Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella
Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella brings together saffron-infused broth, tender shrimp, and smoky chorizo for a richly seasoned rice dish with bright pops of sweet bell pepper and peas. Each bite balances briny seafood notes with warmth from paprika and a hint of cayenne. It’s an inviting centerpiece for casual dinners or relaxed weekend gatherings when you want bold Spanish flavors without fuss.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook55 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 89 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 9
- Heart Health
- 64
- Metabolic
- 23
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 44
- Performance
- 44
- General Wellness
- 1
Cook and stir the reserved shrimp shells with 2 teaspoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until the shells turn pink and smell fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir the saffron into the shells; add the chicken broth, bring it to a simmer, and cook until the broth is rusty brown and aromatic, about 20 minutes.
- 2
Strain the saffron broth through a fine-mesh sieve; measure out 2 cups of the broth, pour it into a small saucepan, and keep it over low heat to stay hot.
- 3
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- 4
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Cook the chorizo slices in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Add the onion to the sausage; cook and stir until soft and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- 5
Stir the garlic into the chorizo mixture; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the rice to the skillet and stir to coat the rice completely in oil; stir in the peas.
- 6
Pat the rice mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer on top of the rice. Lay the pepper strips around and between the shrimp; season with salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- 7
Increase the heat to high. When the rice starts to sizzle in the skillet, pour the reserved 2 cups of hot saffron broth over the shrimp; gently shake the skillet to distribute the liquid.
- 8
Bake the rice mixture in the preheated oven until the rice is almost tender and still slightly wet, about 20 minutes.
- 9
Set the skillet over medium-high and cook until the rice is tender, the liquid is absorbed, and the rice caramelizes and forms a light crust on the bottom of the skillet, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Calories 454.38 kcal High 23%
- Protein 25.91 g Good Source 52%
- Carbohydrate 43.32 g 16%
- Total Fat 19.32 g High 25%
- Saturated Fat 8.71 g High 44%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 155.57 mg High 52%
- Sodium 748.47 mg High 33%
- Dietary Fiber 2.61 g Low Source 9%
- Total Sugars 1.69 g --
- Added Sugars 0.03 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 73.46 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 4.91 mg Good Source 27%
- Potassium 201.74 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 223.88 mcg Good Source 25%
- Vitamin C 36.33 mg Good Source 40%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Shellfish 🦐
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella is made with 13 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Arborio Rice, Beef Chorizo, Cayenne Pepper, and Chicken Broth. Each serving provides about 454.38 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella made of?
- The main ingredients are Arborio Rice, Beef Chorizo, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Broth, Green Peas. The full list of 13 is above.
- How long does it take to make Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 55 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 454.38 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella healthy?
- Weeknight Shrimp & Chorizo Paella has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 454.38 calories and 25.91 g of protein, or 52% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 748.47 mg (33% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 8.71 g (44% of the Daily Value). It contains Shellfish, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required