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This Easy Chicken & Couscous Skillet Dinner is the perfect recipe for a busy weeknight. Made in less than 30 minutes, it’s a healthy and yummy family dinner recipe!Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

Easy Chicken & Couscous Skillet Dinner

Okay, so I have to share this recipe with you guys! This is probably our favorite, quickest, easiest weeknight dinner. It’s definitely my go-to meal. It can literally be on the table in 20 minutes, and it’s a one-dish dinner, so it’s perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal when you don’t feel like cooking dinner! It’s got everything I love: savory chicken, pasta, caramelized veggies, and sweet simplicity.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

Just a few simple things you can keep on hand and grab from your pantry or freezer when you want to make this — chicken, Israeli Couscous, diced onions, carrots, and celery, garlic, chicken broth, olive oil, salt and pepper — no special trip to the store needed!

Have you tried Israeli (Pearl) Couscous? Oh my gosh, I love it. It’s bigger than regular couscous — they’re little pearls of pasta, about the size of rice. It makes a fabulous side dish, and there’s so much you can do with it to dress it up. I love the texture. I buy this giant 5 lb bag from Costco (or order this one online from Amazon), because I’m obsessed with it.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

I love using rotisserie chicken in this recipe. We often buy one at the beginning of the week and use it in recipes all week. But for this recipe you could also boil boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 10-15 minutes, shred, and season with salt, pepper, or any yummy seasoning you have on hand. I keep boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the freezer for occasions when we don’t have a rotisserie chicken on hand, and then just thaw them out under cold running water when I need to use them. Takes about 5 minutes. I make sure this recipe is something I can always make, lol!

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

I love using frozen, diced onions and carrots. They’re easy to use, I can use exactly what I need, and I know I’ll always have some on hand. Now, I’ve never seen frozen diced celery before, but celery cuts like butter, so you can chop up a big celery stalk like this one really fast.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

Celery is one thing I don’t mind chopping!

Use what you need, then freeze the rest in a freezer bag. Boom! Your own frozen, diced celery you can use for next time.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

How to Make this Healthy Dinner

Now that we’ve got all our ingredients, all you have to do to make this dinner is add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

Throw in two cups each of your three veggies…

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

And plenty of salt and pepper. Saute for 5-10 minutes until softened and caramelized.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

Pretend you see a photo of me adding minced garlic and stirring until combined and fragrant, about 30 seconds. I didn’t get a photo because I’m a dork, and I didn’t want my garlic to burn! :)

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

Pour in 1 1/3 cups of couscous, and stir to combine.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

Add two cups of chicken broth, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

When it’s done, just add your chicken and stir to combine!

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

This is so, so good you guys. Caramelized veggies, pearls of pasta, and juicy, savory chicken. Hope you enjoy!!

Easy Chicken and Couscous Skillet Dinner

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Chicken & Couscous Skillet Dinner Image

Easy Chicken & Couscous Skillet Dinner

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: Maghrebi

Description

This Easy Chicken & Couscous Skillet Dinner is the perfect recipe for a busy weeknight. Made in less than 30 minutes, it’s a healthy and yummy family dinner recipe!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups diced onion
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 2 cups diced celery
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/3 cups Israeli (Pearl) Couscous
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 12 oz (about 3 cups) chopped chicken

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, season with salt and pepper, and saute for 5-10 minutes until softened and caramelized.
  2. Add garlic and stir to combine until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add couscous and broth, stir to combine, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 8-10 minutes until broth is absorbed.
  3. Add chicken and stir until heated through. Enjoy!

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42 Responses
  1. Natalie

    My husband and I just love this! This was the first unknown recipe that I tried as a new bride and my husband just loved it. We have this about every other week and since it is just the two of us it lasts a few nights. It reheats well. Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe!






  2. Kimberly

    I wanted to post an update to my earlier comment that we love the recipe but felt it”needed something.” I have made a few additions that really add flavor. In addition to the olive oil, I add about 2T butter for sauteeing the vegetables. I add 2-3 teaspoons Cavenders Greek Seasoning when I add the garlic. For the broth, I add 1-2 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon base to homemade chicken stock (I always have this in freezer) and I use 3 cups. These additions increase the fat and sodium content of the dish, I am sure, but really make for a tasty supper! I absolutely love the smell of sauteeing onions, celery and carrots together, and this recipe freezes well and reheats nicely for work lunches. I found Israeli couscous in the bulk bins of my regular market, but also in packages at Trader Joes. This dish is now on regular rotation at our house and I make sure I always have the ingredients on hand!

  3. Laura

    WOW! Such simple ingredients combine to make a fabulous dish! I did have a box of couscous with garlic seasoning that I used because I had it on hand, the only variation I made. YUM! I didn’t save save any for my lunches this week (which is why I made it to begin with!) after my family tried it. Oh, well, I will just make another recipe and remember to double it next time.

  4. DALE YARBERRY

    This sounds wonderful, even for a diabetic. I need to know if you add cooked or raw couscous to this recipe. Hurry and answer, I want to cook this before the weekend. It’s Wednesday now. LOL!!

  5. Kimberly

    I really like this recipe. I had not cooked with Israeli couscous before, but I love the texture. I was able to find some at Trader Joes, but our Costco does not carry it. The recipe is easy to make and I froze the leftovers for future work lunches (it reheated nicely). The only thing is that I think it “needs something,” seasoning wise. Poultry seasoning? Some herbs? Garlic? Something, but I’m not sure what. I plan to experiment a bit next time.

  6. Coko

    wow,I made this and ate it for 3days straight!! I used ReGular ready to eat in 5mins couscous because I live in Nigeria and don’t have access to the recommended one and it was still awesome! My fiancé enjoyed it so much he ate it the next day which is very unlike him. It’s fast n easy to make. Definitely will be making this always.
    Thanks alot

  7. Haylea at Bowl of Happiness

    This looks delicious and so easy! I’m always looking for out-of-the-box easy weeknight dinners. I can’t wait to try it out!

  8. Katie

    Thank you for sharing this. I had a can of chunk chicken beast to use and Google listed this recipe. I’m standing at my stovetop taste testing and it is ?.

  9. jude

    Made this tonight with canned chicken and mixed frozen vegetables because it’s what I had on hand. Absolutely delicious! I’m looking forward to making it the “proper” way next time. Thanks for the great recipe!

  10. bfryspeaks

    Even though I had enhaled two bowls of miso soup and a sushi roll three hours prior, I had just woke up from a nap hungrier than ever. I couldn’t figure what I had a taste for so I decided to search google for “what should I eat” quizzes. Your skillet came up as a result considering my responses. I went to the store and bought all the ingredients. They didn’t have the Israeli brand of couscous so instead, I bought two boxes of Near East. Unfortunately, they sold out of rotisserie chicken as well. I called another store and they were out too. At this point I was a bit anonoyed because that was the whole point of me choosing this easy meal. I was forced to get chicken and decided to purchase chicken thighs because of how tender the meat is and the skin can be baked to mimic the texture of rotisserie chicken. After I chopped all the ingredients (my favorite part!) and baked the chicken, I decided to leave the couscous on the side and eat it with the chicken. It had such a golden brown texture and was absolutely delightful. Thank you for sharing your recipe! It was absolutely delicious and so easy to make! My boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his meal and I enjoyed cooking your recipe! :-) #bfryspeaks

  11. KristiH

    Cannot wait to try this recipe tonight. I am curious if you think quinoa would work in place of couscous??

  12. JulieD

    Let me tell you that my super-picky husband, who eats grease/fried foods/transfats like they are going out of style LOVED THIS!!! He went back for more………. In his words, “its chicken soup without the broth” and he was right! Only had 1 cup of broth, so added another cup of water and one bullion cube and I think it added the right amount of flavor. It is almost a foolproof recipe.
    This has earned a spot in my house. ;)

  13. TC

    Simple and amazing! Boiled some boneless chicken strips, chopped up with a wooden spoon and added some salt, pepper, garlic powder and a few other spices. Followed the recipe and the result was well enjoyed by a two and four year old, and pregnant mommy! Clean plates all around. Now a regular in the rotation. Thank you!

  14. Lisa

    Tried this tonight. It was absolutely delicious! Followed the recipe exactly- wouldn’t Change a thing except I might add some peas next time. Wonderful!

  15. Katie Tooker

    Made this recipe for dinner tonight exactly as stated and it was delish!! I thought the amount of veggies were perfect and I loved how easy it came together. Thanks for sharing!

  16. lila

    I made this recipe using all organic ingredients. I chose to boil the chicken and then used the stock to add with the couscous. I also added a bit of parsley and thyme. It came out fantastic!!! The whole family including a 1, 2 and 11 year old, all gobbled it up! I also varied the recipe later and used shrimp and kale, which also was wonderful!!

  17. Rebecca

    Wow, this was easy and delicious! I did use half the amount of salt and pepper. I also used veggies we had on hand (carrots, celery, zucchini and summer squash). Thanks for another excellent recipe! This is going in the rotation for sure!

  18. Heike

    Had a bag of regular couscous im the cabinet when I came across your recipe. Bought the chicken, had all other ingredients on hand, and made the same night. I was truly amazed how delightful this dish was. So tasty and flavorful. When re-heated at work the next day, co-workers commented on delicious smell. Thanks for a keeper that even meat-and-potato boyfriend enjoyed :)

  19. marsha rhodes

    looks delish. Making some freezer meals for a friend for her baby shower. does this one freeze well? I would think it would?

  20. Teena Abenchuchan

    Heya, I’m making it right now.. 2 cups each vegetables??? Wayy too much so I cut it in half and put the other half in freezer for next time I make it again. Smell heavenly in here!

    Gotta go and get the table ready. Ta Dah!

  21. Rachael

    I tried this tonight with just a little twist. I had a flavored couscous mix, so I just added the flavor packet and skipped the chicken broth and just used the water called for on the box. Yum!! Thanks for the inspiration! I JUST LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!

  22. jeanette

    I love how simple and healthy this is Amanda! I love Israeli Couscous and have a giant bag of whole wheat Israeli Couscous that I ‘d love to try this with.

  23. Winnie

    This looks yummy and easy. I have not tried the Israeli couscous, I will have to pick some up. I have the other type on hand. Thanks for sharing.

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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