Risotto, with its creamy texture and rich flavor, is a beloved dish perfect for special occasions or a comforting weeknight meal. But the question often arises: what to serve with risotto to create a complete and balanced dining experience? You’re in the right place! We’ve compiled a list of 20 of our absolute favorite side dishes that pair wonderfully with risotto, from light and fresh to hearty and savory. Whether you’re craving fish, chicken, steak, or vibrant vegetables, we’ve got you covered with perfect pairings to elevate your risotto dinner.
20 delicious sides to serve with risotto, including fish, broccoletti, mozzarella-stuffed chicken pomodoro, and prosciutto arugula salad.
Risotto is a fantastic celebratory dish, and we are constantly exploring new side dishes to complement its luxurious taste. To help you plan your next risotto feast, we’ve gathered 20 dishes that harmonize beautifully with risotto, ensuring you’ll find the ideal accompaniment for any type of risotto you choose to make.
If you’re in the mood for a lighter risotto, consider trying our Lemony Spring Risotto with Peas and Asparagus for a burst of freshness, or our convenient Instant Pot Risotto with Pancetta and Peas for a quick and flavorful option.
For those seeking a more indulgent risotto experience, our Truffle Mushroom and Leek Risotto is a must-try. This restaurant-quality creation boasts creamy, perfectly cooked risotto with sautéed leeks, rich truffle purée, and a medley of mushrooms, all crowned with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Now, let’s dive into the best side dishes to serve with risotto and discover your next favorite pairing!
1. Buttery Fish with Crispy Skin
Enhance the elegance of your risotto with buttery fish with crispy skin. This side dish is quick to prepare, taking only 15 minutes, and provides a delightful textural contrast to creamy risotto. Our simple method guarantees succulent, restaurant-quality fish with flawlessly crispy skin. The richness of the buttery fish complements the subtle flavors of many risottos, especially seafood or vegetable-based risottos.
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2. Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Pomodoro
Mozzarella-stuffed chicken pomdoro in a pan in cherry tomato sauce with basil.
For a heartier option, mozzarella-stuffed chicken pomodoro is an excellent choice. This family-friendly meal is ready in just 30 minutes and delivers juicy, Italian-seasoned chicken filled with melted mozzarella, all simmered in a vibrant tomato sauce. The robust flavors of the pomodoro sauce and the tender chicken create a satisfying and flavorful pairing with risotto, especially tomato-based or cheese risottos.
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3. Burrata Caprese with Balsamic Glaze
Burrata Caprese with balsamic glaze offers a refreshing and visually stunning side dish. Featuring creamy burrata cheese, ripe juicy tomatoes, and fragrant fresh basil, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze, this Caprese salad is both an appetizer and a perfect side. The fresh, bright flavors of the Caprese cut through the richness of the risotto, making it a wonderful accompaniment, particularly for heavier risottos.
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4. Bavette Steak (Flank Steak)
Bavette steak (garlic flank steak) sliced medium rare on a white plate au jus.
For meat lovers, bavette steak (flank steak) is a succulent and quick-cooking option. Broiled to medium-rare perfection in minutes, this garlic-infused steak is incredibly flavorful. Simply stuff it with garlic, season, broil, and slice. The rich, savory bavette steak provides a satisfying protein element that pairs beautifully with the comforting creaminess of risotto. This is an ideal side for mushroom or red wine risottos.
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5. 10-Minute Sautéed Broccolini (Broccoletti)
10-minute sautéed broccolini (broccoletti) is a quick and healthy vegetable side that complements any risotto. Broccolini, a tender and slightly sweeter relative of broccoli, is simply sautéed in olive oil and then tossed with red chili flakes, garlic, and lemon juice for an extra layer of flavor. The slight bitterness of broccolini and the zesty lemon provide a counterpoint to the richness of risotto, making it a balanced and nutritious side.
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6. Hamachi Kama (Yellowtail Collar)
Charred and broiled hamachi collar on a plate with lemon slices, yuzu ponzu, and soy sauce.
Bring an umami-rich Japanese flair to your risotto meal with hamachi kama (yellowtail collar). Broiled yellowtail collar is a tender and flavorful fish dish often found in Japanese restaurants. Ready in just 15 minutes with minimal ingredients, it’s also packed with Omega-3 fatty acids. The delicate, slightly sweet flavor of hamachi kama is a sophisticated pairing for risotto, especially seafood or vegetable risottos.
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7. Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad
Pear and prosciutto rocket salad is a delightful salad that brings together sweet, salty, and peppery notes. Featuring crispy prosciutto, juicy sliced pears, crunchy walnuts, shallots, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and peppery arugula, all tossed in a maple balsamic vinaigrette, this salad is full of flavor and texture. The lightness and sweetness of this salad offer a refreshing contrast to the creamy richness of risotto, particularly cheese or mushroom risottos.
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8. Healthy Corn and Zucchini Fritters
Healthy corn and zucchini fritter stacked and topped with greek yogurt, roasted corn, and basil.
Healthy corn and zucchini fritters are a fun and flavorful way to incorporate vegetables into your risotto dinner. These fritters boast a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors with a satisfying texture. Topped with fresh basil, Greek yogurt, and roasted corn, they offer an extra layer of deliciousness. The slight sweetness of the corn and zucchini fritters provides a nice counterpoint to savory risottos, especially vegetable or herb-based risottos.
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9. Elotes Style Corn with Furikake
Elotes style corn with furikake introduces a unique umami crunch to your risotto meal. Inspired by Mexican street corn but elevated with Japanese flavors from furikake, this corn dish is bursting with savory goodness. Enjoy it on the cob, in smaller portions, or off the cob as a salad alongside your risotto. The salty, umami flavors of elotes style corn with furikake add an exciting dimension to risotto, especially creamy or cheesy risottos.
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10. Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts
Maple Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta in bowl flatlay.
Maple bacon Brussel sprouts are a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors, making them a perfect side for risotto. Roasted with olive oil and maple syrup, and then tossed with crispy bacon or pancetta, these Brussel sprouts are both rich and nutritious. The sweetness of the maple and the saltiness of the bacon create a wonderful balance that complements the savory richness of risotto, particularly mushroom or butternut squash risottos.
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11. Dutch Oven Whole Chicken with Meyer Lemon
Dutch oven whole chicken with Meyer lemon is a stunning centerpiece that pairs beautifully with risotto. This whole roasted chicken, cooked in one pot, boasts crispy skin, juicy meat, and a bright, herby flavor from Meyer lemon. Serving risotto alongside this chicken creates a complete and satisfying meal, perfect for a family dinner or special occasion. The bright citrus notes of the lemon chicken cut through the richness of the risotto, offering a balanced and flavorful pairing.
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12. Oven Roasted Onions
Oven roasted onions with herbs baked and served on a Heath Ceramics platter.
Oven roasted onions are a simple yet flavorful vegan side dish that requires minimal effort. Sweet onions are roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary until tender and caramelized. These roasted onions offer a subtle sweetness and savory depth that complements the creamy texture of risotto, especially vegetable or herb-based risottos.
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13. Crispy Prosciutto
Crispy prosciutto is a quick and easy way to add a salty, crunchy element to your risotto dinner. In just 10 minutes using a baking sheet, you can create this delicate and flavorful topping. Sprinkling crispy prosciutto over risotto adds a delightful textural contrast and a burst of savory flavor, enhancing the overall dining experience. It works particularly well with vegetable or cheese risottos.
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14. Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan and Lemon on plate.
Roasted asparagus with Parmesan is a classic and approachable side dish that’s packed with flavor. It’s quick to prepare and roasts in the oven while you focus on your risotto. The savory Parmesan cheese and the slightly bitter asparagus create a well-rounded flavor profile that complements the creamy richness of risotto, especially lemon or spring vegetable risottos.
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15. Prosciutto Wrapped Figs with Goat Cheese
Prosciutto-wrapped figs with goat cheese offer a sophisticated and flavorful appetizer or side. Each fig is filled with creamy goat cheese, wrapped in salty prosciutto, and topped with rosemary, honey, and flaky sea salt. These figs provide a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors that can be enjoyed as a starter or a side to complement a special risotto dinner. The sweetness of the fig and the tanginess of goat cheese provide an interesting counterpoint to richer risottos.
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16. Oven Roasted Butternut Squash
Oven roasted butternut squash on a serving platter with herbs.
Oven roasted butternut squash is a healthy and flavorful vegetable side packed with warm fall flavors. Our simple method ensures perfectly tender and caramelized butternut squash. The natural sweetness of butternut squash provides a beautiful contrast to savory risotto, particularly mushroom or sage risottos, creating a comforting and seasonal meal.
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17. Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers
Furikake and lemon shishito peppers offer a zesty and slightly spicy side dish that adds a kick to your risotto meal. Ready in just 15 minutes, these shishito peppers are loaded with umami flavor from furikake and brightened with lemon. The slight heat and umami of these peppers serve as a palate cleanser and a flavorful contrast to creamy risotto, especially seafood or vegetable risottos.
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18. Fig Balsamic Glazed Chicken
Fig Balsamic Glazed Chicken on a white serving platter with an olive wood serving spoon.
Fig balsamic glazed chicken is an impressive chicken dish suitable for both weeknight dinners and special gatherings. Chicken thighs are baked in a tangy fig balsamic glaze with herbs, resulting in incredibly tender and flavorful meat that falls off the bone. This rich and flavorful chicken dinner pairs exceptionally well with mushroom truffle risotto, creating a decadent and satisfying meal.
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19. Sautéed Buttered Leeks
Sautéed buttered leeks are a simple yet elegant vegetable side that highlights the delicate flavor of leeks. Sautéed with shallots in butter and olive oil, these leeks become tender and flavorful in under 15 minutes. The mild, buttery flavor of sautéed leeks complements the creamy texture of risotto without overpowering it, making it a versatile and classic side dish.
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20. Harvest Salad with Quinoa and Arugula
Harvest Salad with Quinoa and Arugula and lemon slices on plate.
Harvest salad with quinoa and arugula is a healthy and hearty salad that can be enjoyed year-round. Packed with fall flavors like dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and sharp goat cheese, this salad adds a refreshing and textural element to your risotto meal. The bright and slightly bitter arugula, combined with the sweetness of cranberries and the nutty quinoa, offers a delightful contrast to the richness of risotto, especially cheese or mushroom risottos.
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Elevate Your Risotto with Perfect Side Dishes
These 20 side dish ideas offer a variety of flavors and textures to enhance your risotto experience. From light and fresh salads to hearty proteins and roasted vegetables, you’re sure to find the perfect pairing for your next risotto creation. Experiment with these suggestions and discover your own favorite combinations to make every risotto meal a memorable one!
If you enjoyed these side dish suggestions, don’t forget to explore the full recipes by clicking the “Get the Recipe” links and consider signing up for our newsletter for more culinary inspiration!
