A paddle for a grain elevator of a combine harvester includes a plate and a leg. The plate is configured to be coupled to a chain at a first location on the chain. The plate has a top side for carrying grain, a bottom side opposite the top side, and a lip that extends along a perimeter of the top side of the plate for retaining the grain on the top side. The leg extends from a bottom side of the plate for releasably contacting the chain at a second location that is spaced from the first location.