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    Instant Pot Paella Made In Just 30 Minutes

    Published: Oct 10, 2023 · Modified: Dec 27, 2024 · By: Brendan Cunningham

    Jump to Recipe

    This Instant Pot Paella is filled with shrimp, mussels, rice, and veggies and loaded with flavorful seasonings. And it's got to be the quickest and easiest paella you can make!

    A pan with seafood paella in it. Behind it is part of a wooden serving board with a white plate on top with a fork on it. Everything is on a gray counter.

    THE BEST QUICK & EASY PAELLA RECIPE

    If you've ever made paella before, then you know it's a recipe that typically takes hours to prepare. I mean, classic paella - made in a paella pan - can take 2-3 hours to marinate, prep, and cook before serving. 

    However, this Instant Pot recipe takes just a fraction of the time! The process is easy too. All you really have to do is add everything to the Instant Pot and then let it take care of the rest. 

    Plus, this recipe uses all fresh ingredients that create a flavor-filled dish like no other. Seriously, once you taste it, you'll want to make it on a weekly basis. Yeah, it's that good.

    So, if you like easy seafood recipes and you like things with flavor, you're going to love this recipe!  By the way, if you want some more instant pot recipes, you have to try this sushi rice and sausage and peppers next.

    A pan on top of a wire rack with seafood paella in it.

    INGREDIENTS 

    Ok, so as I just mentioned, this recipe uses all fresh, natural ingredients, making it a healthy and delicious dish. Now, don't be intimidated by the number of ingredients - most of them are spices and seasonings that you probably already have in your pantry! 

    Check out everything you'll need: 

    • 1 ½ Cups Short Grain Rice
    • 2 Cups Vegetable Stock or Broth
    • ¾ lb. Raw Shrimp or Prawns 
    • 1 ⅛ lb. Mussels, Cleaned
    • 1 Large Leek, Chopped
    • ½ Red and Green Pepper, Chopped 
    • 1 cup Diced Tomatoes
    • ¾ cup Peas
    • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 3 Cloves of Garlic
    • 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • ½ teaspoon Saffron
    • 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
    • Salt and Pepper

    And make sure to pick up some extra leeks - you can put them to good use and make this leek and feta quiche for breakfast next! 

    Instant pot paella ingredients.

    What else can you put in paella?

    For this recipe, we will be making a seafood paella with mussels and shrimp.  But there are many different things you can put in your paella if you don't like seafood.  Instead of the mussels and shrimp, you can use chicken, chorizo, or sausage! And you can also use different types of rice, such as Spanish rice, to add more flavor. Or you can even use long grain, white or brown rice. 

    An instant pot with shrimp and mussels in it.

    How To Make Instant Pot Paella

    A four way split picture showing the process of making veggies in an instant pot for paella.

    Step 1: Cook the veggies. First, make sure your peppers and leek are chopped.  Then, set the pressure cooker to the "saute" setting, pour in the olive oil, and add the chopped leeks and garlic. Let these ingredients simmer until they soften.  Next, add the chopped peppers, peas, tomatoes, garlic, paprika, saffron, turmeric, and salt and pepper.  Then let everything cook in the instant pot for a few minutes.

    A four way split picture showing the process oof cooking rice in an instant pot, then adding shrimp to it.

    Step 2: Cook the rice. Wash the rice - if necessary - and add it to the Instant Pot along with the vegetable broth. Then, set the Instant Pot to the rice setting or high pressure and cook for 3 minutes. When the time is up and the rice is done cooking, natural release for 10 minutes, then turn the knob to the venting position to release the remaining pressure.

    Step 3: Open the lid quickly and take the rice out, then add the seafood and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 10 minutes. When everything is finished cooking, transfer all of the paella elements to a serving dish - or a paella pan - and enjoy! 

    Part of a pan with seafood paella in it. A scoop from the part of the pan is on a white plate on a gray counter.

    How I Recommend Storing This Recipe

    This is so good that I rarely have any leftovers. If you end up with any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, I usually toss everything in a skillet and warm it over medium heat for a few minutes while stirring.

    A pan on a wire rack with seafood paella in it. Behind the pan is a white plate with some of the paella on it. To the left of the white plate is a small bowl of olives.

    More Seafood Recipes To Try

    • Fried Mahi-Mahi
    • Sweet and Sour Shrimp
    • General Tso Shrimp 
    • Firecracker Shrimp
    • Blackened Shrimp
    • Bang Bang Shrimp
    Print

    Instant Pot Paella

    Part of a pan with seafood paella in it.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 27 reviews

    This Instant Pot Paella is filled with shrimp, mussels, rice, and veggies and loaded with flavorful seasonings. And it's got to be the quickest and easiest paella you can make!

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Cuisine: Seafood

    Ingredients

    1 ½ Cups (300g) Short Grain Rice

    2 Cups Vegetable Stock or Broth

    ¾ lb. (350g) Raw Shrimps or Prawns

    1 ⅛ lb. (500g) Mussels, Cleaned

    1 Large Leek, Chopped

    ½ Red and Green Pepper, Chopped 

    1 cup (200g) Diced Tomatoes

    ¾ cup (100g) Peas

    2 tablespoon Olive Oil

    3 Cloves of Garlic

    1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika

    ½ teaspoon Saffron

    1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder

    Salt and Pepper

    Instructions

    1. Set Instant Pot to "brown" setting, pour in the olive oil, and add leeks and garlic. Simmer until softened.
    2. Add diced peppers, peas, tomatoes, spices, salt and pepper to the pot. Cook for a few minutes.
    3. Add vegetable broth and the washed rice Set the Instant Pot to the rice setting or high pressure and cook for 3 minutes.
    4. When the time is up, natural release for 10 minutes, then turn the knob to the venting position to release the remaining pressure.
    5. Open the lid and take the rice out, then add the shrimp and mussels and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 10 minutes.
    6. When it is cooked, transfer the rice to a serving dish and arrange the mussels and shrimp on top. Enjoy.

    Notes

    The scale up function does not change the gram measurements.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 435
    • Fat: 14
    • Carbohydrates: 51
    • Fiber: 2
    • Protein: 25

    Keywords: instant pot paella, instant pot paella recipe, seafood paella, seafood paella recipe, paella, paella recipe, paella instant pot, instant pot paella shrimp, instant pot seafood paella recipe, instant pot shrimp paella recipe, how to make instant pot paella, how to make paella in instant pot, seafood paella recipe authentic, seafood paella recipe instant pot, paella recipe easy, easy paella recipe, paella recipe best

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Aggie

      August 25, 2021 at 3:55 pm

      This was delicious! Easiest paella I have ever made too.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Steven

        March 09, 2024 at 8:55 pm

        This was one of the better paella recipes I've tried with my instapot. The only thing I do differently is that I had my Rockfish muscles and shrimp on top of the rice and cook all at once. By the time you naturally release the shellfish have fully cooked

        Reply
    2. Margaret

      October 11, 2021 at 9:02 pm

      Just incredible. Favorite paella I've ever had!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Margaret P

      October 12, 2021 at 3:35 pm

      Hands down the best paella that I have made. Very easy and delicious!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Gale

      October 14, 2021 at 6:48 pm

      The paella was so darn good. Never thought of making it in the instant pot but I came across this recipe and my family loved it!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Katrina F

      October 19, 2021 at 11:22 am

      Really love this seafood dish! I will make it again for dinner, everybody really enjoyed it.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Harlene

      October 22, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      Will be making this again it was top end paella.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Rhonda

      October 27, 2021 at 7:11 pm

      True southern paella, delicious in every way!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Ruth

      November 10, 2021 at 8:45 am

      The paella come out truly delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Serena

      November 17, 2021 at 8:46 am

      Fastest paella I have ever made. Tasted perfect too. I suggest making this.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Terry

      November 26, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      My favorite paella I have had (at a restaurant or homemade).

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Regan

      November 29, 2021 at 10:02 am

      My goodness this was delicious. All the flavors I'm looking for in paella!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Eliza

      December 01, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      I used cauliflower rice to keep this lower in carbs and it was delicious!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Devin

      December 04, 2021 at 5:45 pm

      My favorite seafood recipe that I have ever made at home. My family loved this.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    14. Jonathan

      December 16, 2021 at 9:49 am

      10/10 delicious

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Rita

      December 18, 2021 at 10:09 am

      Can’t wait to try this! One question though, if I wanted to add chicken to this, when do I add it? Do I add it to the broth with the rice or at the end with the shrimp?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Brendan Cunningham

        December 18, 2021 at 10:53 am

        Hi Rita! I would cook the chicken separate and then add it in at the end before serving.

        Reply
    16. Jennifer

      December 19, 2021 at 8:59 pm

      Ridiculous how good this was, will be making it again for sure!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    17. Lauren P.

      December 20, 2021 at 6:36 pm

      I added some sausage instead of the mussels and it was fantastic!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    18. Margaret L.

      December 30, 2021 at 8:56 am

      The very best homemade paella that I have had.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    19. Jess

      January 01, 2022 at 4:05 pm

      Super recipe!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    20. Charolett

      January 02, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      Loved!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    21. Larry

      January 05, 2022 at 12:12 pm

      I don't like mussels so I used the shrimp. The paella was very very good. Probably best I have had.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    22. John

      January 09, 2022 at 8:41 pm

      One of the better paellas that I have had in recent memory.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    23. Trent

      January 11, 2022 at 9:19 am

      It really is the best, thoroughly enjoyed this.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    24. Haley

      January 17, 2022 at 6:00 pm

      My favorite and I mean favorite paella that I have tried it was awesome

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    25. Betty

      January 18, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      Very and I'm talking very good paella.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    26. Rebecca

      January 21, 2022 at 10:53 pm

      Simply delicious recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    27. Nancy

      April 20, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      I am planning to make this next week for early Mother's Day get-together. There will be 11 adults & 3 children. If I double the ingredients, will the IP be able to accommodate?

      Reply
      • Brendan Cunningham

        April 21, 2022 at 7:43 am

        It depends on the size of your instant pot but it should be able to!

        Reply
    28. Jenn

      August 21, 2022 at 10:54 pm

      Could you turn on the saute feature at the end to crisp the bottom layer of the rice like traditional paella? This sounds delicious but I really want that crunchy part too!

      Reply
      • Brendan Cunningham

        August 22, 2022 at 4:46 pm

        Yes for sure!

        Reply
    29. Matthew

      October 18, 2022 at 1:08 am

      I was short on time so I threw the mussels and shrimp in with the rice and cooked for 10 minutes with a 15 minute natural release and it came out perfect.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    30. Robert M

      May 01, 2024 at 11:23 pm

      Turned out great. I scaled up to 2 cups of Arborio rice, omitted the peas because my wife doesn’t like and upscaled the green peppers. I steamed the mussels in a pot and seared the shrimp (lightly seasoned) in a pan because I was worried about overcooking in the instant pot. I also air-fried some chicken drumsticks and used chicken broth instead of veg broth. I added a garnish of chopped parsley. So much easier than traditional paella in a pan!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    31. Denise Pierce

      January 15, 2025 at 11:15 am

      I am looking forward to trying this recipe. Just one question, can I substitute the broth with clam juice?

      Reply
      • Brendan Cunningham

        January 17, 2025 at 7:27 pm

        Yes that will work great!

        Reply

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