Garcia's Spanish-Style Seafood Paella
A vibrant paella bursting with saffron-infused rice, plump shrimp, mussels, and chicken, inspired by Spain's coastal culinary traditions. This spanish-inspired seafood ready in about 60 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch pieces chicken breast, peeled and deveined shrimp, scrubbed and debearded mussels for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 475 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb, cut into 1-inch pieces chicken breast
- 1/2 lb, peeled and deveined shrimp
- 1/2 lb, scrubbed and debearded mussels
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 1, diced red bell pepper
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 cup short-grain rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 tsp saffron threads
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1, cut into wedges lemon
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large paella pan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 lb chicken pieces and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden brown on all sides; remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pan, add 1 diced large onion, 1 diced red bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 1 cup short-grain rice, 2 cups chicken broth, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp saffron threads, 1/4 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir well, then bring to a simmer.
- Step 4: Arrange 1/2 lb shrimp and 1/2 lb mussels on top of the rice. Cover with a lid and cook for 15-18 minutes until rice is tender and seafood is cooked through.
- Step 5: Remove lid and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Garcia's Spanish-Style Seafood Paella take to make?
Total time is about 60 minutes (25 min prep + 35 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Garcia's Spanish-Style Seafood Paella?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep peeled and deveined shrimp from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Garcia's Spanish-Style Seafood Paella?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Garcia's Spanish-Style Seafood Paella for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Garcia's Spanish-Style Seafood Paella?
Spanish seafood like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Added this to my weekly meal rotation. So satisfying.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 35-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
