Best 8 Spanish Paella For A Crowd Recipes

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When hosting a large gathering, finding a crowd-pleasing dish that is easy to make yet bursting with flavor can be challenging. Spanish paella is a vibrant and delectable solution to this dilemma. This popular Spanish dish, originating from the region of Valencia, is a symphony of flavors and colors. With its aromatic combination of rice, seafood, meat, and vegetables, paella is a culinary delight that can effortlessly feed a crowd. Join us as we unlock the secrets of creating the perfect Spanish paella for your next gathering.

Let's cook with our recipes!

PAELLA FOR A CROWD



Paella For a Crowd image

Perfect for a large dinner party, this paella serves 12, but the recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd. It's a spectacular entree packed with calamari, clams, mussels, shrimp, chicken, and pork.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken     Chicken Thighs

Number Of Ingredients 22

12 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 5 pounds)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons paprika
4 large tomatoes
1 large red bell pepper, cut into quarters, stemmed, seeded, and ribs removed
1 large green bell pepper, cut into quarters, stemmed, seeded, and ribs removed
2 teaspoons saffron
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
4 cups homemade or store-bought chicken stock, warmed
1/3 cup cognac
1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large white onion, chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
1 1/4 pounds calamari, cleaned and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch rings
12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 1/2 pounds short-grain white rice
16 littleneck clams, scrubbed
18 mussels, scrubbed
2 cups fresh or frozen peas
1/2 pound blanched haricot vert, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, for serving
Lemon wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Place chicken in a large bowl and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with paprika; turn chicken to coat. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil; meanwhile prepare an ice-water bath. With a paring knife, core tomatoes and score an X on the bottoms. Working in batches, carefully lower them into boiling water; when skins begin to split, after 30 to 60 seconds, use a slotted spoon to transfer tomatoes to ice-water bath.
  • When tomatoes are cool, remove skins (using a paring knife, if necessary) and discard. Halve tomatoes. Remove seeds with a spoon, and discard. Finely chop tomatoes.
  • Cut peppers crosswise and into 1/4-inch strips; set aside. Using a mortar and pestle, grind together saffron and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Add saffron mixture to a medium bowl and add 1 cup chicken stock and cognac. Whisk until well combined, set aside.
  • Heat an 18-inch paella pan with at least 2-inch sides over two burners set at medium-high heat. Coat the bottom of the pan with remaining tablespoon olive oil. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper and add to pan. Cook, turning, until golden brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Season pork and add to pan. Cook, turning, until browned, about 6 minutes more.
  • Add peppers, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Cook, stirring, about 8 minutes. Add calamari and shrimp and cook, stirring, about 2 minutes more.
  • Add rice to pan and stir to coat. Add reserved saffron mixture and let cook about 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups more stock and bring to a boil. Cook, rotating pan and stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. If rice appears dry around edges add more stock as necessary. Nestle clams, mussels, and peas into rice and add 1 cup stock. Cook, stirring occasionally, adding more stock as necessary (you may not need to use all the stock), until rice is tender, shellfish has opened, and nearly all the liquid has evaporated from the pan, about 20 minutes.
  • Turn heat to high. Add haricot vert, and stir to combine. Cook, without stirring, until vegetables are warmed through, and remaining liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

SPANISH-STYLE PAELLA



Spanish-Style Paella image

If you enjoy cooking ethnic foods, this Spanish paella recipe will be a favorite. It's brimming with generous chunks of sausage, shrimp and veggies.-Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 pound Spanish chorizo links, sliced
1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup uncooked short grain rice
1 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
10 strands saffron, crushed or 1/8 teaspoon ground saffron
1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup sweet red pepper strips
1/2 cup green pepper strips
1/2 cup frozen peas
Optional: Minced fresh parsley and lemon wedges

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage and chicken in oil for 5 minutes or until sausage is lightly browned and chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain if necessary. , Stir in rice and onion. Cook until onion is tender and rice is lightly browned, stirring frequently. Add the broth, tomatoes, paprika, cayenne, salt and saffron. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 10 minutes. , Stir in the shrimp, peppers and peas. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer or until rice is tender, shrimp turn pink and liquid is absorbed. Top with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 237 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 62mg cholesterol, Sodium 543mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 16g protein.

THE ULTIMATE PAELLA



The Ultimate Paella image

For a taste of seaside Spain, serve Tyler Florence's The Ultimate Paella recipe, an authentic rice dish studded with chicken, chorizo, clams, shrimp and lobster.

Provided by Tyler Florence

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

Chicken:
1 tablespoon sweet or smoked paprika
2 teaspoons oregano
1 (3 pound) frying chicken, cut into 10 pieces
Paella:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Spanish chorizo sausages, thickly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 Spanish onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
Bunch flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped, reserve some for garnish
1 (15-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained and hand-crushed
4 cups short grain Spanish rice
6 cups water, warm
Generous pinch saffron threads
1 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed
1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and de-veined
2 lobster tails
1/2 cup sweet peas, frozen and thawed
Lemon wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Combine the paprika and oregano in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix all over the chicken and marinate chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
  • Heat oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Saute the chorizo until browned, remove and reserve. Add chicken skin-side down and brown on all sides, turning with tongs. Add salt and freshly ground pepper. Remove from pan and reserve.
  • In the same pan, make a sofrito by sauteing the onions, garlic, and parsley. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes on a medium heat. Then, add tomatoes and cook until the mixture caramelizes a bit and the flavors meld. Fold in the rice and stir-fry to coat the grains. Pour in water and simmer for 10 minutes, gently moving the pan around so the rice cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid. Add chicken, chorizo, and saffron. Add the clams and shrimp, tucking them into the rice. The shrimp will take about 8 minutes to cook. Give the paella a good shake and let it simmer, without stirring, until the rice is al dente, for about 15 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, when the rice is filling the pan, add the lobster tails. When the paella is cooked and the rice looks fluffy and moist, turn the heat up for 40 seconds until you can smell the rice toast at the bottom, then it's perfect.
  • Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with peas, parsley and lemon wedges.

OUR FAVORITE SPANISH PAELLA RECIPE



Our Favorite Spanish Paella Recipe image

Use Our Favorite Spanish Paella Recipe for your next entrée. This Spanish paella Recipe is a favorite for two reasons: It's easy and straight-up delicious!

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Shellfish

Time 1h15m

Yield 12 servings, 1 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 14

1-1/2 cups fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/8 tsp. saffron threads
1/2 lb. chorizo Ibérico, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
3 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onions
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
3/4 lb. uncooked medium shrimp, peeled with tails left on, deveined
1 lb. tilapia fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 lb. mussels, cleaned, scrubbed with beards removed
1/4 cup frozen peas, thawed

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 325ºF.
  • Bring broth and saffron just to simmer in small saucepan on medium heat.
  • Meanwhile, cook and stir chorizo and bacon in large ovenproof skillet on medium heat 4 to 5 min. or until done. Remove meat from skillet with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
  • Add tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and dressing to drippings in skillet; cook and stir 5 min. Stir in broth mixture; bring to simmer. Add rice, shrimp, tilapia and meat; stir. Top with mussels, nestling them in rice mixture; cover.
  • Bake 25 to 30 min. or until liquid is absorbed and mussels open up. Discard any unopened mussels shells. Top paella with peas.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 310, Fat 14 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 105 mg, Sodium 740 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 27 g

EASY PAELLA



Easy Paella image

An easy to make paella using chorizo, chicken, and shrimp.

Provided by mls

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Spanish

Time 1h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
salt and black pepper to taste
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
1 pinch saffron threads
1 bay leaf
½ bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 quart chicken stock
2 lemons, zested
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed and crumbled
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.
  • Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 736.2 calories, Carbohydrate 45.7 g, Cholesterol 202.5 mg, Fat 35.1 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 55.7 g, SaturatedFat 10.3 g, Sodium 1204.2 mg, Sugar 1.9 g

SPANISH PAELLA (WITH CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD)



Spanish Paella (with Chicken and Seafood) image

A wonderful Spanish Paella that's very easy to make and the presentation is great as well. You'll need a very large skillet or a paella pan. The clams are optional, but I would recommend using them.

Provided by Just Call Me Martha

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 57m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

1/4 cup olive oil
3 chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 large Spanish onion, chopped
1 green pepper, diced into ½ inch pieces
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons spanish paprika
1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 lb shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 cups arborio rice
1 cup finely chopped tomatoes
5 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon saffron thread
1 cup lima beans
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, cut into strips
1/4 cup chopped parsley
12 clams in shell (optional)
lemon wedge
green onion

Steps:

  • Heat 3 tbsp oil in large skillet on medium high heat.
  • Add chicken pieces and fry 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden.
  • Remove from skillet and season with salt and pepper.
  • Add onions and peppers to skillet.
  • Sauté 2 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic, paprika and thyme.
  • Sauté 1 minute and add shrimp.
  • Sauté until shrimp turn pink.
  • Add 1 Tbsp oil if needed.
  • Sprinkle rice into pan.
  • Sauté, stirring frequently 2 to 3 minutes or until coated with oil.
  • Stir in tomatoes.
  • Season well.
  • Combine stock and saffron and stir into rice mixture.
  • Bring to boil.
  • Boil for about 2 minutes, reduce heat to medium.
  • Return chicken and push down into rice.
  • Cook uncovered for 15 minutes.
  • Stock should be bubbling.
  • Stir rice around and add shrimp, lima beans, red peppers and clams.
  • Cook for 10 minutes longer.
  • Remove from heat and cover for 10 minutes.
  • To serve, sprinkle with parsley and garnish with lemon wedges and green onions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 607.5, Fat 18.4, SaturatedFat 3.9, Cholesterol 193.6, Sodium 1314.3, Carbohydrate 65.5, Fiber 5, Sugar 3, Protein 42

SPANISH PAELLA FOR A CROWD



Spanish Paella For A Crowd image

Make and share this Spanish Paella For A Crowd recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Deantini

Categories     Poultry

Time 1h10m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup lemon juice, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup water
1 teaspoon saffron
6 cups chicken broth
8 jumbo shrimp
2 chorizo sausages
4 ounces prosciutto
1 lb chicken breast (chicken thighs or both)
2 cups onions, chopped
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup tomatoes, chopped, fresh (or canned)
1 teaspoon paprika
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups arborio rice
1 cup peas, frozen
8 mussels, fresh

Steps:

  • Combine parsley; 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil and garlid to make herb blend. Set aside.
  • Prepare broth - mix together water saffron and chicken broth in saucepan.
  • Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in large skillet over medium heat.
  • Saute chicken and remove.
  • Saute sausage and prosciutto and remove.
  • Saute shrimp and remove.
  • Reduce heat to medium low.
  • Add onions and peppers and saute for 10 min or until soft.
  • Add tomatoes, paprika and garlic and cook for 5 min.
  • Add rice, cook for 1 min.
  • Add meat (not seafood), rice, herb blend, and broth.
  • Simmer on low for 10 minutes
  • Add mussels - cook 5 min.
  • Add shrimp and peas- cook 5 min.
  • Sprinkel 1/4 cup lemon juice on top.
  • Remove pan from heat, cover with a towel (or similar) and let sit for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 572.2, Fat 15.9, SaturatedFat 4.6, Cholesterol 89.3, Sodium 996, Carbohydrate 72.4, Fiber 5, Sugar 5.3, Protein 32.1

BIRTHDAY PARTY PAELLA



Birthday Party Paella image

Categories     Chicken     Garlic     Rice     Bake     Sauté     Sausage     Shrimp     Birthday     Bon Appétit

Yield Serves 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 tablespoons olive oil
6 fresh Cajun or hot Italian sausages (about 1 3/4 pounds)
12 chicken thighs with skin and bones (about 4 1/4 pounds), excess fat trimmed
2 very large onions, chopped (about 5 cups)
10 garlic cloves, chopped, plus 1 garlic clove, minced
12 ounces tomatoes, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 bay leaves
4 medium zucchini, halved crosswise, then quartered lengthwise (about 1 1/4 pounds)
3 red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch-wide strips
1 1/2 pounds uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
Generous pinch plus 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
2 1/2 cups arborio rice or medium-grain white rice (about 17 1/2 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
2 teaspoons paprika
Chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large shallow pot over medium-high heat. Add sausages and sauté until cooked through, turning often, about 10 minutes. Transfer to large bowl. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add chicken, skin side down, to pot. Cover and cook until brown, about 6 minutes. Turn chicken over, cover and cook until brown and cooked through, about 8 minutes longer. Transfer chicken to bowl with sausages. Add onions and 10 chopped garlic cloves to pot; sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves; stir 2 minutes. Stir in zucchini and bell peppers. Transfer to another large bowl.
  • Toss shrimp with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, 1 minced garlic clove and generous pinch of saffron in medium bowl. (Chicken-sausage mixture, vegetable mixture and shrimp mixture can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.)
  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush one 18 x 12 x 2 1/4-inch roasting pan with olive oil. Mix rice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt into vegetable mixture. Spread rice mixture evenly in prepared pan. Cut sausages diagonally into 1-inch slices. Using wooden spoon, push sausage and chicken pieces into rice mixture; pour any juices from bowl over. Bring 5 cups chicken broth, paprika and remaining 1/4 teaspoon saffron to boil in medium saucepan. Pour evenly over rice mixture. Cover roasting pan tightly with foil. Bake until rice is almost tender, about 40 minutes.
  • Sprinkle shrimp mixture with salt and pepper. Arrange atop rice mixture. Cover pan with foil; bake until shrimp are opaque in center, rice is tender and most of liquid in pan is absorbed, about 20 minutes longer. Sprinkle with parsley. Spoon paella onto plates and serve.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the paella will be. Use fresh seafood, vegetables, and rice.
  • Sauté the rice until it is translucent. This will help the rice absorb the flavors of the other ingredients.
  • Use a good quality paella pan. A paella pan is a shallow, wide pan that allows the rice to cook evenly.
  • Cook the paella over medium heat. This will help the rice cook evenly and prevent it from burning.
  • Add the liquid gradually. Do not add all of the liquid at once, or the rice will become mushy. Add it in small increments, and stir the paella frequently.
  • Let the paella rest before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together.

Conclusion:

Paella is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a perfect meal for a party or a special occasion. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily make a delicious paella that will impress your guests.

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