Low Fat Paella Recipe

This chicken and chorizo paella is a real treat, for me I think because it tastes like ‘holiday food’ it evokes happy, sunny feelings even on a miserable day!

Inspired by Spanish chorizo, but adapted to work as a quick meal option this is bursting with the flavours of zingy lemon and smoky chorizo- a really simple paella that is always a crowd-pleaser.

I didn’t use saffron in this recipe because it is an expensive ingredient to buy, and one that I don’t frequently use elsewhere. I don’t think that this recipe is lacking because of this- in fact I really think this version tastes great, and for such an easy recipe, which only takes 30 minutes to cook, you can’t really beat it.

Healthy Paella Recipe

Chorizo is one of my favourite ingredients to have on hand. It lasts for a long time in the fridge, and it has such a lot of flavour that it can jazz up boring dishes in an instant.

I only use a small amount of chorizo in this- for me it works as I don’t want the chorizo to be a completely overpowering flavour.

Also, if you are following Slimming World or are calorie counting, it keeps it low syn and low calorie compared to similar dishes. That said, different brands if chorizo vary greatly in fat content. One that I found in Asda was 4.5 syns for 35g, and Tesco does a reduced fat one in their Finest range which tastes great.

Healthy Seafood Paella

I have found paella rice in Aldi, Tesco, Sainsburys and M&S, but if you have trouble finding it then you can supplement with arborio or long grain rice.

If you have a paella pan, great! If not, then you can use a saute pan (I do!)- you want it to be wide enough and non-stick for frying, but deep enough to hold all of the ingredients once they have been added.

Prawns make a great addition to this paella, I fry them separately to cook them, and then stir them into the paella once it’s cooked through.

Easy Chicken Paella

If you want to add some greens alongside this then quick cook vegetables such as green beans, asparagus or broccoli all complement it well.

Add any extra seafood that you fancy, or substitute the chicken for mussels and prawns. Green beans also work well added in.

My food is all about healthy, well balanced recipes that are made from scratch using whole foods and packed full of flavour.This One Pan Healthy Paella recipe is a quick, delicious dinner! This easy paella is packed with chicken for protein, veggies + whole grain brown rice.

Syn Free Chicken Paella

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If you’re looking for an easy, delicious dinner that is full of flavor- try this Chicken Paella recipe. Made with no seafood, it’s a rich and yummy one pan meal that is simple to make!

Paella is a Spanish dish that is typically made with rice, saffron, chicken, and seafood. It’s cooked low and slow in a large pan so that the flavors of the dish can really come together.

Healthy Paella (rr: August 2016)

Paella has a unique taste. The combination of paprika and saffron is delicious. It’s not spicy at all, but it has a rich savory flavor. Combine with the sweetness of the veggies – it’s a really unique, delicious flavor!

What is so special about paella? Paella is a delicious dish that is super hearty and filling. It has unique flavors and is loaded with protein and veggies making it the perfect healthy dinner.

What rice is used for paella? I used brown rice in this recipe but short grain bomba rice is typically used in paella.

Squid Ink Paella Recipe

Meat:Typically paella is made with chicken, chorizo, and seafood. You can add chorizo to this recipe – brown it with the chicken, set it aside with the chicken, and add it back in when you add the chicken in. If adding shrimp, add it at the very end when there are about 5-10 minutes so that it cooks.Do notadd the shrimp in at the beginning because it will overcook. You can also substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts in this recipe.

Veggies:You can substitute in carrots, sugar snap peas, green beans, more peppers or even mushrooms interchangeably. This is a flexible recipe. You can also add more peas if you like.

Saffron:  Saffron is pricey and can often be difficult to find. You can substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of Sazon Goya but omit the extra salt from this recipe as that has a lot of salt.

How To Make Paella

Vegetarian: We have not tried making this recipe without the meat. The chicken does absorb some of the broth, so the ratios might be off.

Freezing:I haven’t tried freezing paella, but I think it might work. The chicken might get a little bouncy when defrosted and the rice could get soggy.

Can this recipe be made ahead? Sure! When you’re ready to reheat, you may want to add a little broth. Heat on the stove until warm

Seafood & Chicken Paella With Peas

Can this recipe be reheated?Yes, this paella recipe tastes great when reheated. You can reheat in the microwave, in the oven set at 350°F until the center is cooked through, or sauté on the stove until warm.

This chicken paella is a complete meal in itself. There’s no need to make anything to serve it with. If you do want to serve it with something, here are some ideas:

Important Note: This is not an authentic paella recipe. My goal is always to share recipes that are a bit healthier and made with affordable, accessible ingredients so everyone can enjoy them regardless of their food allergies or dietary restrictions. Click here for an authentic paella recipe.

Easy Paella Recipe

Typically paella is made with rice, saffron, veggies, chicken, chorizo, and seafood. Traditional paella is made differently depending on the region it is cooked. Some people use seafood only, some people use a mix of chicken and seafood.

The most important ingredient in paella is rice. The rice absorbs all the flavor in this recipe and cooks perfectly alongside the veggies/chicken

The best paella seasoning is saffron. Saffron is a thread that comes from a flower. It’s very expensive but essential for paella! You can use sazon goya in place of it but it will not be the same.

Easy Seafood Paella Recipe (full Tutorial)

The 3 main types of paella are chicken paella, seafood paella, or mixed paella which has both chicken, seafood, and sometimes chorizo. All are delicious

Looking for other easy dinner recipes? Check out these healthy chicken recipes or click here to download a free 30 minute dinners guide!