This Creamy Thermomix Chicken, Pumpkin, Bacon & Baby Spinach Risotto is one of our most popular risotto recipes! A kid-friendly favourite that the whole family will love!
Risottos have always been one of my very favourite things to make in my Thermomix! Forget standing over the stove-top stirring a risotto, our Thermomix risotto recipes are so simple to make, family-friendly and any leftovers can be frozen.
What You Need
This Thermomix Chicken, Pumpkin, Bacon & Baby Spinach Risotto is made from a few basic ingredients:
- parmesan cheese
- minced garlic (or 1 garlic clove)
- brown onion
- olive oil
- bacon
- chicken breast
- arborio rice
- chicken stock powder (or homemade chicken stock)
- water
- white wine (or replace with extra water)
- pumpkin (butternut, jap or kent)
- baby spinach leaves
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the full method.
Recipe Substitutions
This is a super versatile recipe that allows for many variations:
- use chicken thighs in place of chicken breast
- omit the bacon
- add some frozen peas in the last 2 minutes of cooking
- use rocket in place of baby spinach
- omit the white wine and replace with extra water
Recipe Tips
If you have leftover roast pumpkin (from dinner the night before!), you can use that instead of cooking pumpkin in the Thermomix. Simply cut it into small chunks and place in the ThermoServer before pouring the risotto over the top.
It's important to allow the risotto to rest for 10 minutes before serving. After cooking, the risotto will be quite liquidy. The risotto will thicken when resting.
A ThermoServer is the perfect thing for resting your risotto and allowing it to thicken. You can use the Thermomix branded ThermoServer or any brand of insulated stainless steel container.
Our Thermomix Dinners Cookbooks
If you hadn't already guessed, we LOVE simple family dinners that you can cook in your Thermomix!
You may also enjoy:
- Thermomix Quinoa & Vegetable Bake
- Thermomix Seafood Risotto
- Thermomix Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
- Thermomix Baked Beans
- Top 10 Thermomix Chicken Dinners
- Thermomix Bacon & Tomato Risotto
- Thermomix Japanese Chicken Curry
Chicken, Pumpkin & Baby Spinach Risotto
Equipment
- Thermomix
Ingredients
- 80 g parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic or 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 onion halved
- 30 g olive oil
- 100 g bacon chopped
- 250 g arborio rice
- 100 g white wine
- 2 teaspoon chicken stock powder or 1 tbs homemade chicken stock
- 300 g skinless chicken breast cubed into 2-3cm pieces
- 600 g water
- 200 g cooked pumpkin see notes
- 80 g baby spinach
Instructions
- Place parmesan cheese into the bowl and grate on Speed 8 for 10 seconds. Remove and set aside. Wash and dry the bowl.
- Place garlic and onion in Thermomix bowl and chop for 3 seconds on Speed 5. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add olive oil and bacon and saute for 5 minutes, 100 degrees, Reverse, Speed 1 (MC off).
- Insert the butterfly whisk. Add arborio rice and wine into the bowl. Cook 100 degrees, 3 minutes, Reverse, Speed 1 (MC off).
- Add the chicken stock powder, diced chicken and water and cook for 18 minutes, 100 degrees, Reverse, Speed 1.
- Place the risotto into the Thermoserver, add the pumpkin, baby spinach and half of the parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
- Place into a ThermoServer (or similar) and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken.
- Serve with the remaining parmesan cheese.
Notes
- use chicken thighs in place of chicken breast
- omit the bacon
- add some frozen peas in the last 2 minutes of cooking
- use rocket in place of baby spinach
- omit the white wine and replace with extra water
Sally says
Hi I am wondering if you've made this with vegie stock concentrate? If so, what amount would you recommend? Thank you in advance!
Lucy Mathieson says
Hi Sally, I usually make this with stock powder but you can absolutely use the concentrate! I'd say around 1 tbs depending on how flavoursome you want it to be. xx
Emma says
Delicious flavours - just a bit over cooked for our tasting. Will probably cook for 14 minutes next time and cook the pumpkin separately. Thanks!
Marion says
How would I adjust this recipe to make it for 6 people?
Lauren Matheson says
Hi Marion, I'd be wary of increasing this recipe as it may exceed the recommended maximum for your bowl. Sorry I can't be of more help x
Jane says
Seems a great reciepe. Cooking now. Took longer than expected. Pumpkin not cooked and bit slushy. We have just put it on for a bit longer now. Smells delicious thou can't wait to try.
Rachael says
Can this recipe be halved and do I need to adjust the cooking time?
Lucy Mathieson says
Hi Rachael, we wouldnt recommend changing this recipe (the leftovers freeze great!!). xx
Di says
I made this tonight, first risotto I've made since getting thermie, and neither the rice or pumpkin were cooked. Should I have used hot water for the 900g of water?
Lucy Mathieson says
Hi Di, I would definitely try using hot water next time. xx
Michelle says
Is the stock liquid or powder?
Lucy Mathieson says
Sorry this should have said powder - I've just updated the recipe. Thank you 🙂
Karen says
Made this for dinner today and it was divine!
Lucy says
Yay!! We love hearing lovely feedback like that!
Stacey says
Hi, is the step 7 NOT on reverse? Thank you.
Lucy says
That's right xx
Elise says
Hi,
Cook the rice on speed 2 without reverse function ?
Thanks
Tena says
Hi there
I notice there's no mention of inserting the butterfly. Do you use it? Also, what's soft speed converted to tm5 please?
Lucy says
Hi Tena,
No you don't need the butterfly.
The soft speed is the spoon.
🙂 xx
Nic says
Hey lovelies! Just wondering if the recipe is total cooking time or cooking time when it reaches the temp? Sorry I'm just new to the Thermomix way of life!!!
Lucy says
Hi Nic, it's total cooking time! Have fun!! xx
Michelle says
So delicious, quick & easy after a long day at work...thank you so much 🙂
Lucy says
So glad that you enjoyed it!
Kelly says
Hi, Just wanted to thankyou. Made this for dinner tonight and it was so yummy and easy! Great Recipe 🙂
Lucy says
I'm so thrilled to hear that! So glad you enjoyed it!! xx
Tracey says
Your ingredients for this does not include onion yet the instructions says to add garlic and onion - so im guessing its one onion?
Lucy says
Ooops!! Yes just 1! I'll add it in now. Thank you!! 🙂