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Home » Instant Pot Magic

Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash

By Gary White
This post may contain affiliate links.
Read my full disclosure here.

Published April 12, 2018. Last modified August 1, 2025 By Gary White

Jump to Recipe
Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats

This pressure cooker lemon risotto is perfect for summer! It has a creamy, bright flavor and is perfectly seasonal with fresh summer squash.

Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats

Summer is almost here! So we're developing our menu for the season. And this pressure cooker lemon risotto with summer squash is an absolute must for the warmer months! It's bright and creamy, with a simple-to-execute method. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did making it! 

What would you serve with this dish?

We've had a few people tell us that they've simply added chicken to this risotto and they loved it! I, on the other hand, would recommend eating this dish with a nice piece of broiled fish. Lemon and fish are best friends, so this is a no-brainer for me.

Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats

How to Make Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto

Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats
Using sauté setting - add oil, then add the onions and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently. Add squash, garlic, salt & pepper and cook for about 2 minutes.
Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats
Then add the rice and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently - doing your best to toast each grain of rice.
Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats
Add the wine, mix well, and cook for about 2 minutes (until evaporated), stirring constantly.
Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats
Pour in the stock and mix well. Close the lid and steam vent, then switch setting to manual for 4 minutes at high pressure.
Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats
Once cook time is complete, quick­-release pressure, then open lid. Turn off power to avoid overcooking. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and parmesan - mix well.
Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | The Foodie Eats

★ Did you make this Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto?

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📖 Recipe

Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash | Instant Pot | Gluten-Free | The Foodie Eat

Pressure Cooker Lemon Risotto with Summer Squash

Creamy and bright-flavored risotto. Perfect for spring and summer!
4.38 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 353kcal
Author: Gary White

Ingredients 

  • 2  Tbsp. olive oil
  • ½  cup onion diced
  • 1  lb.  summer squash large diced
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 ½  cups Arborio rice
  • 1 Tbsp.  garlic minced
  • 1  cup dry white wine
  • 4  cups chicken stock
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2  Tbsp. flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
  • ½  cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

  • Using sauté setting - add oil, then add the onions and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently. 
  • Add squash, garlic, salt & pepper and cook for about 2 minutes.
  • Then add the rice and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently - doing your best to toast each grain of rice.
  • Add the wine, mix well, and cook for about 2 minutes (until evaporated), stirring constantly.
  • Pour in the stock and mix well. Close the lid and steam vent, then switch setting to manual for 4 minutes at high pressure.
  • Once cook time is complete, quick­-release pressure, then open lid. Turn off power to avoid overcooking. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and parmesan - mix well. 
  • Serve immediately if possible. If not, do not cover while waiting or rice will overcook. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 369mg | Potassium: 482mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 23.3mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 3.2mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kerstin

    April 07, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    3 stars
    This was just okay for my taste. I think it would have been better without the zest. I added chicken to even out the strong flavor. But I do LOVE your Grandma B's Chicken and Rice!!

    Reply
  2. Cynthia

    December 28, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    5 stars
    I absolutely love this risotto recipe, and I’ve made it a few times now. We like it as a main dish with a side salad. I sub the chicken stock for vegan chicken flavored stock and the Parmesan with nutritional yeast, making it vegan. Also, I sub the wine with more broth. I undoubtedly use less zest, since I’m lazy zesting and scooping it up. The lemon flavor lightens the risotto somehow. I would definitely recommend trying this recipe—adding chicken, having it with fish, or just serving with a side salad, because you won’t be disappointed.

    Reply
    • Gary

      December 28, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      We're so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Landson Reid

    December 29, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    My wife and I love this recipe. And it’s easy. We’ve had it in our regular dinner recipe rotation for a bit now.

    Reply
  4. Rachel W

    March 30, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    5 stars
    A bit late to the party, but thank-you for the wonderful recipe! First time making risotto with our Instant Pot and so glad we did. I couldn’t find summer squash so we omitted it. I had a leftover half of a lemon in the fridge and was too lazy to zest and juice another so I just used that. I had to use the sauté feature at the end to evaporate some excess liquid and reach the right consistency but that took mere minutes. I also grilled two lemon halves (inspired by your picture) and squeezed over the finished dish. We used a Spanish Verdejo as our wine and it was the perfect match for the flavours in the dish. For those experiencing bitterness with the lemon, maybe adjust the salt. We loved it, definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth Zeller

    August 21, 2019 at 8:52 pm

    4 stars
    Simple and delicious! My 11 year old son loved it, too.

    Reply
  6. Kat KB

    July 16, 2020 at 2:04 am

    I just made this in my Mealthy, when I removed the lid after 4 minutes it was no where near done. I had to redo it for another 3 minutes... but once it was done it was delicious! I think I would try to add some more veggies next time, maybe mushroom or asparagus. Love that it's a one pot meal and you can let it cook on its own instead of constantly stirring like a typical risotto. Easier when you have littles running around!

    Reply
  7. Mark

    July 26, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    I made this and agree with the other comment that there is way too much liquid. Usually in the IP when making risotto liquid to arborio rice is 2 to 1 plus a little wine that you boil off. I don't have any experience with squash, but that probably adds more liquid. Flavors were great for me,. But turned out as mush. This recipe needs adjustments IMHO.

    Reply
  8. Zach

    August 03, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    3 stars
    Add less liquid! 3 cups of stock is sufficient. Other than that, pretty good.

    Reply
4.38 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Meet Gary

I'm Gary... husband, dad, recipe developer, and comfort food nerd. I believe in real food for real life. This blog? It’s where I share the recipes my family actually eats. Simple, soulful, and full of flavor. My goal is simple: help you cook food worth making again. More about me...

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