One-pan chicken and chorizo paella

Published April 2026 | 3 min read
Expert contributor: Gabrielle Zammit, HCF Health Coach and accredited practising dietitian
Words by Tegan Forder

This quick and satisfying chicken and chorizo paella recipe is an easy introduction to one-pan cooking – helping you get dinner on the table with less fuss.

There’s a lot to love about a meal that asks you to throw all the ingredients into one pan, leave it to cook and end up with a satisfying and healthy dinner the whole family will love.

Accredited practising dietitian and HCF Health Coach Gabrielle Zammit is a big fan of one-pan meals for their ease, convenience and family-friendly portions.

“They’re hands off once everything is in the pan, giving you time to relax, complete other tasks or even fit in some movement while dinner cooks,” she says.

Benefits of one-pan cooking

For Gabrielle, all-in-one recipes keep cooking simple – with fewer steps and dishes, and less time spent cleaning up.

“They can also often be made ahead of time, making them a convenient dinner option if your evenings are busy.”

One-pan meals can also be cost-effective and useful for making bulk portions. Use cheaper cuts of meat for curries and casseroles for long, slow cooking, then add extra vegetables and legumes to stretch it even further.

How to make one-pan meals healthier

“A healthy one-pan meal should include a balance of lean protein, high-fibre carbohydrates, colourful vegetables and a source of healthy fats,” Gabrielle advises.

Use her simple ratio as a guide for both what you cook and how you portion your plate:

• A quarter of lean protein, e.g. chicken breast, tofu, fish or trimmed red meat.
• A quarter of low-GI, high-fibre carbohydrates like sweet potato, barley or rice (Doongara and basmati rice have a low GI).
• Half fill with colourful vegetables (the more variety, the better).
• A dash of healthy fat, e.g. a drizzle of olive oil for flavour and heart health or a sprinkle of nuts and seeds.

“Avoid meats that are high in saturated fat like lamb shoulder, brisket or certain cuts of pork. Instead choose proteins like lean chicken, seafood, rump or blade steak, tofu and legumes,” Gabrielle advises.

“Many recipes fall short in the vegetable department, but you can always replace some of the protein or carbohydrate component with more vegetables.”

Aim for three to five different-coloured vegetables (like pumpkin, capsicum, red onion, broccoli and carrot) to boost the range of nutrients you’re getting and help get your five serves of vegetables a day.

Top tips for one-pan cooking

Choose the right ingredients

Chicken and vegies cook quickly and can be used in simple tray bakes. Add grains like cous cous, brown rice or whole-wheat pasta to soak up the sauce and flavours.

Gabrielle’s go-to is a honey mustard chicken and vegie bake with extra zucchini, capsicum and cauliflower for more fibre and volume.

Use the appropriate cooking method

• Tray bakes in the oven.
• Slow-cooker meals.
• Stovetop dishes using a frypan or Dutch oven.
• One-basket air-fryer meals.
  

Save time

Prepare ingredients ahead like chopping up vegies and storing them in the fridge, or use frozen vegies like broccoli florets, beans and peas. Add quick-cooking veg like spinach and peas towards the end so everything is ready at the same time.

Add flavour without the fat

Avoid using cream-based sauces and opt for tomato-based ones or use reduced-salt stocks instead. To build flavour without adding excess fat or salt, add a sprinkling of dried or fresh herbs or spices to taste.

For more healthy dinner ideas and nutritional support, eligible members can access the Healthy Families for Life program^*. Plus, get free access or save on the evidence-based CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet^{^}.

One-pan chicken and chorizo paella

For a quick and easy one-pan meal, try this hearty paella dish from Nabila El Mourid's The Weekly Grocery Shop.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 200g chorizo, crumbled or thinly sliced
• 500g chicken mince
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 red capsicum, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ¼ tsp ground turmeric
• ¼ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
• 300g (1½ cups) paella rice
• 1L (4 cups) chicken bone broth or chicken stock, warm
• 400g tinned diced tomatoes
• 150g frozen peas
• Chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, to serve
• Lemon wedges, to serve

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large paella pan or a wide, shallow frying pan over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook for 5 minutes, until the fat has rendered and the chorizo is crispy. Remove the chorizo with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving the oil in the pan.
2. Add the chicken mince to the pan and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside with the chorizo.
3. In the same pan, add the onion and capsicum. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric and chilli flakes (if using) and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. Stir in the paella rice, ensuring each grain is coated in the seasoned oil. Pour in the warm chicken stock and diced tomatoes, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
4. Return the cooked chicken and chorizo to the pan, distributing them evenly throughout the rice. Reduce the heat to low and let the paella simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rice is cooked and has absorbed most of the liquid.
5. Scatter the frozen peas over the top of the paella and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the peas are heated through.
6. Turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid and let it rest for 5 minutes.
7. To serve, top with parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Hints: For extra flavour, add a pinch of saffron threads to the warm chicken stock before adding it to the rice. If you prefer a crispier bottom layer, increase the heat slightly in the last few minutes of cooking. This dish pairs well with a simple green salad dressed in olive oil and lemon juice.

Get expert support for raising healthy eaters

Looking for more healthy meal ideas for your family? We’ve partnered with Ethos Health to bring our members^* Healthy Families for Life and Healthy Teens for Life, which are resources to support kids, from birth to teens, to develop positive nutritional habits for growth and development and reduce the risk of chronic conditions in their future.