A really simple creamy tomato risotto that kids love and it is easy to adapt. No need to stand over the hob stirring a risotto, as it can all be done in the oven. This oven Baked Risotto is made using mostly store cupboard ingredients and is comfort food the whole family will love.
We are big fans of family friendly comfort food, and even better when it's as easy to make as this baked risotto is. Just a few minutes prep on the hob, and then let it bubble away in the oven. Although this isn't a traditional risotto, which would be done on the hob, it's a great time saving hack on a delicious Italian classic.
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Why should you try it?
- Easy comfort food
- Uses mostly store cupboard ingredients
- Kids love it
- Easy to adapt
- Can be made vegan
What you will need?
- Rice - We used arborio rice as that gives the best creamy risotto. However, you could use any rice.
- Tomatoes - Tinned, fresh and sun-dried have gone in to this baked risotto. To make it budget friendly you could just use tinned tomatoes.
- Shallots and garlic - You could use a small chopped onion if you don't have shallots.
- Butter
- Parmesan - You can use any cheese that melts well, like a mature cheddar or mozzarella.
- Stock -Keep it vegetarian by using a vegetable stock. If making this for young children, then use a low salt stock.
- Basil - This adds a nice freshness to the finished dish. You could swap it for fresh parsley.
Step by step
One: Add the butter to a large oven and hob proof pan (that has a lid) and once melted, add the shallots and garlic. Gently cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
Two: Add the rice and stir and gently cook for 1 minute.
Three: Add the stock, tinned tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomato paste and salt and pepper and stir well. Put the lid on the pan and put in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 for 40 minutes, stirring half way through.
Four: Add the parmesan and basil and stir.
What else can you add?
The great thing about this baked risotto recipe is that it is easy to adapt. Use it as a tomato packed base recipe and then add extra ingredients depending on what your family love. Here are some other additions that work really well.
- Cooked chopped bacon
- Chorizo (cook it at the same time as the shallots)
- Frozen peas
- Asparagus
- Spinach
- Chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Leftovers shredded chicken from our Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.
- Shittake and chestnut mushrooms
- Pesto
- Grilled cod or salmon
- Roasted butternut squash
- Grilled king prawns
FAQs
For best results, use arborio rice to make this. It will ensure that you get a really creamy baked risotto. However, if you wanted to give this dish a nutrient boost, then you could swap it for brown rice. Please note that cooking times and nutritional values will vary though.
This tomato risotto is a really filling and hearty dish as it is, so you don’t need to add much more too it. However, if you are cooking it for a few people, you could serve it with some homemade garlic bread and a big green salad.
Risotto is always best made fresh, however if you do have some leftover then you can store it covered in the fridge for up to two days. Make sure that you follow food safety guidelines for cooked rice - do not leave it at room temperature and cool it very quickly. You then need to make sure to reheat it fully before serving.
We wouldn’t recommend freezing risotto, because the rice becomes really hard when frozen and the texture just isn’t right when it is defrosted and reheated.
To make a vegan version of this, swap the buttery spread for oil, or a vegan alternative to butter. You can then use your favourite vegan cheese alternative.
Extra tips
- When you check the risotto half way through, if it is looking a little too dry then you can add some extra stock. You want there to still be a little liquid in it when serving so it is a little saucy.
- If your risotto is still too watery, then put it back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes until some of the stock has absorbed.
- You could swap 150ml of the stock for white wine.
- Save yourself some time and swap the shallots for onions and use frozen.
- You can swap the parmesan for any grated cheese that melts well.
- A couple of teaspoons of pesto stirred in just before serving add loads of flavour.
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Recipe
Easy Tomato Baked Risotto
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 3 shallots peeled and diced
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 300 g arborio rice
- 700 ml vegetable stock
- 400 g chopped tomatoes canned
- 2 tablespoon sun-dried tomato paste
- 10 cherry tomatoes quartered
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 20 g parmesan or vegetarian/vegan alternative
- 10 g fresh basil finely chopped
Instructions
- Add the butter to a large oven and hob proof pan (that has a lid) and once melted, add the shallots and garlic. Gently cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the rice and stir and gently cook for 1 minute.
- Add the stock, tinned tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomato paste and salt and pepper and stir well. Put the lid on the pan and put in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 for 40 minutes, stirring half way through.
- Add the parmesan and basil and stir.
Notes
- When you check the risotto half way through, if it is looking a little too dry then you can add some extra stock. You want there to still be a little liquid in it when serving so it is a little saucy.
- If your risotto is still too watery, then put it back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes until some of the stock has absorbed.
- You could swap 150ml of the stock for white wine.
- Save yourself some time and swap the shallots for onions and use frozen.
- You can swap the parmesan for any grated cheese that melts well.
- A couple of teaspoons of pesto stirred in just before serving add loads of flavour.
Denay DeGuzman
This is an amazingly flavorful risotto! The whole family enjoyed it. Next time I'll be doubling the recipe.
Cate
This risotto looks so tasty and easy to make! Perfect for busy nights or meal prepping, thanks for the recipe!
Angela
I love it! Great risotto without standing at the stove forever!
Kathryn
This sounds like the ultimate comfort food! I love the addition of tomatoes in this risotto! I am making this for dinner this week!
Kate
Oh wow, all the gorgeousness of risotto with none of the standing next to the hob stirring for half an hour - just brilliant! Sounds so delicous.
Beth
Yum! This looks so delicious and full of flavor! I can't wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this!
Jacqueline Meldrum
I keep meaning to make a tomato risotto but I never seem to get around to it. Yours looks gorgeous!
Priya Lakshminarayan
I made this today! It came out perfect! Thank you so much.
Tara
I love that this risotto is made in the oven with such minimal prep. All those flavors sound amazing.
Ashley
I love risotto & the idea of making it in the oven is so helpful!
Erika
This looks so amazing! I've never baked risotto before, but I'm definitely going to try this now.
Jane Saunders
I love the versatility of this recipe - all your add-ins sound great and will help to keep this simple meal exciting time after time. Thanks for the recipe!
Claudia Lamascolo
Great job on this risotto it looks wonderful my mom use to stand at the stove for so long I love this comfort food !
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
This sounds like such a creamy and delicious dish! I can't wait to give it a try with the kids!
Adrianne
Yum I love risotto and this flavour combination sounds delicious!
Alex @ GoCookYummy
Wow... It looks amazing!
Sooo easy to make and absolutely delicious. I've been using a similar recipe for ages and it never lets me down.
Thank you for sharing!
Laura
I took your advice and added chorizo. It turned out so good. I love the extra spiciness it added, but the tomato rice is really good without it, too.
Danielle Wolter
I have never made baked risotto before and am intrigued. This sounds so easy and I love the tomato!
Mirlene
Talking about the perfect meal for a rainy day. This dish is exactly what I need or a wet day like today. Can't wait to try it.
Helen
This looks so delicious and a perfect warming dish for this time of year. Thanks!