Name: Make Chicken Paella in Under an Hour
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 0.5 teaspoon saffron threads, crushed; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 8 (6 ounce) skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, divided; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 1.5 cups chopped yellow onion; 1.5 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme; 5 cloves garlic, minced; 1.5 cups uncooked Bomba rice; 0.33 cup dry white wine; 3 cups unsalted chicken stock; 2 cups frozen green peas; 1 red bell pepper, torn into pieces; 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; Lemon wedges

Make Chicken Paella in Under an Hour

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A Spanish dish from the Valencia region, paella is named for the cooking vessel itself: a round, shallow pan made of carbon steel that heats quickly and evenly. A good paella pan helps develop the socarrat, or crispy layer of rice crust on the bottom that's the most prized part of the dish. A large skillet will work as well if you don't have a paella pan. Look for short-grain Bomba or Valencia rice at specialty markets. Be aware that risotto rice like Arborio won't work here, since paella rice isn't meant to be creamy.

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Published on March 22, 2023

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Chicken Paella recipe in a skillet for serving — Photo: Victor Protasio

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

55 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

Dairy-Free Diabetes Appropriate Egg Free Gluten-Free Heart Healthy High-Protein Nut-Free Soy-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon saffron threads, crushed
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 (6 ounce) skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion
1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups uncooked Bomba rice
⅓ cup dry white wine
3 cups unsalted chicken stock
2 cups frozen green peas
1 red bell pepper, torn into pieces
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Lemon wedges

Directions

Stir together lemon rind, juice and saffron in a small bowl; set aside.
Heat oil in a 13- to 15-inch paella pan or skillet with lid over medium-high. Sprinkle chicken with black pepper and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Add 4 chicken thighs to pan; cook, skin side down, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Turn chicken over; cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate; repeat with remaining 4 chicken thighs. Add onion, thyme and garlic to pan; cook, stirring often, 4 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring often, 2 minutes. Add wine; cook until reduced by about half, about 2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice mixture, stock and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Nestle chicken, skin side up, into rice. Cover and reduce heat to medium; simmer until rice is just al dente, about 18 minutes. Uncover pan.
Add peas and red pepper pieces. Increase heat to medium-high; cook until rice begins to brown on the bottom and edges of pan, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with parsley; serve with lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

459	Calories
18g	Fat
38g	Carbs
40g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 chicken thigh and about 1/2 cup rice mixture
Calories 459
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 38g	14%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 40g	80%
Total Fat 18g	23%
Saturated Fat 4g	20%
Sodium 569mg	25%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.