The Chicken Paella Recipe of the Average Spanish Family

(Paella de Pollo)


By Edu Valor / Author - Spanish Chef

This chicken paella recipe is one of my favorites. I love the rich flavor of chicken paired with rice. It's one of the most affordable paellas, and probably the one made most often.

In our family, we usually had it either on a Wednesday or a Sunday. A Spanish family has this attachment to the international rice dish.

My mother sometimes added her own little twist by including shrimp and/or calamari—whichever she had in the freezer.

Sounds like a paella mixta, right? It was amazing! However, I think a true paella mixta should have a wider variety of proteins.

I’d make sure to include pork and maybe clams. A recipe like that would also ask for some acidity, making it a different dish.

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Edu's Paella Recipes
Spanish chicken paella on a plate with a glass of white wine.A family chicken paella.


Anyone can make chicken paella, and I love easy recipes that are also delicious. Whenever it was on the menu, we couldn’t wait for lunchtime!

Some of you might be worried about the type of rice to use. Don’t be! I made this at home with long-grain rice, and it’s still delicious.

Just keep an eye on the cooking time. Some round-grain rice can get mushy if cooked too long.

I’ve never been too concerned about using long-grain, non-sticky rice. It works, and everyone loves it!

Spanish chicken paella in a pan and white wine.The paella of the average Spanish family.

What You Will Need

  1. A paella pan for 4 servings*
  2. A paella burner*
  3. Spatula
  4. Meat knife
  5. Paring knife
  6. Cutting board
  7. Measuring beaker

*The paella pan with burner can be replaced with an electric paella pan for indoor (or outdoor) cooking. Never use a gas burner indoors unless it has a safety sensor!!

A Cheap and Easy Family Dish


Families often have to keep an eye on their budget each month. Affordable ingredients can really help, as daily meals make up a large part of our expenses.

Dishes like this Spanish chicken paella recipe are nutritious, tasty, and budget-friendly. It’s a win all around!

I’d describe my family as modest. We weren’t wealthy in the '70s and '80s (and we still aren’t), but we managed — partly thanks to stews, pasta, and rice dishes. A lot of them didn’t need much attention while cooking.

Low-cost ingredients were easy to find, even back then. They helped my parents stick to their monthly budget plan.


Edu's Authentic Spanish Paella Recipes