How to Make 6-Minute Creamy Shrimp Risotto

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Yes! You can create a quick shrimp RISOTTO in an Instant Pot that turns out perfectly creamy and wonderful….in just 6 minutes! Could it really be true? In just 6 minutes??  I had to find out. One batch later, I was a believer and I’ve never looked back. Heavenly!

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Things to Love About This Risotto Recipe

• It’s Super Fast and Easy (so the Fam Is Happy!)

• It’s Incredibly Creamy and Rich

• You Can Customize it by Substituting Chicken, Beef or Pork for the Shrimp

• Reheats well as Leftovers Later

• Darn Sure Makes you Adore Your Instant Pot

6-Minute Shrimp Risotto in your Instant Pot

You will be amazed at how quickly and easily this dish comes together, which is why I love my Instant Pot so very much!

During even the busiest of weeks, I know I can have a quick, delicious meal on the table for my family in just minutes.

Because my family is a fan of almost any pasta, I make Creamy Italian Pasta all the time, along with Pepperoni Pizza Pasta, too – they are both made in just 5 minutes in my Instant Pot! Oh, and don’t forget Instant Pot Fiesta Beef and Spaghetti – a brand new pasta favorite at our house.

Any recipe that requires moist heat (which is like braising in the oven), is delicious when made in the Instant Pot.  If you’re family enjoys roast beef, be sure to try the Lazy-Butt Beef Subs and Big Bold Beef Carnitas.

How to Make Instant Pot 6-Minute Creamy Shrimp Risotto

1. Use the saute setting on the Instant Pot to cook the aromatics and Cajun seasonings with the rice; this will really get the flavors cranked up.
2. Add the chicken broth, then bring the Instant Pot up to pressure, cooking the risotto for just 6 minutes.
3. Remove the pressure from the Instant Pot, then unlock and remove the lid, stirring in the remaining ingredients.
4. Garnish as desired and serve while the risotto is piping hot and creamy.

Helpful Recipe Tips for Making Risotto

• What is Risotto?

Risotto is an Italian rice dish made from Arborio rice. It’s creamy, rich, filling and heavenly, to say the very least.

• What is Arborio Rice?

Arborio rice is an Italian short-grain rice can be used primarily to make risotto. Due to it’s high starch content, Arborio rice gets very creamy as it cooks.

• Why isn’t the shrimp cooked under pressure with the other ingredients in the Instant Pot?

Seafood isn’t ideal for pressure cooking, due to how fragile and tender it is – the Instant Pot can easily obliterate it. Instead, when you remove the Instant Pot after pressurizing the contents, you will see how HOT the ingredients are at this point.  When you stir in the small raw shrimp, they will cook within a matter of a minute of two.

• How do I know when the shrimp are fully cooked?

Great question.  Raw shrimp is gray in color on the exterior.  When shrimp is fully cooked, the exterior turn pink in color and the flesh is opaque. The second the shrimp turns from gray to pink, remove it from the heat source – over cooked seafood gets chewy and tough!

• If my family isn’t a fan of shrimp, can I add other types of meat to this risotto instead?

You sure can.  If you’re using cubed chicken, for instance, you would add it at the very beginning stages when you are sauteing the rice with the butter; add the remaining ingredients as directed, then bring the pot to full pressure.  Continue as directed.

Or, let’s say you have leftover grilled steak or pork chops, you could also cut either of these meats into bite-sized pieces to stir into the cooked risotto.  Since these meats are already cooked, you would stir them in at the very end when adding the Parmesan and parsley.

What to Serve with Shrimp Risotto

Shrimp risotto is a must-try for any Instant Pot owner out there. Serve it up with some hot, buttered Peasant Bread and a glass of wine… your guests will not be disappointed. (And they’ll never imagine that it only took 6 minutes!) A nice mixed greens salad is also nice as a side dish.

What Tools are Helpful when Preparing Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto?

I use the 6-quart Instant Pot for nearly everything I cook.  However, if you often cook really large hunks of meat or have a very large family (or farm crew) that you cook for, you may prefer the 8-quart Instant Pot.

You’ll need a sharp Chef’s knife for dicing the onion and mincing the garlic, plus a silicone spoonula or spatula is very useful for stirring any pasta dish in the Instant Pot.

Printable Directions for Making 6-Minute Creamy Shrimp Risotto

Instant Pot 6-Minute Creamy Shrimp Risotto

Chef Alli

Yes! You can create delicious, creamy and tender RISOTTO in an Instant Pot ....in just 6 minutes! I confess, I was a doubter when I first saw an Instant Pot risotto recipe. Could it really be true? In just 6 minutes?? Yes!

Servings: 12 servings

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 minutes mins

Approx. Time Needed for Instant Pot to Pressurize: 10 minutes mins

Total Time 26 minutes mins

Ingredients

 

• 4 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 cups Arborio rice
• 1-2 tsp. Cajun seasoning blend, I use Old Bay or Tony Chachere's
• 2 cups thinly sliced baby bella or button mushrooms
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 5-6 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided use
• 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained well
• 1 lb. raw small shrimp, deveined and shelled
• 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed and softened
• 1-2 Tbs. chopped Italian parsley
• 1 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, divided use

Instructions

 

• Using the sauté setting on your Instant Pot, melt the butter. When the butter is nicely hot, stir in the onion, garlic, Arborio rice, Cajun seasoning blend, and the mushrooms; sauté for a minute or so; deglaze the pot with the wine, then stir in the broth.
• Securely lock the Instant Pot lid into place. Using the high pressure setting, set the timer for 6 minutes, bringing the Instant Pot to full pressure.
• When the timer sounds, perform a quick release to remove all the pressure from the Instant Pot. Carefully unlock and remove the lid; gently stir in the diced tomatoes, shrimp, and cream cheese along with half of the Parmesan cheese and half of the parsley.
• Serve the risotto at once, garnished with the remaining Parmesan cheese and Italian parsley, as desired.

Notes

**Please note:  the cooking time stated for this recipe does not include the time required to bring the Instant Pot up to pressure since this can vary. This recipe was made using a 6-quart Instant Pot. 

• Raw shrimp is gray in color on the exterior.  When shrimp is fully cooked, the exterior turns pink in color and the flesh becomes opaque. The moment the shrimp turns from gray to pink, remove it from the heat source – over cooked seafood gets chewy and tough!
• If you prefer not to use shrimp in this risotto recipe, you can certainly substitute  cubed chicken, adding it at the very beginning stages when you are sauteing the rice with the butter; add the remaining ingredients as directed, then bring the pot to full pressure.  Continue as directed.
• Or, let’s say you have leftover grilled steak or pork chops, you could also cut either of these meats into bite-sized pieces to stir into the cooked risotto.  Since these meats are already fully cooked, you would stir them in at the very end when adding the Parmesan and parsley.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Having Trouble with Your Instant Pot? Let me help!

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Other Recipes to Enjoy –

• Creamy Chicken and Chipotle Rice Bake

• Instant Pot 5-Minute Italian Pasta

• Instant Pot 3-Minute Ham and Cabbage Soup 

• Instant Pot Kielbasa Sausage with Potatoes and Green Beans 

• Beef and Cheese Mexican Sanchiladas 

• 3-Ingredient Baked Country-Style Sticky Ribs 

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Let’s Get You Cookin’,
Chef Alli