Description
Enjoy a taste of Spain with this easy and flavorful Weeknight Paella recipe. Packed with chicken, shrimp, sausage, and aromatic spices, this dish is perfect for a quick and delicious dinner any night of the week.
Ingredients
For the Paella:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 pound boneless chicken thighs or breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 pound medium shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1/2 pound smoked sausage or chorizo (sliced)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 1 bell pepper (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup Arborio or long-grain rice
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric or saffron threads
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges and fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or sauté pan over medium heat.
Add the chicken and cook for 3–4 minutes until lightly browned.
Push the chicken to one side and add the sausage. Sauté for another 2 minutes, then add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the rice, paprika, and turmeric (or saffron), cooking for 1 minute to toast the rice.
Pour in the chicken broth and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then spread everything into an even layer.
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15–18 minutes, or until the rice is nearly tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Nestle the shrimp and peas into the rice, cover again, and cook for another 5–7 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.
Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute the shrimp with scallops or mussels, or omit for a chicken-only version.
- Saffron gives traditional flavor but turmeric is a great budget-friendly alternative.
- Don’t stir after adding broth—this helps create that classic paella texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Spanish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 140mg