots
Don’t sleep on the roasted carrots, folks.
Plain ol’ fresh carrots get tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper, and roasted until tender and golden.
They seem special enough for a holiday, but easy enough for everyday.
23. Caprese salad
Alternating slices of tomatoes and fresh mozzarella get layered under a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and balsamic to create caprese salad.
It feels and tastes like a fancy appetizer, but it seriously doesn’t get any easier than this!
24. Spinach apple salad
Apple spinach salad is such a crisp, fresh side dish.
The tangy apple cider vinaigrette dressing is a great way to balance the rich flavors of creamy risotto, and you can whip it up fast.
Spinach, apples, goat cheese, walnuts, and cranberries are seriously the most delicious combination.
25. Sweet potatoes
Whether you decide to serve baked sweet potatoes or sweet potato wedges, you can’t go wrong.
Sweet potatoes are one of the best side dishes for any main course.
They get crisp on the outside, stay tender on the inside, and can be adapted in a lot of different ways with a variety of seasonings and toppings.
26. Steamed broccoli
Steamed broccoli, especially when topped with savory ingredients like feta cheese and red onion, make a quick and healthy side dish.
The bright green color will complement risotto, and help create a balanced meal.
27. Fennel orange salad
Another fresh, unique salad idea is fennel orange salad.
The variety of flavors and textures will please your palette, and the citrus vinaigrette is so refreshing.
Toppings and add-ins for risotto:
For more variety, you can put different ingredients on top of the risotto.
The best risotto toppings are:
- Pesto
- Ricotta
- White beans
- Mushrooms
- Green peas
- Feta cheese
- Crumbled sausage
Ready to try some of these risotto dinner ideas?
I hope this list of tasty side dishes and main course ideas for risotto has given you lots of inspiration for your dinner menu.
It’s truly amazing that some chicken stock, carnaroli rice (or short-grain rice) comes together to create one of the best sides on the planet.
When it comes to what to eat with risotto, think about what protein to serve, and maybe a fresh vegetable side dish or two to balance the creaminess.
What are the best risotto recipes that you’ve found?
Exactly what to serve with risotto! These proteins and side dishes pair well with risotto for a uniquely special meal.
What to Serve with Risotto (27 Best Side Dishes + Main Course Ideas!)
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