10 minutes of prep, chock full of flavour and a complete meal in one pan. This quick paella is a fast midweek meal made using every day ingredients.
Spaniards will probably turn their nose up at this dish. A real Paella is loaded up with seafood and made with homemade fish stock. I only make that on special occasions. I especially love to make a huge pan of it on the outdoor grill because it’s a great way to feed a lot of people. And it’s something a little different to the usual steaks on the grill :).
This is a midweek Paella. Which means it’s easier and much faster to make than the “real thing” plus I’ve snuck in spinach to make it a complete one pot meal.
The key to this flavour packed meal is the chorizo. All the other ingredients and flavourings are based on the assumption that you use chorizo so if you don’t use it, you will need to adjust the quantities of other flavourings (I’ve included this in the notes). I really do encourage you to use chorizo though. You can get it at all supermarkets nowadays. Obviously the better the quality, the better the flavour of this dish. Good chorizos have a very intense flavour and when you fry them up, they release the flavoured oil which then flavours all the other ingredients you cook with it and forms the base of the flavour of the whole dish.
I make my quick paella using Spanish paella rice which is called Calasparra. It is a short grain rice with low starch and high absorption. If you don’t have this, substitute with normal medium grain rice. The next best substitute is long grain rice (typically used in salads and pilafs because they don’t stick together), then short grain rice (used in sushi because it is sticky). Risotto arborio rice should only be used as a last resort as it will make the paella creamy and……well, risotto like! The recipe assumes you use Calasparra rice so if you don’t, please refer to the notes because you will need to make a slight adjustment to the amount of rice you use (Calasparra and risotto rice are more absorbent than other rices).
The other big benefit of this quick paella dish is that it is great eaten the day after – unlike risotto which is pretty horrid (unless you turn it into Arancini Balls which I’m sharing soon!) The photo at the top was taken straight off the stove. The photo above was taken the day after. I refreshed it by sprinkling on fresh parsley, a light sprinkle of paprika and a drizzle of olive oil.
Love to hear if you try it!
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Mid Week Paella
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 350 g / 12 oz chicken thigh fillets , cut into 8 pieces
- 180 g / 6oz chorizo , the best you can afford. I like to use a spicy one. (Note 3)
- 1 small brown onion , diced
- 1 small red capsicum / bell pepper , roughly diced
- 2 cups (packed) shredded spinach (optional - see Note 1)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 can (400g/14oz) crushed tomato
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock/broth
- 1/3 cup frozen peas
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 cup spanish calasparra rice (Note 2)
- 1 1/2 tbsp parsley , finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cut chorizo into quarters vertically, then slice into 0.5cm / 1/3 inch pieces.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in pan over high heat. Add chicken and sear each side until golden brown, but not cooked through. It will finish cooking with the rice. Remove chicken from the pan onto a plate and set aside.
- Place garlic, onion and chorizo in pan. The chorizo will release oil so you don't need extra oil. Stir and cook for 1 minute until the chorizo starts to brown.
- Add capsicum, then stir and cook for 1 minute until chorizo is dark golden brown.
- Add rice and stir until coated with the oil.
- Add chicken stock, tinned tomato, spinach, half the peas and paprika. Stir gently to mix, bring to simmer then turn down heat to medium high so the stock remains at a gentle simmer.
- Place the chicken into the pan, mostly submerged.
- Cook, without stirring, for 10 minutes. Then scatter the remaining peas over the top and continuing cooking for a further 5 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked but it should still be slightly firm (al dente).
- Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Any residual liquid will be absorbed while it is resting.
- Scatter with parsley and serve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Can you use chicken fillets. If so what changes do you need to make
Nagi you are brilliant.
This was divine. I sprinkled a bit of chilli powder through to add a little oomph. Restaurant standard food again and it took less than 30 minutes from start to plate.
Thanks! N x
Hi, Nagi,
I cooked this for dinner last night and it was great! My smaller kids wouldn’t have liked chorizo so I substituted the bacon instead as you suggested and reduced the paprika, and also omitted the capsicum (no one likes it). I followed the recipe apart from that, and the flavour was wonderful! I will definitely be making this again. Thank you for giving our family another keeper recipe, and for expanding our repertoire!
Hi Nagi. Next time you make this for your fam would you mind recording a video so we can get a video of it? Thank you!!
I am planning to make this but I need to know if the chorizo should be the kind in casing or the kind that is loose like ground beef.
Hi Susan, I use the one in the casing here but either will work. N x
I guess my question was do you use Spanish (cooked) chorizo or Mexican (raw)? That’s how we differentiate it in the US. The taste is different in my experience but It really wouldn’t matter.
Hi Nagi, this is nother divine looking dish on your blog that I am keen to try! (my-Nagi-wanna-try-one-day-real-soon-list is SOOOOO long hehe)
im just wondering if your thigh fillets have skin on or not? Am I correct in saying they do?
Mmmm! Very nice. I substituted the chicken with prawns and some squid, which I added at the last 5 minute cook. Note to self: brown chorizo first before adding the onion and garlic.
Hey Nagi, looking at paella recipes – the complete one states not to use canned but one fresh tomato and this midweek uses canned. Could you please guide if this keeps with authentic flavours too?
Hi Beenie, my recipes are well researched and I try to make every single one true to authentic flavours – I believe this one still fits the bill – give it a go! N x
Thanks for your response, Nagi. There is absolutely no doubt your recipes are perfection! I will be trying this today.
Thanks for this delicious and easy recipe! Followed and worked exactly (but used medium grain rice as couldn’t find the other).
This was pretty straightforward to make and absolutely delicious 😋! Followed all the directions to a tee and it worked out perfectly. The rice is so tasty cooked like this!! Fusspot of a husband really liked it too, so will be added to the mid-week meal rotation! Thanks Nagi, I am a newly inspired midweek cook thanks to you!! Say hi to Dozer for me 😁🐾
Hi Nagi! I really enjoy your recipes and have tried a couple so far! We gave this one a crack tonight and while it tasted good, the bottom and sides of the pan were burnt (like burnt crusted rice in a claypot). We kept it on a low simmer like the recipe called for but had to chuck out quite a bit of rice as a result of the burnt surfaces 🙁 Is there anything I can do to prevent that for next time? Thank you!!
This is my problem too 🙁 but then I struggle to cook any rice on the stove without it sticking and burning 🙁 would love to know how to stop it too
Followed this paella recipe to a tee and it worked out delicious! Not only tasty but quick and easy.
So far I have made over 20 of your recipes and have not found a bad one yet! Thank you so much for a wonderful website – I’m totally hooked 😊
Thank you Nagi. You’re the true genius. Just what I needed. I promised my family paella today and have been working all day. this is just what I need to keep my promise and not stretch myself beyond limits. Hugs to you and Dozer xx
Thanks so much for the feedback, that’s so nice to hear!
I love this dish and more importantly, so does everybody else. It’s not easy to find a meal that all three of my men like, but this one is a keeper. I have to up the quantities a bit as my boys are big eaters but it always works out perfectly. Super tasty, easy recipe. Thank you! Also, I love your site. Please keep up the fantastic work
I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed it Tracey! Thank you very much for your message – N xx
Hi Nagi,
Just discovered your site. This paella looks great. Just wondering what size pan did you use and if it will work with a stainless steel one or is cast iron better? Also did you have to cover the pan at any time to finish cooking the chicken?
Hi Julia! I think that’s my 26cm/11″ one, I don’t have it anymore! Stainless steel or cast iron will work just fine 🙂 And nope, you don’t need to cover the pan to finish cooking the chicken!
4th dish I’ve made from your blog and it was a hit! I am not much of a cook, but your simple-to-put-together but amazingly flavorful dishes have given me confidence in the kitchen. Thank you for all of your hard work and attention to detail. I appreciate your US friendly measurements as well. You have a devoted reader from North Carolina, USA!
So glad you liked it Jocyline, thanks so much for letting me know! N x
Hi Nagi – I am planning to make this for company tomorrow but really want to make it just a tidbit more authentic by adding clams or mussels. I’m wondering if you could add another one of your very helpful Notes with advice on how you would do this. Many thanks in advance!
Hi Julia, quite a co-incidence, I am making a full-on Paella soon! 🙂 Add mussels when most of the liquid is absorbed, they only take a few minutes to cook. Just push them into the rice and cover with a lid, that helps them steam open. Prawns are also very authentic – push them in whole around halfway through the rice cooking!
Hi there Nagi, just wanted to say that I loved this dish! This is on rotation at my house and my fussy other half loves it too and that’s saying somethin’! In fact, I have tried a few of your recipes and they are all great. This would have to be one of the best recipe blogs going!! You are genuine with your comments and readers can put their trust in you that their recipe will be delicious! Love your work! Also I don’t know what I have done with the 2 free cookbooks, are you able to resend them?
Hi Kath! Thanks for your lovely message, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, thank you for letting me know! Sending you an email now with a fresh link to the free cookbooks 🙂 Happy weekend!
love ur site!! So glad I found it…and the paella looks sooo appealing!! Must make it soon…. 🙂
My wife and I had company over on the weekend so we decided to try your recipe. It was a wonderful tasty meal that everyone really enjoyed. Excellent post
Thanks David! Makes me so happy to hear that 🙂