Super Simple Chicken Paella Recipe
I am by no means a paella expert. Here’s what I did back in 2016, here’s how the recipe came about, we loved it, and I have been making it again and again ever since. With that said, here’s how I stumbled into having to try my hand at a centuries-old Spanish dish with no clue about where to begin. I’m an avid runner, and on a warm Saturday afternoon I ran by a local artisan grocery store and there was a man, Luis, making paella on the sidewalk in a huge paella pan over an open fire. I stopped because the smell was amazing and he asked me if I wanted to try some. I said I didn’t have any money with me because I was just out running and he said, no it’s free. In San Diego, nothing is free except the sunshine and this very generous portion of paella. It was beyond excellent. The rice was perfectly tender and scented with saffron, there were red bell peppers and onions for flavor and texture, and the chicken was soft and moist. I knew I had to recreate it so went home and started researching paella online. I came across a million different recipes and ways to make it and every one was different and one more confusing and complex than the next. I almost gave up. Until I was running the next weekend and Luis was outside again making paella. This time I picked his brain about how to make it and what he did. He explained the steps to me and that’s how I made this easy chicken paella with a few tweaks of my own, including scaling down the recipe from massively huge to large family-sized. The paella was ready in about 45 minutes, far exceeded my expectations, my family raved about it, and I’m really glad I challenged myself to make this recipe. You never know until you try is the advice I always give my readers and I’m glad I took my own advice!
What’s in the Easy Chicken Paella?
For this simple chicken paella recipe, you’ll need:
Olive oil Onion Red bell pepper Garlic Chicken breasts Bomba rice Low-sodium chicken broth Paellero Canned diced tomatoes Peas Fresh parsley
Scroll to the bottom of this post for the full recipe card with measurements.
How to Make Chicken Paella
I don’t have a paella pan, so I used a large skillet instead. Use what you have! Here’s how the paella recipe with chicken comes together:
What’s the Best Rice for Paella?
Bomba Rice is essential to making chicken paella. You can buy it online, or find it in some specialty stores. I don’t recommend using any other kind of rice because I can’t predict how your homemade chicken paella will turn out.
What Paella Spices Should I Use?
Rather than buying saffron, Luis recommended I use a packet of Paellero. Super easy and delicious! I strongly recommend going with that because there are so many different spices in authentic paella and unless you want to buy all of them, or really know what you’re doing and are a paella expert, a packet of seasoning mix is the easiest!
Can I Add Chorizo or Seafood?
You can use chorizo or you favorite seafood, including shrimp, mussels, lobsters, or clams. Since I didn’t make it that way, I can’t give specific cooking times and when within the process of the rice cooking you add the ingredients and all seafood cooks at a very different rate. Do some research online and cross-reference some recipes and you’ll likely add seafood towards the end of the overall cooking time. If using chorizo, I’d treat it as I treated the chicken here and add it then.
Can I Make Paella in an Instant Pot?
Yes, you sure can and I have this Instant Pot Shrimp Paella recipe that is fast, easy, and every bit as good as the stove top version! It can be adapted to use chicken if you prefer chicken instead of shrimp.
More Quick Chicken Dinners:
Favorite EASY CHICKEN RECIPES. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Lime Cilantro Chicken with Mixed Rice and Black Beans – Easy, one skillet, 15-minute meal! Tons of textures and bold flavors in every bite! The lime makes this dish just pop! Buffalo Chicken Burrito Bowls — Juicy chicken along with your favorite burrito ingredients served in a bowl! Pile the toppings sky high and not worry about a wrap breaking, plus it’s a little healthier!! Easy and ready in 15 minutes! Chicken Avocado Black Bean Salad — A Mexican-inspired salad with tender chicken, black beans, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and more! Easy 30-Minute Chicken Fajitas — These chicken fajitas take just 30 minutes to make and are the perfect weeknight dinner. Friends and family will go crazy for this recipe! 15-Minute Salsa Verde Chicken, Rice, and Beans – Fast, EASY, one skillet recipe!! Between the salsa verde, lime juice, and cilantro mixed with juicy chicken, rice, and beans, you’ll be hooked! Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats — Skip enchilada wraps and use zucchini instead!! Easy, healthier and there’s so much FLAVOR between juicy chicken drenched in enchilada sauce, corn, peppers, and CHEESE!! Sheet Pan Baked Salsa Chicken and Potatoes — An EASY dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes and made on ONE pan with so much FLAVOR!! Originally published October 31, 2016 and republished August 5, 2022 with updated text.
