An easy and delicious chicken paella recipe for any night of the week

There’s nothing quite like a big plate of chicken paella. This Spanish dish is packed full of flavor, and it’s sure to leave you feeling satisfied. Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal to share with friends or a simple weeknight dinner, chicken paella is the perfect dish.


The One Dish You Need to Try: Chicken Paella

I love chicken paella because it is a dish that is full of flavor and can be made relatively quickly. It is also a dish that can be easily customized to your liking. For example, you can add more or less of any of the ingredients to make it more or less spicy. Additionally, chicken paella is a great meal to share with friends and family.


Ingredients you’ll need

  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
  • 3 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breast, diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1.1 pounds Rice
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 packet Paellero
  • 1 tin diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup peas
  • 1/4 parsley, minced to serve
  • salt and pepper, to taste



How to make Chicken Paella

  1. Start with marinating the chicken pieces with lemon, salt and pepper. set aside.
  2. To a large skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil, heat the oil then add onion, pepper, and sauté over medium-high heat until soften and lightly caramelize, about 5 to 8 minutes; stir intermittently.
  3. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute; stir intermittently. Remove from the pan; set aside.
  4. Add the remaining olive oil, chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook the chicken until it’s about 50% cooked through, stirring and flipping intermittently. Remove from the pan; set aside with the sofrito.
  5. Add the rice and cook the rice for about 3 minutes, stirring intermittently.
  6. To the chicken broth, add 1 packet Paellero, and stir to combine. Add the chicken broth to the rice.
  7. Add the sofrito and chicken back to the skillet, add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, and simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 to 25 minutes or until rice is tender, chicken is cooked through, and liquid is absorbed. If necessary, you may need to add more than 1 cup water (or chicken broth) based on the texture of the rice. Taste it near the end of the cooking period and if it’s too firm and all the liquid is absorbed or nearly so, add a bit more water using your judgment.
  8. Add the peas, parsley, stir to combine, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to warm through.
  9. Taste the paella and add salt and pepper, if necessary, to taste. The saltiness of the chicken broth, tomatoes, whether you used Paellero, and personal preference for salt and pepper will dictate how much to use. I used about 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
  10. Enjoy!


Easy Ways to Make Chicken Paella Even More Delicious

When it comes to chicken paella, there are endless possibilities for variation. Whether you want to add more vegetables, change up the type of chicken, or experiment with different spices, there are plenty of ways to make this dish your own. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Add more vegetables: If you want to make your paella more nutrient-rich, try adding more vegetables. Bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini are all great options.

Change up the chicken: If you’re looking for a different flavor, try using a different type of chicken. For example, you could use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.

Experiment with different spices: Paella is traditionally made with saffron, but you can experiment with other spices as well. Try adding cumin, paprika, or even chili powder for a bit of heat.


What goes with chicken paella?

There are a few things that go great with chicken paella. One is a nice, crisp salad. Another is some crusty bread, which is perfect for soaking up all of the delicious sauce. And of course, no meal is complete without a glass of wine!


What is paella and what is typically in it?

Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that is made with rice, vegetables, and meat or seafood. The most common ingredients in paella are chicken, chorizo, shrimp, and mussels. Paella can also be made with rabbit, duck, or lobster.


What is the secret ingredient in paella?

There is no one secret ingredient in paella. In fact, there are many different recipes for this popular Spanish dish, each with its own unique combination of ingredients. However, there are a few key ingredients that are essential for any authentic paella. These include rice, saffron, olive oil, and paprika.

While the exact origins of paella are unclear, it is thought to have originated in the Valencia region of Spain. This is where most of the key ingredients for paella come from. The dish is traditionally cooked over an open fire, in a large shallow pan, and is often served family style.

No matter what ingredients you use, the key to making a great paella is to cook it slowly and patiently. This allows the rice to absorb all the flavors of the ingredients and results in a dish that is truly delicious.


What makes paella so special?

Paella is a dish that is special for many reasons. First, it is a traditional dish of Spain that has been around for centuries. Second, it is a dish that can be made with many different ingredients, making it very versatile. Lastly, it is a dish that is typically made in a large pan, making it perfect for sharing with friends and family.



 chicken paella

Course: Dinner, LunchCuisine: SpanishDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Calories

320

kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup olive oil

  • 1 large sweet onion, diced

  • 1 red bell pepper, diced

  • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced

  • 3 garlic clove, finely chopped

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breast, diced into bite-sized pieces

  • 1.1 pounds Rice

  • 4 cups chicken broth

  • 1 packet Paellero

  • 1 tin diced tomatoes

  • 1 cup water

  • 1 cup peas

  • 1/4 parsley, minced to serve

  • salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

  • Start with marinating the chicken pieces with lemon, salt and pepper. set aside.
  • To a large skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil, heat the oil then add onion, pepper, and sauté over medium-high heat until soften and lightly caramelize, about 5 to 8 minutes; stir intermittently.
  • Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute; stir intermittently. Remove from the pan; set aside.
  • Add the remaining olive oil, chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook the chicken until it’s about 50% cooked through, stirring and flipping intermittently. Remove from the pan; set aside with the sofrito.
  • Add the rice and cook the rice for about 3 minutes, stirring intermittently.
  • To the chicken broth, add 1 packet Paellero, and stir to combine. Add the chicken broth to the rice.
  • Add the sofrito and chicken back to the skillet, add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, and simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 to 25 minutes or until rice is tender, chicken is cooked through, and liquid is absorbed. If necessary, you may need to add more than 1 cup water (or chicken broth) based on the texture of the rice. Taste it near the end of the cooking period and if it’s too firm and all the liquid is absorbed or nearly so, add a bit more water using your judgment.
  • Add the peas, parsley, stir to combine, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to warm through.
  • Taste the paella and add salt and pepper, if necessary, to taste. The saltiness of the chicken broth, tomatoes, whether you used Paellero, and personal preference for salt and pepper will dictate how much to use. I used about 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
  • Enjoy!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *