Slow Cooker Asparagus Risotto

As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

Risotto, when done right, is so comforting and amazingly delicious.  When not done right, it’s dry and just not that appealing.

We love using our slow cooker for so many dishes, from Best-Ever Baby Back Ribs to Chicken Chow Mien, but folks, wait until you make this risotto in it!  You can’t believe how perfectly creamy the final dish is, and the taste?  All we can say is: “Wow! You gotta make this!”

A large white bowl filled with slow cooker asparagus risotto next to a pepper grinder and a glass of white wine.

HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Perfectly prepared risotto takes some skill when making it in a skillet. 

Our slow cooker version is fool-proof and gives you wonderfully creamy risotto every single time.  And if you love this recipe, you will flip for our Risi e Bisi (Rice with Peas)

 

PREPARING THE ASPARAGUS

Before we get started in the slow cooker, we need to do a little prep work, but don’t worry…not too much!

This includes cutting your asparagus into beautiful bite-size pieces.

EXPERT TIP: The ends of asparagus can be tough and somewhat chewy to the bite. We recommend cutting about an inch off from the end of each stalk. For an attractive presentation, slice the spears into 1-inch pieces, cutting on at a 45° angle with each slice. (see photo for reference).

Three images of two hands using a large knife to cut asparagus into bite-sized pieces on wooden cutting board.

Now, onto the rice. We highly recommend using a high-starch, short-grain rice such as Arborio or Carnroli when making risotto. It produces the creamy texture that you want in a perfectly prepared risotto.

If we can’t find arborio at your market, we love to order ours online.

EXPERT TIP: You’ll want to cook down the onions and garlic in a large skillet first. Next, a quick sauté sets the stage for perfect risotto. And then finally a reduction of white wine infuses incredible taste to the dish.

Two side-by-side images, one of a wooden spoon sauteing rice in a skillet, and the image next to it is white wine being poured into the skillet with the rice.

USING YOUR SLOW COOKER TO MAKE RISOTTO

Now it’s time to let your slow cooker do its magic. Transfer the rice to your 8 to 10-quart slow cooker and then add the broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

No need to sauté the asparagus before adding it to your slow cooker. We simply dump it in for the last 30 minutes of cooking and it gets cooked perfectly.

EXPERT TIP: It may seem like you’ve got too much liquid. Don’t worry, the arborio rice slowly absorbs the amazing broth and transforms into a delicious creamy texture. We love going with chicken stock, but to make this dish 100% vegetarian, use vegetable stock or broth. It’s okay to give the mixture a stir every now and then.  That’s not 100% necessary, except for when you stir in the asparagus and then at the end of the cooking time.

Two side-by-side images with the first being a hand pouring chicken stock into a slow cooker from a measuring cup, and the next cut asparagus being dropped into the same slow cooker.

After 90 minutes, the slow cooker asparagus risotto will still have plenty of liquid, but you’re getting close.

Dump in the cut asparagus and give the whole mixture a good stir.

After another 30 minutes (2 hours total), the risotto will be almost ready. All that’s needed is to stir in the butter and Parmesan cheese.

A hand dumping grated Parmesan cheese from a small bowl into a slow cooker filled with asparagus risotto.

PERFECT FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

We absolutely love making and eating this risotto.

It’s a wonderful dish to serve on special occasions like Mother’s Day, or for baby or wedding showers, or for a fabulous brunch.

But it’s so easy to prepare, that you can easily serve this on a busy weeknight.

A large wooden spoon filled with slow cooker asparagus risotto being lifted out of the Crock-Pot.

SLOW COOKER ASPARAGUS RISOTTO FAQs

  • Can I use regular long-grain rice? You can, but you will not get that incredibly creamy texture that you get from Arborio or Carnaroli. Click the links to have either of these delivered to your doorstep (North America only).
  • Would canned asparagus be okay to use? In a pinch, yes. Drain them, cut them into 1-inch pieces, and stir them in during the final 15 minutes of cooking. But fresh is much, much better!
  • What are other ingredients could be included in the risotto? We love adding dried mushrooms! Soak them for 20 minutes in warm water, then strain them, roughly chop them, and stir them in when you stir in the butter and cheese. Cooked artichokes are a wonderful addition, too. 
  • What if there is too much liquid after two hours? You should be good after 2 hours of slow cooking, but if there are still pools of liquid, even after stirring, let the cooking continue for another 30 minutes or until you reach the creamy texture and the rice is tender.

A close-up view a large white bowl filled with slow cooker asparagus risotto.

Ready to make truly top-notch restaurant-quality risotto in your slow cooker? Go for it!

And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag #howtofeedaloon and hashtag #howtofeedaloon!

A close-up view a large white bowl filled with slow cooker asparagus risotto.

Slow Cooker Asparagus Risotto

You will never make risotto any other way once you follow this method for making it in your slow cooker. It's okay to give the risotto a stir every now and then, but not 100% necessary.
4.50 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish or Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: easy risotto, how to make risotto in a Crock-pot, Slow cooker risotto recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 556kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet/saucepan
  • 8 or 10-Qt Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp olive oil plus more for serving
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups Arborio rice or Carnaroli
  • ¾ cup white wine
  • cups chicken stock or vegetable stock, heated
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest from 1 large lemon
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice from 1 large lemon
  • tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 lb asparagus ends cut off, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 6 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  • Add the rice and stir to fully coat with the oil. Cook for three minutes.
  • Add the wine and cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated, about 3 to 5 more minutes.
  • Transfer the rice mixture to the slow cooker. Add the heated stock or broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cover, then turn on HIGH and cook for 90 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and stir the rice with the liquid. There will still be plenty of liquid at this point, but the rice should have expanded and starting to become soft. Stir in the asparagus, cover, and continue cooking on HIGH for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and stir in the butter and Parmesan cheese. Taste and add more salt, if desired.
  • Serve at once, adding a drizzle of quality olive oil, a sliver or two of fresh Parmesan, and a couple of grinds of black pepper, if desired.

Video

Notes

It's important to make sure the stock is warmed before adding to the slow cooker.  You can warm it on the stove in a saucepan, or in a heat-proof vessel in your microwave.  It doesn't have to be boiling, just not chilled or even room-temperature.
We strongly recommend using Arborio rice for this recipe.  Regular long-grain rice will not produce the creamy texture that makes this dish so special.  Click the link to have Arborio rice shipped to your doorstep.
Go with a good-quality dry white wine for the dish.  Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are both good choices. 
We love adding butter to the final dish because it gives it an extra-special luxurious taste and texture, however, you can reduce the amount of butter, or even omit it, if desired, and still have a wonderful risotto.
Risotto is best served once it is ready, but it is still delicious reheated the following day. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and can be frozen for up to 1 month. 

Nutrition

Calories: 556kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 983mg | Potassium: 501mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 965IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 5mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

11 Comments

  • 5 stars
    OMG!! I am so glad I came across this recipe. So delicious. I opted for 3 tbsp of butter, 3 tbsp of Wegmans truffle finishing butter and shredded Parmesan cheese rather than grated to give it that fabulous cheesy consistency. Amazing! Thank you so much for creating and sharing this recipe!

    • Hi Corrine! Holy smokes, that sounds AMAZING! We are thrilled you had such great success with the risotto and thank you SO MUCH for sharing and for the great review! That means the world to us! All the best, Kris & Wesley

    • Hi Vicki! Just omit the wine and increase the amount of broth/stock. You’ll still get a really delicious risotto. Let us know if you make the dish and how it turns out! Best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    I love this risotto! Made it today for the first time and added some leeks, it was so tasty! Thanks so much for the recipe – it was super easy to follow, I’ll definitely be making this again.

    • Hi Louie!! We are so glad you made the slow-cooker asparagus risotto! So many folks are unsure about making a risotto in the slow-cooker, and we’re glad you gave it a try and you had so much success with it! We love it so much, too. Thank you very much for letting us know and for the wonderful review! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

  • Question – a question in the FAqs suggests one can use canned artichokes. Was that supposed to mean canned asparagus? It’s the only place I saw artichokes mentioned. My stepson makes risotto for us on special occasions and I think he would be intrigued with this recipe and method. Thanks!

    • Hi Gina!! Oops!! That should be asparagus instead of artichokes!! Too many “a” vegetables running in our minds!! This asparagus risotto is really heavenly!! We think you and your stepson will enjoy it! Let us know what you think of it if he makes it! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    This dish was exquisite, exactly as written. Times are tense now and we need comfort food more than ever. I set a well-appointed table out by the firepit, and poured the wine while my husband lit a fire. We stayed outside until well after dark, savoring this delicious risotto and the comfort of being safe at home.

    Thank you so much for yet another delicious recipe.

    • Hi Theresa! You have no idea how happy this makes us!!! Sounds like you and your husband know how to make a spectacular evening, safe and sound at home! We are so thrilled to hear you enjoyed the risotto. We really love it so much, too. And thank you so much for letting us know and the wonderful review! Please stay safe and stay in touch!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating