• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Soups
  • One Pot
  • Baking
  • Meat and Fish
  • Celiac Resources
  • Breakfast
  • Snack
  • Dessert
  • Sides
  • Gluten Free Living
  • Gluten Free Travel
  • Van Life
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Vibrantly G-Free
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Soups
  • One Pot
  • Baking
  • Meat and Fish
  • Celiac Resources
  • Breakfast
  • Snack
  • Dessert
  • Sides
  • Gluten Free Living
  • Gluten Free Travel
  • Van Life
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Meat and Fish

    Super Easy Paella Recipe

    October 27, 2020 by Jamie · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Overhead view of a bright paella in a frying pan.
    Side view of an easy shrimp paella with lemon and parsley to garnish.
    An overhead and side view of an easy paella prepared in a frying pan and garnished with lemon and fresh parsley.

    This Easy Paella Recipe makes a vibrant one-pan dish that's perfect for weeknight dinners and special occasions! It requires only a few easy-to-find ingredients -- the ease and flavor of this tasty paella will make this gluten and dairy-free recipe a favorite in your home! For my vegan friends, I also included instructions to make this easy paella vegan.

    An overhead close-up view of an Easy Paella recipe with bright vegetables, shrimp, and parsley to garnish.
    Pin229
    Share
    Pocket
    Tweet
    233 Shares

    I was really nervous to make paella for the first time because all the recipes online looked so complicated. It turns out that making a great paella can be really easy with the few simplifications in this recipe!

    Why you’ll love this recipe:

    • simple, easy-to-find ingredients 
    • tastes great with or without saffron
    • bold flavor-packed mouth party
    • 30 minutes of cooking time
    • healthy and veggie-packed
    • naturally gluten-free and dairy-free
    • super easy protein substitution for vegan
    • perfect for dinner parties!
    Side view of a tasty easy paella with shrimp, lemon wedge, and parsley to garnish.

    What is typically in paella?

    The main ingredients in every paella recipe are rice, vegetables, meat or seafood, and spices. From there, traditional Spanish paellas can vary significantly by region. Short grain rice and saffron are key for an authentic paella.

    This easy paella recipe is inspired by the Spanish dish and made with ingredients that are easy-to-find. I also made the original paella without saffron, and included instructions for those who want to add it back in.

    If you're looking to up your paella game after trying this recipe, these fun Paella tips from Saveur can help.

    What type of rice to use

    Short grain white rice is the best rice to use for paella recipes. Traditional Spanish Paellas use Bomba rice. Arborio rice (used for risotto) and sushi rice make good substitutes. 

    I used Arborio rice in this simplified recipe.

    Do you pre-cook the rice?

    You do not pre-cook rice for paella. Paella is a one-pan dish. By adding uncooked rice and boiling it in the pan with the other ingredients, the rice is better able to absorb the flavors of the paella.

    Overhead view of a large pan of finished paella with a bowl of paella ready for serving.

    Tips before you start:

    It's actually easy!

    True story -- I procrastinated making this recipe for 3 days after buying the ingredients! Most 'easy' paella recipes online have so many ingredients and steps. This one is super-simplified -- after all, I made it in my camper van!

    Make it Vegan... and even easier.

    I used shrimp in this version, but you can add thawed frozen peas instead! Peas are an excellent addition to this dish if you make it with shrimp too.

    So many variations!

    Traditional paellas have lots of tasty variety! You can make it with chicken, sausage, peas, mussels, crayfish... just make sure to reconsider the cooking time since shrimp are pretty quick.

    Try it with saffron if you like.

    Some people might say it's not a 'true' paella recipe without saffron. While delicious, it's also expensive and can be hard to find.

    This recipe has turmeric as the more affordable replacement. If you would like to use saffron, soak 2-3 strands in 2 tablespoons of warm water while you prep. Then add the saffron soaked in water in place of turmeric in this recipe. These instructions are also included in the notes section of the recipe card.

    Let's make an Easy Paella Recipe

    This recipe is so easy, you can make it while camping too. All of the photos you'll see here are from my camper van kitchen. Check out my Van Life Kitchen Essentials post to see what I use while traveling.

    Ingredients

    The 10 main ingredients you need for Paella: shrimp (or peas for vegan), olive oil, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, tomato puree, arborio rice, vegetable broth, a lemon, and Italian flat-leaf parsley.

    Plus these spices: Paprika, Turmeric (or saffron), bay leaves, ground cumin, ground cayenne pepper.

    The 10 main ingredients and spices you need to make an easy paella recipe.
    The 10 main ingredients and spices you need to make this Easy Paella Recipe.

    Instructions

    Sear shrimp in a large frying pan on medium heat (1 minute per side). Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.

    Sautee onion and bell pepper in oil until soft (about 5 minutes). Then add garlic and sautee for ~2 minutes until golden brown and fragrant.

    • Overhead view of seared shrimp in a frying pan.
      Sear shrimp.
    • Overhead view of onion and bell pepper cooking in a frying pan.
      Saute veggies.

    Add tomato puree, rice, broth, parsley, and spices. Bring to a low boil for 15 minutes, stirring on occasion.

    Overhead view of all the easy paella recipe ingredients except shrimp (or peas for vegan) cooking in a frying pan.
    Add all remaining ingredients except lemon.

    Bury shrimp in the mixture when the rice is mostly cooked. Cook for 5 minutes more, stirring as needed. For a vegan paella, replace shrimp with green peas: add pre-cooked or thawed frozen peas at this point.

    Turn off heat. If rice is still too firm, cover with a lid and towel (still no heat) until liquid is absorbed and rice is al dente.

    • Overhead view of unfinished dish cooking at a low boil.
      Cook at a low boil.
    • An overhead close-up view of an Easy Paella recipe with bright vegetables, shrimp, and parsley to garnish.
      Serve when rice is al dente.

    Add lemon juice, or serve with lemon wedges. Chopped fresh parsley also makes an excellent garnish.

    Side view of the paella served in a bowl, garnished with parsley and a lemon wedge!

    What to pair with a Healthy Paella

    Paella is often served as a stand-alone main dish because it includes so many healthy food groups in one pan. We often serve it with our Foolproof Gluten Free French Baguettes.

    Other healthy One Pot recipes:

    • Herby Vegan Alfredo Pasta
    • Flashy Vegan Vodka Pasta from your pantry
    • Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Pasta (vegan)
    • Easy Roasted Chicken Fajita Bowl
    • Best Easy Tuscan Chicken Salad
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Side view of a tasty easy paella with shrimp, lemon wedge, and parsley to garnish.

    Super Easy Paella Recipe


    ★★★★★

    5 from 3 reviews

    • Author: Jamie -- Vibrantly g-Free
    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: 4-5 servings 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This Easy Paella Recipe makes a vibrant one-pan dish that's perfect for weeknight dinners and special occasions! It requires only a few easy-to-find ingredients -- the ease and flavor of this tasty paella will make this gluten and dairy-free recipe a favorite in your home!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 16 uncooked shrimp, tails off and deveined (see notes for vegan)*
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
    • 2 red bell peppers, sliced thinly and halved
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 cup tomato puree
    • 1 ½ cups uncooked arborio rice
    • 2 ¼ cups vegetable broth
    • 1 lemon, juiced (1 lemon provides about 2 tablespoons of juice)
    • ¼ cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

    Spices

    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric (or saffron -- see notes)**
    • 2 medium Bay leaves
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

    Instructions

    1. In a large frying pan on medium heat, sear the shrimp -- cook for about 2 minutes total, flipping mid-way. Remove shrimp from the pan and set aside.
    2. Add oil, onion, and bell pepper to the pan. Saute on medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.
    3. Lower the heat to medium and add garlic to the pan. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes or until garlic is fragrant and golden brown.
    4. Then add tomato puree, rice, broth, parsley, and spices. Bring to a low boil for 15 minutes or until rice is mostly cooked, stirring on occasion.
    5. Add shrimp and bury them in the paella. Cook for 5 minutes more, stirring as needed. For a vegan paella, replace shrimp with pre-cooked or thawed frozen green peas.
    6. Turn off the heat. If rice is still too firm, cover with a lid and towel (still no heat) until liquid is absorbed and rice is al dente.
    7. Add lemon juice or serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!

    Notes

    *Vegan/Green Peas: If adding green peas, add thawed or pre-cooked peas at the same time (or in place of) shrimp in this recipe. I recommend thawing frozen peas first to keep cooking times consistent.

    **Saffron: If using saffron, soak 2-3 strands in 2 tablespoons of warm water while you prep. Then add the saffron and water in place of turmeric in this recipe.

    Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    • Prep Time: 10
    • Cook Time: 30
    • Category: Dinner, Meal, Skillet
    • Method: Skillet
    • Cuisine: Spanish

    Keywords: easy shrimp paella, easy paella recipe without saffron, easy vegan paella, quick easy paella recipe, shrimp paella recipe, healthy paella recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vibrantlygfree on Instagram and hashtag it #vibrantlygfree

    Congratulations! Now you can have a paella party any time.

    xo, Jamie

    Pin229
    Share
    Pocket
    Tweet
    233 Shares
    « Why Grand Teton National Park should be on your Fall Bucketlist!
    Mango Coconut Chia Pudding »

    Subscribe

    for email updates!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Celiac Nana

      January 27, 2021 at 5:20 pm

      I make this ALL the time! Thank you, Jamie! I spiced it up with some Andouille sausage which kicks the spice up a little. This has become one of my family's favorites!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Laura

      March 11, 2021 at 10:34 am

      I made this the other day. I love that you can make it with or without saffron. My family really enjoyed it!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Jamie

        March 11, 2021 at 10:41 am

        thank you so much Laura 🙂 I'm glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Jen P.

      March 11, 2021 at 10:34 am

      This is my go to Paella recipe! Thank you so much for making one that's simple Jamie!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Jamie

        March 11, 2021 at 10:41 am

        Thank you Jen! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Joan Connor

      May 26, 2021 at 1:36 pm

      Any sub for tomatoes .

      Reply
      • Jamie

        May 29, 2021 at 7:15 pm

        Hi Joan! I haven't tried making this recipe without tomatoes before, but I think you could substitute extra vegetable broth and get a similar taste and texture. I'd start with about 1/2 cup in place of the tomato puree and add up to 1/4 cup more if the rice seems too dry.

        Pumpkin puree is also often a substitute for tomatoes, and you could try 1/2 cup pumpkin puree with 1/2 cup extra broth if you're feeling adventurous! I'd be curious to know how it works out 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey Friend!

    Eating gluten free food made on a camp stove in my sprinter camper van

    Hi, I'm Jamie! I share tasty and simple gluten-free recipes made in my camper van. I also write tips for van life and gluten-free living.

    More about me →

    Currently Trending

    • Impossibly Authentic Dairy Free Tiramisu
    • Foolproof Gluten-Free French Baguette
    • How to go Gluten Free - 10 BEST tips for Beginners
    • Printable Gluten Free Grocery List + 10 Tips!

    Seasonal Favorites

    • Showstopper Gluten-Free Apple Coffee Cake
    • Dairy Free Swedish Meatballs
    • Savory Pumpkin Stew
    • Healthy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins with almond flour

    Footer

    About your recipe developer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Former math and science teacher, now full-time blogger. I live in a converted sprinter van (#vanlife). Favorite things are hiking, traveling, and fresh berries. More about me →

    My Favorites

    Six gluten free strawberry muffins with chocolate chips and butter on the side.
    Side view of three squares of Christmas Rocky Road on a plate to show layers of chocolate, almonds, marshmallows, and pomegranate seeds.
    Side view of a skillet filled with vegan swedish meatballs in a buttery vegan gravy.

    Copyright © 2022 · Vibrantly g free