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A bowl of asparagus and pea risotto topped with three chicken meatballs.

Spring Vegetable Risotto with Chicken Meatballs

Linda Feller
Creamy risotto studded with spring veggies and savory chicken meatballs is comforting, yet fresh and light. It's the perfect meal to enjoy during the changing seasons. 
Prep time.13 minutes
Cook time.32 minutes
Custom time.25 minutes
Total time.1 hour 10 minutes
Course.Main Course
Cuisine.Italian
Number of servings.4
Calories per serving.852 kcal

Ingredients

Chicken Meatballs (makes 12)

  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoon mayonnaise
  • ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan
  • 2 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, minced, plus more for garnish
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 pound ground chicken, I prefer 93% lean

Risotto

  • 4 cups chicken broth or stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 10 ounce fresh asparagus, thin spears, cut into 1-inch pieces on the diagonal
  • 1 cup English peas, fresh or frozen
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • cups arborio rice
  • ½ cup dry vermouth, or white wine, like sauvignon blanc (omit + sub with more broth if you like)
  • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup grated parmesan

Instructions

  • Adjust a rack to the upper third of the oven. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil (spritz foil with cooking spray).
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg and mayonnaise together. Mix in the breadcrumbs, parmesan, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper to evenly distribute. Add the ground chicken and with clean hands, mix together until combined.
  • Divide the meat mixture into 12 equal portions. (You can eyeball it, or use a scale.) With clean wet hands, roll each portion into a ball and evenly space them on the sheet pan. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, then turn on the broiler and broil for 2 to 3 minutes to brown the tops. (To make sure your meatballs are still hot when the risotto is finished, do not put them in the oven until you add the first ladle of broth to the risotto.)
  • Combine the broth and water in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat; reduce to low to keep the broth warm. (You may not use all the broth, but reserve about one ladleful for the end to thin out the risotto if necessary.)
  • In another large saucepan or dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add the asparagus and (fresh) peas; season with kosher salt and black pepper. Sauté for about 3 minutes depending on the size of your asparagus. (If using frozen peas, add them during the last minute just to defrost them.) Transfer the vegetables to a dish and set aside.
  • In the same pot, heat the remaining tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and sauté for about 2 minutes until translucent. Add the rice; cook and stir for another 2 minutes until the edges of the rice become translucent.
  • Add the wine; stir and cook until the liquid has been absorbed.
  • Stir in about 1/2 cup of the warm broth at a time. Cook until all the liquid has been absorbed before adding more broth. Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking or burning to the bottom of pot. Continue this process of adding broth, a little at time. (As it increases in volume, you may need to add more broth with each addition or adjust the burner down if it is cooking too quickly.)
  • After 15 minutes of adding broth, return the vegetables to the pot so they begin to heat through.
  • The rice should be al dente (firm in the center but not crunchy), at around the 18 minute mark. Take it off the burner and stir in the butter until melted.
  • Finally, stir in the grated parmesan. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Stir in a more broth if the risotto is too thick.
  • Immediately divide the risotto between 4 serving bowls and top with meatballs.

Notes

  • General note – Making risotto is all about look and feel. Don't get too hung up on timing...if your risotto isn't al dente at 18 minutes, add more broth and continue cooking and tasting.  You may also find it necessary to add closer to 1 cup of broth at a time the further along the risotto gets; feed it enough broth to absorb slowly. Likewise, if it begins to bubble a lot, adjust the burner down slightly to maintain an even simmer.
  • Storing leftover risotto + chicken meatballs – transfer leftovers into separate airtight containers and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days. You can also freeze cooked chicken meatballs: place on a sheet pan in the freezer for an hour or so, then transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for 1 to 2 months.
  • Reheating risotto – my preferred method is to reheat risotto on the stove top. Place risotto in a saucepan with a splash or two of broth, milk or cream, or water. Warm up over medium heat while stirring. Add a splash more liquid, as needed, to achieve a creamy consistency. To reheat in the microwave, combine risotto with a splash of liquid and cook in bursts, stirring in between; again, add more liquid as needed.
  • Reheating meatballs – If frozen, thaw meatballs in the refrigerator overnight. Place them on a sheet pan and cover with foil to prevent drying out. Reheat in a 300°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 852kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 2183mg | Potassium: 1057mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1601IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 8mg
Keywords.oven, spring, stove top
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