Pan Capacity

How Many People Does a Paella Pan Feed?

Choosing the right paella pan size is one of the easiest ways to make sure your meal turns out well. A paella pan is wide and shallow, which helps the rice cook evenly and develop the flavorful bottom layer known as socarrat. Because paella should be spread in a thin layer, pan capacity is usually based on the pan’s diameter, not its depth.

As a general rule, a smaller pan serves fewer people more reliably than an overfilled large one. If you pile in too much rice, the texture can become uneven or mushy. For best results, match the pan size to your guest count and remember that portions depend on whether paella is the main dish or part of a larger meal.

• 10-inch pan: feeds about 1 to 2 people
• 12-inch pan: feeds about 2 to 3 people
• 14-inch pan: feeds about 3 to 4 people
• 16-inch pan: feeds about 4 to 6 people
• 18-inch pan: feeds about 6 to 8 people
• 20-inch pan: feeds about 8 to 10 people
• 24-inch pan: feeds about 12 to 16 people

If you are serving appetizers, salad, or dessert, you may be able to stretch the pan to the higher end of the range. For hearty eaters or a paella-only dinner, plan on the lower end. When in doubt, it is better to cook two properly filled pans than one overcrowded pan.

Read more here: Pan Capacity