Paella Valenciana (Valencian Paella with Chicken, Rabbit and Green Beans)

Paella Valenciana is the original style of Spanish paella: a wide, shallow rice dish where the grains absorb a savoury broth rather than being stirred like a risotto. In this version, bone-in chicken, rabbit and green beans give the stock depth, while tomato, garlic, sweet paprika and saffron provide the recognisable colour and aroma. Bomba rice is cooked in a thin, even layer so it stays distinct and can form a gently toasted base, known as socarrat. Lemon wedges at the table add freshness without overwhelming the rich, savoury rice.
Cuisine style Valencian Spanish rice cooking
Cooking style One-pot cooking • Crowd-friendly
Time commitment Under 2 hours

Why this recipe works

  • Classic paella method: Cooking the rice in a wide pan without stirring helps the grains stay distinct and encourages the prized toasted base.
  • Flavour built in stages: Browning the chicken and rabbit first, then cooking down tomato, garlic, paprika and saffron, gives the broth enough depth for the rice to absorb.
  • Lightly toasted base: A final brief increase in heat encourages a gentle crackle underneath, creating the nutty socarrat that defines a well-made paella.

Get the most out of this recipe

Authenticity notes

  • Valencian style: Traditional Paella Valenciana is centred on rice, chicken, rabbit, green beans, saffron and paprika rather than seafood.
  • Served from the pan: Paella is commonly brought to the table in its pan, allowing diners to take rice, meat and vegetables from the same shallow layer.

Ingredient notes

  • Use bomba rice if possible: Bomba rice is especially suited to paella because it absorbs broth well while keeping a firm, separate texture.
  • Paprika needs care: Sweet paprika should be stirred in briefly so it blooms in the oil and tomato base without catching and turning bitter.
  • Saffron sets the aroma: A small amount of good saffron gives the rice its distinctive golden colour and subtle floral savouriness.

Timing notes

  • Let the rice settle: Resting the paella after cooking allows the rice to finish absorbing moisture and makes the texture more even.
  • Best served promptly: Paella is at its best soon after resting, while the rice is tender and the toasted base still has definition.

Common mistakes

  • Stirring after the rice goes in: Once the rice is spread in the pan, leave it undisturbed; stirring releases starch and prevents the base from toasting properly.
  • Using uneven heat: Rotate the pan occasionally so the rice cooks evenly, especially if the burner is smaller than the paella pan.
  • Pushing the final crust too far: Listen for a gentle crackle and smell for nuttiness; a harsh burnt aroma means the base has gone beyond socarrat.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
Print
  1. Set a paella pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Season the chicken thighs and rabbit legs all over with 1 tsp of the fine sea salt. Brown the meats well, turning as needed, until deeply golden in places.
  2. Trim the green beans and cut them into short lengths. Add the green beans to the pan and cook, stirring, until they start to blister and take on a little colour. Push everything to the edges of the pan to clear a space in the centre.
  3. Finely grate the garlic and grate the tomatoes on the coarse side of a grater, discarding the skins. Add the garlic and tomato to the centre of the pan and cook, stirring, until the mixture darkens slightly and looks jammy. Stir in the sweet paprika for 10 seconds so it blooms but does not burn.
  4. Add the water and remaining 1 tsp fine sea salt, then bring to a lively simmer. Crush the saffron threads between your fingers, stir them in, and simmer to meld the flavours. Taste the broth; it should be well seasoned because the rice will absorb it.
  5. Stir in the bomba rice and spread it out evenly so the grains are in a single layer. Arrange the meat and green beans evenly across the pan. From this point, do not stir; keep the paella at a steady simmer, rotating the pan occasionally for even cooking.
  6. Simmer for 10 minutes, then reduce to medium-low and continue cooking until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. If the pan looks dry before the rice is nearly done, add a small splash of water around the edges. The rice is ready when the grains are plump with a slight bite in the centre.
  7. Increase the heat to medium-high for 1 to 2 minutes to encourage a lightly toasted base, listening for a gentle crackle and smelling a nutty aroma. Remove from the heat and rest the paella for 8 to 10 minutes so the rice settles. Cut the lemon into wedges and serve for squeezing at the table.

Made this recipe? Rate it — a comment is optional.

Recipe notes

Tips

  • Use a wide paella pan so the rice cooks in a thin layer; if the layer is too deep, the texture will be uneven.
  • Once the rice goes in, avoid stirring so the grains cook evenly and the base can toast lightly.
  • If serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, ensure the chicken and rabbit are cooked until piping hot throughout with no pink at the bone.

Substitutions

  • Replace Chicken thighs with Chicken drumsticks for a similar rich flavour and cooking time.
  • Replace Sweet paprika with Smoked paprika for a more pronounced smoky note.
  • Replace Tomato with Canned chopped tomatoes for convenience; cook it down until jammy before adding the water.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Cool quickly, then refrigerate. Reheat in a wide frying pan with a splash of water over medium heat, covered, until piping hot; avoid microwaving if you want to preserve the toasted base.

Ratings & reviews

Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.

Tried this recipe?

Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.

If you leave a comment, use 10–500 characters.

Stay inspired

Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.

Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 1h 45min (35min active)
  • Difficulty: Advanced
  • Cuisine: Spanish
One pot

Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.

Add to meal planner

Equipment you'll need

Advertisement

Recommended tools for this recipe

Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

Versatile induction-ready pan
  • Works on all stovetops
  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance

Got ingredients left?

Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.

Find recipes with these ingredients →

Make this recipe easier next time

Advertisement

These tools help you get better results with less effort.

Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

Versatile induction-ready pan
  • Works on all stovetops
  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance
Best value

T-fal Specialty Nonstick Handy Pot with Glass Lid 3 Quart

Affordable nonstick saucepan
  • Easy food release
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Not induction compatible
Top quality

All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Fry Pan 12 Inch

Premium nonstick performance
  • Top-tier build quality
  • Excellent heat distribution
  • Expensive
Best overall

WMF Mini Saucepan 16 cm with Lid

Compact stainless steel saucepan
  • High-quality stainless steel
  • Even heat distribution
  • Higher price point

Browse alphabetically

Looking for a specific recipe? Choose a letter below to jump directly to recipes starting with that letter or number.

Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?

Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.

Add JustRecipes to Google

Every recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.