Tomato Sausage Risotto – Ready in 45 minutes & bursting with flavor. Your whole family will love this classic cheesy, creamy Italian dish.
Risotto is a classic Italian dish, one that my husband and I love. This recipe for Tomato Sausage Risotto is the first risotto that I made and it is still our favorite to this day.
In fact, we love it so much, I make it at least once a month. On occasion, I will switch it up and make either Creamy Mushroom Risotto or Three Cheese Risotto. What I love most about this recipe is it makes it seem like you cooked for hours in the kitchen, but it is ready in under 45 minutes.
I love serving is Tomato Sausage Risotto with my tasty Artisan Breadsticks, which brings the taste of Italy right to your home.
Until I had risotto for the first time, I never really knew what it was. Even now when my kids ask if is this pasta or rice I am all perplexed. Nonetheless, it is rice.
What Is Risotto?
Risotto is an Italian rice dish, known for its creaminess, texture, and elegance. Made from a short-grained variety of rice called arborio rice. Cooked by adding small amounts of hot broth or wine while allowing the liquid to be absorbed. Traditionally made with lots of cheese.
I love ordering different variations of risotto when I go out to eat, I believe my favorite recipe is Chimney Park’s Lemon Risotto paired with their seared scallops, literally you can’t dream up a better meal.
My daughter Jersey hates really any kind of pasta, but she will eat up risotto. I think the reason y family are such big fans of risotto is the fact that we make it with lots of cheese. So it is like a creamy, more elevated version of Mac & Cheese.
While risotto doesn’t take much time, you do have to be attentive while cooking, constantly stirring and making sure the liquid is absorbing at the right pace. But the little attention you give this dish will pay off with great rewards.
How do you make Tomato Sausage Risotto?
In a small saucepan, combine tomatoes (with their juice) and 3 cups of water. Bring to a simmer; keep warm over low heat.
In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage and onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the sausage until sausage is cooked and onion has softened about 3-5 minutes.
Add rice; cook, stirring until well coated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine or broth; cook, stirring until absorbed about 1 minute.
Add about 2 cups of the hot tomato mixture to rice; simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. Continue adding tomato mixture, 1 cup at a time, waiting for it to be absorbed before adding the next, stirring occasionally, until rice is creamy and just tender, about 25 minutes total. (You may not have to use all the liquid.)
Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, parmesan, and butter; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately (risotto will thicken as it cools), and sprinkle with additional parmesan, if desired.
Be sure to pair this Tomato Sausage Risotto with a nice green salad and Focaccia Breadsticks.
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!
Tomato Sausage Risotto
Ingredients
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes in juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or white wine
- 1 cup flat leaf spinach chopped; about 5 cups not chopped
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine tomatoes (with their juice) and 3 cups water. Bring to a simmer; keep warm over low heat.
- In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage and onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up sausage until sausage is cooked and onion has softened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add rice; cook, stirring until well coated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine or broth; cook, stirring until absorbed about 1 minute.
- Add about 2 cups of the hot tomato mixture to rice; simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. Continue adding tomato mixture, 1 cup at a time, waiting for it to be absorbed before adding the next, stirring occasionally, until rice is creamy and just tender, about 25 minutes total. (You may not have to use all the liquid.)
- Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, parmesan, and butter; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately (risotto will thicken as it cools), and sprinkle with additional parmesan, if desired.
That looks delicious, I love spinach! I have never made risotto but I need to.
Thanks for sharing. Pinned!
Angie you will love it – I have added up to 6 cups of spinach, the more spinach the better!!!
I have never tried cooking with risotto…thanks for this recipe!
Love risotto..and the flavors in this sound like they compliment each other so well. Found your blog from Blog boost!
This looks so delicious! Pinned for later ๐
Shauna @ The Best Blog Recipes
how much broth/wine? it reads “1/2 chicken broth or white wine”
Sorry thanks for catching that, 1/2 cup!
xoxo San
I’ll have to give this recipe a try. I never had risotto before. This recipe looks yummy.
This is definitely a yummy one to start with! Enjoy!
Love quick recipes like this for this time of year! Great for busy weeknight! Can’t wait to try this; looks delicious!
Hope you enjoy, thank you!
What a creamy and robust recipe! Adding this to my dinner line up for the week!
Thank you, let us know what you think!
Looks so delish! Loaded with flavors, can’t wait to dive into these!
Thank you!
YUM!! This looks incredibly delicious!! I can’t wait to try it!!
Thank you, enjoy!
So creamy and delicious! Definitely making this again
So glad you enjoyed it!
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