Oven-Baked Bacon, Butternut and Pea Risotto
with Onion and Pesto
- Nuts
- Cashew nuts
- Milk
- Egg
- Mustard
- Soya
- Celery
- Cereals containing gluten
- Milk
- May contain traces of allergens
- Peanut
Love risottos, but wish there was no stirring involved? This Oven-Baked Bacon and Pea Risotto is a simplified version of the traditional risotto, baking in the oven instead to absorb all the stock and flavours with only 10 minutes of prep.
Ingredients
300 grams
Diced Butternut Squash
1 unit(s)
Onion
90 grams
British Smoked Bacon Lardons
2 unit(s)
Garlic Clove
175 grams
Risotto Rice
1 sachet(s)
White Wine Stock Powder
(Contains: Mustard, Soya, Celery, Cereals containing gluten, Milk, May contain traces of allergens)
1 sachet(s)
Mixed Herbs
120 grams
Peas
30 grams
Basil Pesto
(Contains: Nuts, Cashew nuts, Milk, May contain traces of allergens, Peanut)
20 grams
Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
(Contains: Milk, Egg)
Not included in your delivery
1 tsp
Sugar
600 milliliter(s)
Boiled Water for the Risotto
20 grams
Butter
Nutritional information
Utensils
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7.
Pop the diced butternut squash onto a large baking tray. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, then toss to coat. Spread them out in a single layer.
When the oven is hot, roast on the top shelf until soft and golden, 20-30 mins. Turn halfway through.
Meanwhile, boil a full kettle. Halve, peel and chop the onion into small pieces.
Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, wide-bottomed ovenproof pan on medium heat. TIP: If you don't have an ovenproof pan, use a normal pan and transfer to an ovenproof dish before baking.
Once hot, add the onion, season with salt and pepper and fry, stirring occasionally, until golden and softened, 8-10 mins. Add the sugar (see pantry for amount) and cook until caramelised, 1-2 mins more.
If you prefer hob cooking your risotto, just use a normal pan.
When the onion is halfway through cooking, add the bacon lardons to the same pan.
Fry, stirring occasionally, until golden, 4-5 mins. IMPORTANT: Wash your hands and equipment after handling raw meat. Cook bacon thoroughly.
Meanwhile, peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press).
Once the bacon has cooked, add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 secs.
Add the risotto rice to the bacon and onion. Stir and cook until the edges of the rice are translucent, 1-2 mins.
Stir in the white wine stock powder, mixed herbs and boiled water for the risotto (see pantry for amount). Season with salt and pepper.
Bring back up to the boil, then pop a lid on the pan (or cover with foil) and bake on the middle shelf of your oven until the rice is cooked and the water has been absorbed, 25-30 mins.
For hob cooking, pour in 2p: 800ml, 3p: 1200ml, 4p: 1600ml of boiled water a third at a time, stirring each time until the stock has been absorbed, 20-25 mins.
When the risotto is cooked, remove it from the oven, then stir in the peas until piping hot, 1-2 mins.
Mix the pesto, hard Italian style cheese and butter (see pantry for amount) into the risotto until melted and well combined.
Stir in the roasted butternut squash.
Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. TIP: Add a splash of water to loosen the risotto to your desired consistency.
Share the bacon, butternut and pea risotto between your bowls.
Enjoy!
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Feb 2026- Flavour: Many found it delicious and full of flavour, though some felt it was overpowered by herbs or pesto.
- Ease of prep: Customers appreciated the simple oven-baked method, making risotto accessible even for beginners.
- Suggestions: Consider reducing pesto and herbs; add more bacon for flavour. Try without butternut squash for a simpler dish.
- Portions: Generous portion size; some found it filling enough without peas or additional vegetables.
- Cooking time: Allow extra time; actual preparation may take longer than the recipe suggests.
