Cheap and Easy Gluten Free Paella

If you love paella but hate how expensive it can be to make, you will love this easy poor man's gluten free paella. Full of scallops, shrimp, and calamari, your friends will never know you skimped on cost.

Paella is one of those comfort foods I will always order in a restaurant. It is naturally gluten free, and it is filled with delicious seafood and rice. I was always intimidated to try to make it. Maybe it was the fancy-sounding ingredients?

Unfortunately, paella can also be a very expensive meal to create. Shrimp, mussels, and other specialty meats and seafood prices add up really fast.

I am really excited to share this recipe with you because it is easy to make, and the cost is so low! It is a great poor-man paella and is great for those on a budget!

If you are on a budget, I have tons of easy tips to save money on gluten free. Living gluten free on a budget is easy!

What is Paella?

Paella is a Spanish dish that originated in the 19th century on the Eastern coast of Spain. I want to share the three rules for making paella. (My recipe breaks at least one rule, so I am a bit of a rebel!

1. Cook paella over a fire.
2. Use a paella pan (oops!)
3. Use medium-grain rice.

Why this gluten free paella recipe is great:

I have always thought that paella is a showstopper meal that is perfect for entertaining. It not only has a beautiful golden color from being cooked with saffron threads but having lots of seafood and meats slowly cooking in the rice adds a beautiful depth of flavor that bursts through with every bite.

Ingredient notes:

• Seafood - As I mentioned, you can use Trader Joe's inexpensive seafood blend. You want to make sure you have shrimp, calamari, scallops, and any other types you like.
• Chicken - I made this optional. Many paellas have chicken cooked in them.
• Saffron - Saffron can be expensive, but luckily you only need a tiny pinch to get the flavor. If you don't have saffron, you can substitute turmeric.
• Chicken broth - I like to use low sodium.
• Rice - White or brown is good.

Recipe step-by-step directions:

Step 1: Add the onions and oil to a pan and cook for 2 minutes until the onions soften.

Step 2: Add the broth, peppers, and seasonings.

Step 3: Add the thawed seafood and canned diced tomatoes. If you want to get fancy, toss in some mussels or clams. These are inexpensive and can add some pizzaz to this gluten free paella.

Add the raw chicken if you are adding it now so it has time to cook in the broth.

Step 4: Add the rice and continue to cook the paella on medium heat until it boils. Once it comes to a boil, turn the cooking temperature to low. Stir frequently.

Add the optional thawed frozen peas and cooked chicken sausage if you are adding those in.

Step 5: the liquid will continue to cook down. When it is gone, and your rice is tender, the paella is ready to serve!

If you are looking for even more budget recipes, here are 17 delicious gluten free budget recipes!

Tips and Recipe FAQ:

If you love this paella, wait until you try this Spanish Mussels recipe!

More easy gluten free budget recipes:

• Kid-Approved Skillet Drumsticks
• Ground Chicken Burgers
• Hearty Taco Soup
• Baked Ziti Casserole

📖 Recipe

Easy Gluten Free Paella

Sandi Gaertner

This makes a delicious inexpensive gluten free paella recipe in about 30 minutes!

5 from 18 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Meal Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Calories 288 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 medium onion chopped
• ▢ 1 red or green pepper chopped
• ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
• ▢ 1 ½ cups brown rice * see note
• ▢ 1 ½ cups water
• ▢ 14 ounces diced tomatoes no salt added
• ▢ 1 package of frozen seafood defrosted (I use Trader Joe's calamari, shrimp, and scallop blend.)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 2 pinches saffron threads

Optional Ingredients:

• ▢ 3 links of Italian chicken sausage chopped (you can also add chicken if you would like)
• ▢ ⅓ cup frozen peas *thawed

Instructions

 

• In a big pot on medium heat, add oil, onion, and garlic.
• Cook for 4-5 minutes.
• Add rice, diced tomatoes, seafood, optional ingredients, and water to the pot.
• Add salt, pepper, and saffron to the pot. Bring to a boil.
• Cover the pot and turn down the heat to low.
• Simmer until the water has all been absorbed.
• Add more salt if needed.

Notes

1. I used Trader Joe's frozen seafood mix because it is inexpensive and comes with a lot of seafood in the bag. Be sure to thaw it and drain the extra water out of the bag before adding it to the rice mixture.
2. If you want, add mussels or clams to the paella. They are inexpensive if you buy a few and they make the presentation look really nice if you are entertaining.
3. You can use white or brown rice. The white rice will need a little less liquid.
4. This paella will keep for up to 3 days in an air-tight container

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 11gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 838mgPotassium: 342mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 365IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg

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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.