The largest recorded paella had a diameter of 21.5 meters. It was prepared by Valencian caterer Juan Galbis and his team in Madrid in 2001, producing enough paella for approximately 110,000 people.
The project required far more than an oversized pan. The enormous paella pan had to be assembled on site, and a large team worked around it while cooks used long tools to stir and distribute the ingredients. Reports describe thousands of kilograms of rice, meat, vegetables, and water being used for the record-breaking preparation.
Galbis had already made a giant paella in 1992 that reportedly served about 100,000 people. The 2001 event surpassed that achievement and became famous as one of Spain’s most spectacular culinary records. Giant paellas are especially associated with festivals and mass gatherings in the Valencia region.
The figure refers to the diameter of the cooking pan, not the amount of rice or the number of servings. That distinction matters because records can describe the largest dish, the largest pan, or the greatest number of portions.