This butternut squash risotto is perfect for a fall date night! Made with just 10 ingredients, it's creamy, comforting, and filled with cozy autumn flavor.
I love making this butternut squash risotto as much as I love eating it. Honestly! I know that risotto is famously tedious to prepare – add a little broth, stir, add a little broth, stir some more. But on a crisp, cool fall night, I welcome the chance to stand over the warm stove and watch it come together. I think it’s mesmerizing to see the raw squash and uncooked rice transform into a rich, creamy risotto. The fact that it smells amazing doesn’t hurt either.
And when you sit down to eat, all that stirring really pays off. This butternut squash risotto has a delicious creamy texture and a tangy, sweet autumnal flavor from the squash, fresh rosemary, and white wine. Jack and I can attest that it’s a perfect dinner for a fall date night. I also think it would be a great vegetarian main course for Thanksgiving…though I hope you don’t wait that long to try it.
Butternut Squash Risotto Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this butternut squash risotto recipe:
- Butternut squash, of course! Make sure to cut it into little 1/4-inch cubes so that it can cook through in the time it takes to make the risotto. If you have leftover squash, save it to make this pasta or this soup!
- Arborio rice – This Italian short-grain white rice gives the risotto a wonderful creamy texture.
- Garlic and onion – For savory depth of flavor.
- White wine – It adds rich, tangy flavor.
- Fresh sage or rosemary – Either works! Both of these herbs add cozy, woodsy autumn flavor to the risotto.
- Vegetable broth – Use store-bought, or make your own.
- And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Butternut Squash Risotto
This butternut squash risotto takes a little time to prepare, but the process is simple. Here’s how it goes:
First, sauté the veggies. Cook the onion for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Then, add the squash and cook for another 6-8 minutes, until it starts to soften.
Next, toast the rice. Stir it into the pot along with the garlic and rosemary or sage. Let it cook for 1 minute before you add the wine and cook, stirring, for another 1-3 minutes, until the wine cooks down.
Then, start adding the broth. Pour in 3/4 cup at a time and cook, stirring constantly, until the rice absorbs each addition. After you add the final 3/4 cup of broth, cook until the squash is tender and the risotto is soft and creamy.
Season to taste and serve. That’s it!
Butternut Squash Risotto Serving Suggestions
This risotto will thicken as it sits, so it’s best hot from the stove. Garnish it with fresh parsley, small sage leaves, and freshly grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese. (If you’re vegan, don’t worry! The risotto is great without the cheese too.)
Round out the meal with homemade focaccia or crusty bread and a vegetable side dish. I like to pair this butternut squash risotto with a simple salad, like my Pear Salad or Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, or roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or broccoli. Don’t forget the apple crumble for dessert!
If you have leftover risotto, it will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will be thick on days 2 and 3, so I recommend reheating it on the stove with a splash of water or stock to loosen it up. Season to taste, and enjoy!
More Favorite Winter Squash Recipes
If you love this butternut squash risotto, try one of these winter squash recipes next:
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
- Butternut Squash Ravioli
- Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas
- Easy Coconut Curry
- Roasted Kabocha Squash
- Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples & Sage
Butternut Squash Risotto
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups cubed butternut squash, ¼-inch cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced rosemary or sage
- 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 4 cups warmed vegetable broth
- Chopped parsley or small sage leaves, optional, for garnish
- ½ cup grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese, optional, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, salt and several grinds of pepper, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the butternut squash and cook for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic, rosemary, and the rice. Stir and let cook for about 1 minute then add the wine. Stir and cook for 1 to 3 minutes, or until the wine cooks down.
- Add the broth, ¾ cup at a time, and stir continuously to allow each addition of broth to be absorbed before adding the next. Cook until the butternut squash is tender, and the risotto is soft and creamy. Season to taste.
- Garnish with parsley or sage leaves and serve with grated cheese, if desired.
Excellent recipe! I replaced the rice with farro and used 1/2 the broth. Bonus – didnt require constant stirring. Def making this again.
Grocery store was out of butternut squash so I used one cup of sweet potato and one cup of pumpkin instead and it turned out perfect! Perfect for a cold fall day.
Yum! Terrific recipe and easy to prepare. Would not change a thing. Thank you for sharing
So good!! Followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect
I really wanted to try this bec it looked so good. I made it directly according to instructions and found it to be somewhat good but it was a bit of a disappointment. I love the squash always! But the mix didnt it for me. I woudl make it again but I would use 3 cups of quash bec of its sweetness and just more balanced taste but that’s bec I love sweeter stuff .
Needed about double the liquid volume to get the risotto done- I am cooking at elevation but not sure how much that would affect the liquid. Also was initially working at a medium high heat just continuing what the recipe was saying, so I think that could have been cooking off the liquid too fast. Once it was done it was so good!!!! Loved it, definitely added more salt but it was tasty and filling and exactly what I was looking for in terms of a fall recipe. Thank you so much for it!!
If you aren’t worried about making this vegetarian, would chicken stock also work?
Delicious! I threw some shrimp in to make it a meal but its great on its own.
So lovely and tasty!! Couldn’t ask for anything better! I also added pan fried chicken at the end and it’s so good ??
Thank you for a wonderful and simple recipe. Made it for Thanksgiving dinner with extended family. It was a hit! (And this was the 1st time ever making risotto!)
Hi Anna, I’m so glad you and your family loved the risotto!
Delicious!! Requires a lot of seasoning! Think you added enough? MORE!!!
I usually use low sodium broths, so this took some work to get the flavor right
How many low sodium stocks did you use and how much herbs wise ? X
Hi! Which white wine do you use for this recipe?
Any dry white wine like a Pinot Grigio.
Hi ! Have you ever tried this recipe with acorn squash. Flavour wise less sweet but just wondering about texture? 🙂
Hi Jess, I think it would be great here.
Absolutely perfect as-is, I was blown away!
I was worried it might be too sweet with the amount of squash, but it turned out to be perfectly sumptuous and savory. Used shallot instead of onion, and it was a great substitution. Thank you for a fantastic recipe!
Where are the nutrition facts?
I’m sorry, we don’t post nutrition facts.
Absolutely delicious! Skipped the white wine, and just used broth.
My 7 month old who is starting solids, also couldn’t get enough of this creamy dish;) Thank you!
Aww, I’m so glad your son loved it, that’s sweet to hear 🙂
do i have to cook the rice first?
No, this is how you cook the rice with risotto. It’s a rather different approach but is how it gets its unique texture and flavouring.
Could I use beef stock instead of veggie?
You can – you might need to adjust the salt to taste depending on the saltiness of your broth.
It was sooooo good! I added roasted broccoli and mushrooms because of personal preferences. I would definitely make this again and recommend other people to do the same!
Hi Sage, I’m so glad you loved the risotto!