Spanish seafood rice Recipe (Ready in 45 Min)

This Spanish seafood builds paella rice, saffron and frozen seafood mix into a proper meal you can have ready in about 45 minutes. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 3 steps.

You'll mainly reach for saucepan and pan. At easy difficulty across 3 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, the ingredients are plant-based.

How to make it

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and soften the onion for 6-7 mins. Add the pepper and garlic, cook for 2 mins more, then stir in the paella rice and cook for 1 min, stirring to coat.
Pour in the stock, add the saffron and bring to the boil. Cook, uncovered, at a gentle bubble, for 20 mins, stirring occasionally until the rice is tender.
Stir in the seafood and lemon juice and cook for 2 mins or until piping hot and completely cooked through. Serve in warm bowls scattered with the parsley.

You'll use: Saucepan · Pan

Tips & common questions

How long does Spanish seafood rice take to make?

About 45 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 3 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

What can I use instead of lemon?

Try lime. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

Is Spanish seafood rice vegan?

Based on its ingredients, this recipe contains no meat, fish, dairy or egg, so it looks vegan-friendly. Always double-check labels on packaged items.