Skillet Paella
A vibrant, flavorful skillet paella featuring a medley of seafood, peppers, and saffron-infused rice, perfect for a lively, family-friendly meal packed with bold flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 onion, chopped ⓘ
- 2 red peppers, chopped ⓘ
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp oil ⓘ
- 1 cup chicken broth ⓘ
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 1/2 tsp coriander ⓘ
- 10 small clams ⓘ
- 10 shrimp ⓘ
- 10 mussels ⓘ
- 1/2 tsp oregano ⓘ
- pinch black cracked pepper ⓘ
- 1 can artichoke hearts ⓘ
- 1 cup cooked rice with saffron ⓘ
Instructions
- In a frying pan or electric fry pan, sauté onion, red peppers, green pepper, and garlic in oil.
- Add chicken broth, vinegar, coriander, oregano, and black pepper; simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Add artichoke hearts and cooked saffron rice; mix thoroughly.
- Place seafood (clams, shrimp, mussels) on top of the rice mixture.
- Cover and simmer until the seafood is heated thoroughly and cooked through.
Tips & Substitutions
For added flavor, consider using homemade chicken broth instead of store-bought. If fresh seafood is unavailable, frozen shrimp, clams, and mussels work well. You can substitute the saffron rice with plain rice, but adding a pinch of turmeric will give a similar color. For a vegetarian option, use vegetable broth and omit the seafood.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this skillet paella with a side of crusty bread and a fresh green salad for a complete meal. It pairs beautifully with Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay Indonesian Style) for a delightful flavor contrast. A glass of white wine or a light beer complements the seafood flavors nicely.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover paella can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place it in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of broth or water to prevent drying out. Cover and heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Skillet Paella contains roughly 889 calories, with 43g protein, 120g carbohydrates, and 33g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (249% of the Daily Value), vitamin A (111% of the Daily Value), and iron (104% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1994mg per serving (87% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this paella ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the rice and vegetable mixture ahead of time, then add the seafood just before serving. This keeps the seafood from overcooking. Just remember to store the components separately in the fridge until you're ready to combine them.
What can I use instead of clams?
If clams are not available, you can replace them with additional shrimp or other shellfish such as scallops. Alternatively, you could use cooked crab meat for a different flavor profile, ensuring you adjust cooking times accordingly.
How do I know when the seafood is cooked?
Seafood is typically cooked when it turns opaque and firm. Shrimp should be pink and curled, mussels should open up, and clams should also open. Discard any that remain closed after cooking, as they may be unsafe to eat.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).