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Simple Paella with Chicken, Chorizo and Shrimp

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Paella, while it seems exotic, is really an easy weeknight dish you can whip up in 20 minutes or so. This is one of my favorite recipes for Paella with Chicken, Chorizo, and Shrimp.

A pan of seafood paella with prawns, mussels, and clams on saffron rice, garnished with lemon wedges. The table includes a bottle of olive oil, a basket of bread, and a bowl of peppercorns.

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Says the UK’s Independent, “Just fry up a bit of onion and garlic, add a few chunks of chorizo, chuck in some chicken, or prawns, or both, and some short-grain rice – Spanish if you’ve got it, or whatever else comes to hand. Then cover with stock and a bit of saffron (optional), and 20 minutes or so later, you’ve got a lovely paella.

Paella Ingredients

Specific measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here is a list of the ingredients you’ll need:

  • Boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • Large shrimp
  • Mussels
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Spanish chorizo
  • Garlic
  • Flat leaf parsley
  • Canned diced tomatoes
  • Spanish or red onion
  • Chicken broth
  • Short-grain rice, Arborio or Valencia
  • Fresh or frozen peas
  • Jarred roasted red peppers
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Spices

  • Sweet paprika
  • Dried oregano
  • Saffron
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

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A pan of seafood paella with prawns, mussels, and clams on saffron rice, garnished with lemon wedges. The table includes a bottle of olive oil, a basket of bread, and a bowl of peppercorns.

Paella with Chicken, Chorizo, and Shrimp

A surprisingly easy yet delicious and fun mid-week meal you can whip up in 20 minutes or so.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

  • 30 threads saffron crushed (a scant ½ tsp) optional but does deliver wonderful flavor
  • A pound boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 2″ pieces
  • 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 oz. dry-cured Spanish chorizo cut into ¼”-thick coins
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 bunch flat leaf parsley save some for garnish
  • 15- oz can diced tomatoes stewed tomatoes work great too
  • 1 Spanish onion minced (or red onion)
  • 4 cups chicken broth reduced sodium
  • 24 oz short-grain rice Arborio or Valencia
  • 8 oz. fresh or frozen peas
  • 3 jarred roasted red peppers torn into ½”-thick strips
  • 12 mussels cleaned and debearded, or clams
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Spice Mix for Chicken:

  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  • Rub the spice mix all over the chicken and marinate chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
  • Put saffron and ¼ cup hot water in a small bowl; let sit for 15 minutes. Season chicken and shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 16″–18″ paella pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, shrimp, and chorizo and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes.
  • Transfer shrimp to a plate, leaving meats in the pan. Add garlic, onion, ¼ cup minced parsley, and sauté until the onions soften; about 6 minutes. Add reserved saffron mixture, tomatoes, and broth, season with salt, and bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Sprinkle in rice, distribute evenly with a spoon, and add peas and peppers. Cook, without stirring, until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid, 10–12 minutes. (If your pan is larger than the burner, rotate it every two minutes so different parts are over the heat and the rice cooks evenly.) Reduce heat to low, add reserved shrimp, and nestle in mussels or clams hinge side down; cook, without stirring, until mussels have opened and rice has absorbed the liquid and is al dente, 5–10 minutes more. Remove pan from heat, cover with aluminum foil, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Notes

SERVES 6–8 (16”-18” Paella Pan)
This recipe has a number of ingredients. But all you really need is a combination of onion and garlic, a few chunks of your favorite sausage, some chicken, or prawns, or both, and some short-grain rice – Spanish if you’ve got it, or whatever else comes to mind.

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Spanish
Keyword: easy paella recipe, paella

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