Creamy Cheddar Broccoli & Bacon Risotto
with Scallions & Crispy Fried Onions
- Milk
- Wheat
The rich, cozy flavors of broccoli cheddar soup come together with short-grain arborio rice for this hearty weeknight risotto. White cheddar cheese melts into the creamy rice along with tender roasted broccoli. Even more cheddar is sprinkled over the top, and a sprinkle each of scallion greens and crispy fried onions add color and crunch.
Ingredients
1 unit
Broccoli
2 unit
Scallions
¾ cup
Arborio Rice
4 ounce
Cream Sauce Base
(Contains: Milk)
½ ounce
Vidalia Onion Paste
½ cup
White Cheddar Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
½ cup
Cheddar Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
1 unit
Crispy Fried Onions
(Contains: Wheat)
4 ounce
Bacon
Not included in your delivery
Salt
Pepper
Cooking Oil
Butter
(Contains: Milk)
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium pot (large pot for 4 servings), bring 5 cups water(8 cups for 4) to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Wash and dry produce. • Cut broccoli into bite-size pieces if necessary. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. • Toss broccoli on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast until browned and tender, 15-20 minutes.
• While broccoli roasts, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add scallion whites and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Add rice and stir until evenly coated, 15-20 seconds. • Carefully add 1 cup simmering water to pan with rice mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has mostly absorbed. Repeat with remaining water—adding 1⁄2 cup at a time and stirring until liquid has absorbed—until rice is al dente and mixture is creamy, 25-30 minutes. TIP: Depending on the size of your pan, you may need a little more or a little less water. • Reduce heat to medium low. Stir in cream sauce base, Vidalia onion paste, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 2-4 minutes more.
• Once risotto is done, remove from heat; stir in broccoli, white cheddar, and 1 TBSP butter(2 TBSP for 4 servings) until melted and combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired. TIP: Risotto should be a little loose and saucy right before serving; it will thicken as it cools. If too thick, stir in water 1 TBSP at a time.
• Divide risotto between bowls; top with yellow cheddar, crispy fried onions, and scallion greens. Serve.
Pork is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 145°.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Feb 2026- Flavor: Many enjoyed the dish's flavors, with some finding it surprisingly delicious. A few thought it needed more seasoning or depth.
- Ease of prep: Risotto fans appreciated the satisfying stirring process, while others found it time-consuming. Consider using stock instead of water for richer flavor.
- Suggestions: Add the bacon earlier in the cooking process for a more complete meal. Try baking bacon and broccoli together on one sheet for extra crispiness.
- Portions: Some felt it was more of a side dish than a full meal. Consider adding extra protein or serving a larger portion for a heartier dinner.
- Texture: The crispy fried onions received mixed reviews; adjust toppings to your preference for the perfect crunch factor.
Reviews from our home cooks
I love risotto! Stir, stir, stir and stir some more BUT the end result is delicious! I hadn't made risotto before Hello Fresh, but now I've made it twice!
It was fine, very heavy. Crispy Onions were really weird on this, regretted adding those but very happy with bacon and the crispy broccoli after I baked the bacon and broccoli on a sheet together
The risotto was tasteless. I'm afraid to try any of the other risotto dishes for fear I'll have the same result.
Risotto isn't my favorite but my husband liked it. With bacon of course.
This was surprisingly flavorful and delicious. We'd love to see more of this in the future
So delicious, a surprising jump to my top 3 favorite dishes!
I like the interesting way you sneak in veggies like yams! Something I would never think to do. This was a great meal!
This was a joy to eat. I give it 3 out of 4 stars as the sweet potatoes was an odd ingredient for me.
It needed something like rice to bulk it up. I added couscous.
You should sell your Tex Mex spice blend. It's awesome
