Chicken and Pepper Paella Bites

Serves Serves 4–6 children as a snack or light meal
Difficulty Medium
Prep 20 min
Cook 25 min

Paella-style rice with chicken and peppers baked into bite-sized portions – fun finger food for kids.

Chicken and Pepper Paella Bites borrow the flavours of a classic paella but present them in child-friendly, portable portions.

They’re particularly good for using up leftover cooked rice and chicken, and they freeze well, making them a handy snack or easy lunch option.

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C and grease a muffin tin or silicone moulds.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, chopped chicken, diced pepper, peas, cheese, paprika and turmeric.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with a little salt and pepper, then pour over the rice mixture.
  4. Stir until everything is evenly coated and starting to stick together.
  5. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups, pressing down lightly so each bite holds its shape.
  6. Bake for 18–22 minutes until set and lightly golden at the edges.
  7. Cool in the tin for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely before storing.

LftOvrs app tip

Use the LftOvrs app to log these when you have leftover rice or chicken so you remember to make them instead of letting cooked rice go to waste.

Set a reminder about the safe storage time for cooked rice so you always freeze or use it within a day.

Why choose organic for this recipe?

Rice, chicken and peppers are the key ingredients to prioritise organic here. Some rice-growing systems use pesticides and large amounts of synthetic fertilisers, so choosing organic rice can help reduce residues and support lower-input farming.

Organic chicken avoids routine antibiotic use and supports higher welfare standards, while organic peppers are grown without synthetic pesticides that can accumulate on the skin. For children who love rice-based dishes, these small shifts can lower their exposure over time.