Easy Arborio Rice

Our arborio rice recipe makes a delicious yet easy side dish that goes with many entrees. While it's mostly known for being the key ingredient in risotto, arborio recipe is also delicious when used in place of white or brown rice as a simple side.

To make this recipe, you begin by sautéing onion in olive oil until softened, then adding garlic and the rice and cooking until toasty and golden—this helps build extra depth. Then, you’ll add chicken broth and water and simmer, covered, until the rice is tender and full of flavor. Pair this starchy side with seared pork, grilled fish, or ratatouille.

How Is Arborio Rice Different to Other Varieties of Rice?

Arborio is a short-grain rice, which means it's stickier and starchier than long-grain rice varieties such as basmati or jasmine. Long grain-rice is typically drier than short-grain, with individual grains that tend to separate rather than clump.

The starchiness of a rice like arborio is what makes it perfect for risotto, as the starches become creamy as they cook in liquid. However, arborio doesn't need to be reserved solely for risotto, as this recipe proves. Short-grain rice like arborio makes a delicious side dish and is also ideal for making rice pudding.

The Key Ingredients for Easy Arborio Rice

• Arborio rice: While some rice recipes have you rinse the grains before cooking, we skip that step here as we're relying on the starchiness for a creamy finished product. If you have trouble finding arborio rice, you can swap in another short-grain variety like carnaroli, which cooks up similarly.
• Onion and garlic: Sautéing some onion and garlic before steaming the rice adds flavor and texture to the finished dish. We recommend using yellow or white onion, rather than red. You can also use a large shallot.
• Chicken broth: Cooking rice in chicken broth instead of plain water is an instant way to add a savory boost. To make this recipe vegetarian, you can use vegetable broth or all water instead.