Healthy Couscous Recipes

Find healthy, delicious couscous recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

Meal-Prep Falafel Bowls with Tahini Sauce

These quick Mediterranean-inspired couscous bowls come together in 20 minutes thanks to healthy convenience items like frozen falafel and steam-in-bag fresh green beans. Whisk together the simple tahini sauce while the other ingredients cook.
By Carolyn A. Hodges, R.D.

Easy Whole-Wheat Couscous

Feel free to double this recipe to suit your needs. To add more flavor, swap reduced-sodium broth in for the water.
By Katie Webster

One-Skillet Salmon with Fennel & Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous

Rating: Unrated
6
Sun-dried tomato pesto and lemon do double duty to season both the salmon and the couscous in this healthy one-pan dinner recipe. Serve the salmon with extra lemon wedges and a dollop of plain yogurt, if desired.
By Breana Killeen

BBQ Shrimp with Garlicky Kale & Parmesan-Herb Couscous

Rating: Unrated
4
In the U.S., dry whole-wheat couscous has been partially cooked, making it a quick-cooking (5 minutes!) whole-grain weeknight dinner champ. And when you buy peeled shrimp, plus a bag of prechopped kale and bottled barbecue sauce, the savings in prep time helps to get this healthy dinner done in a jiff.
By Breana Killeen

Chicken Thighs with Couscous & Kale

Rating: Unrated
11
One-pot meals, like this all-in-one chicken thigh, kale and Israeli couscous recipe, are perfect for nights when you want to keep cleanup to a minimum. Look for Israeli couscous--small pearl-shaped pasta made from semolina flour--near other Middle Eastern dry goods in well-stocked supermarkets or specialty-foods stores.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Mediterranean Couscous

Rating: Unrated
1
Fennel adds a nice flavoring to the marinade in this Mediterranean-inspired chicken souvlaki dish. The kabobs are perfectly paired with a veggie-packed, yogurt-dressed Israeli couscous.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Salmon and Couscous Casserole

Salmon is tossed with couscous, spinach, and roasted red peppers, then topped with toasted almonds for a light and easy meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Seafood Couscous Paella

Rating: Unrated
12
Whole-wheat couscous soaks up this savory saffron-infused broth.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables

Rating: Unrated
2
When you want pasta in no time, couscous is your best friend! The tiny pasta balls cook up in minutes, and absorb all the water so you don't have to fuss with draining. Tossed with sautéed vegetables plus leftover chicken, it's a fast and tasty meal in a bowl that's perfect as an easy dinner recipe.
By Joyce Hendley

Slow-Cooker Beef & Carrot Tagine with Almond Couscous

Feel free to experiment with the spices in this simple slow-cooker beef stew--keep cumin and cinnamon in the mix, but try adding cardamom and ginger for greater depth of flavor. Both the stew and the almond couscous are very easy to prep, and the active time is just 20 minutes. Recipe adapted from Slow Cook Modern.
By Liana Krissoff

Feta & Spinach Couscous Patties

Rating: Unrated
5
Feta, spinach and dill flavor these tofu patties. Slice some lemon wedges and pick up some whole-wheat pita bread to serve with this Greek-inspired meal.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Slow-Cooker Moroccan Chicken, Vegetables & Couscous

Loaded with chicken, onion, butternut squash, apricots, chickpeas and couscous, this slow-cooker recipe is not only bursting with color and texture, but it's also packed with protein and a host of vitamins and even contains a dose of fiber.
By Cooking Light

Inspiration and Ideas

Couscous & Chickpea Salad

Couscous & Chickpea Salad

Cooked couscous and canned chickpeas come together in this quick lunch salad. The basil vinaigrette makes it taste anything but basic! When in season, we recommend adding fresh chopped tomatoes for a spin on tabbouleh.
Salmon Couscous Salad

Salmon Couscous Salad

Rating: Unrated
1
This healthy and easy salad is designed to be made with precooked or leftover salmon. To quickly cook salmon, lightly brush with olive oil, then roast in a 450 degrees F oven until the fish is opaque and firm, 8 to 12 minutes.
Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Rating: Unrated
1
Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous & Almonds

Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous & Almonds

Rating: Unrated
1
Caribbean Couscous Salad

Caribbean Couscous Salad

Rating: Unrated
1
Moroccan Skirt Steak with Roasted Pepper Couscous

Moroccan Skirt Steak with Roasted Pepper Couscous

Rating: Unrated
12

Salmon with Toasted Israeli Couscous

Rating: Unrated
8

You need only one skillet for this meal of wild salmon fillets and Israeli couscous pilaf. For added fiber, look for Israeli couscous made with whole-wheat flour. Serve with roasted carrots and broccoli with cumin.

All Healthy Couscous Recipes

Tandoori Chicken Thighs with Lemon Couscous

This Tandoori chicken recipe is marinated overnight in yogurt with a blend of aromatic spices and served with a light-tasting couscous full of lemon zest, cilantro, currants, and toasted pine nuts.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Orange-Tomato Couscous with Chicken

Rating: Unrated
17
This cinnamon- and cumin-spiked couscous with chicken takes its inspiration from Morocco. It's made mostly with pantry staples--all you have to pick up is some chicken thighs, a bunch of cilantro and an orange. The orange slices become tender after cooking--you can eat them skin and all. For a variation, substitute diced, boneless leg of lamb for the chicken. Serve with steamed green beans or a spinach salad.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Salmon with Broccoli Couscous

Go fishing at your grocery store and you won't find a meal that is much easier, or healthier, than this one. Salmon is one of a few foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help prevent disease.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Green Couscous & Shrimp

Rating: Unrated
3
This quick dinner recipe of couscous, white beans and shrimp is flavored with a potent parsley-and-basil dressing.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Cashew Salmon with Apricot Couscous

Rating: Unrated
27
Yogurt sauce flavored with lemon, cumin and cilantro tops this Indian-inspired grilled salmon.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Buffalo Chicken Grain Bowl

Get the flavors of spicy Buffalo chicken wings, without frying, in this nutritious couscous bowl loaded with protein and crisp veggies.
By Katie Webster

Herbed Lamb Chops with Greek Couscous Salad

Rating: Unrated
1
Lamb loin chops are a healthy alternative to the more popular and more fatty lamb shoulder chops. The loin chops have quite enough flavor to stand up to this herbaceous couscous.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Couscous & Fruit Salad

Rating: Unrated
7
Try this fruit-and-nut-studded couscous salad alongside grilled salmon or chicken for supper or on its own for a fresh lunchbox treat.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Couscous With Zucchini & Cherry Tomatoes

Enjoy the benefits of good-for-you whole-wheat couscous with this quick and easy grain side dish. Fresh cherry tomatoes, crisp-tender zucchini, and earthy thyme are a perfect accompaniment to the delightful, nutty taste of the couscous.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Ragout Over Couscous

Hearty and filling, this eggplant and white bean ragout is vegetarian comfort food. Tossing the eggplant with salt draws out excess moisture from the vegetable, making it less bitter and more firm upon cooking. To make this recipe gluten-free, sub rice or gluten-free pasta for the couscous. Garnish with additional chopped flat-leaf parsley or basil, if desired.
By Cooking Light

Slow-Cooker Middle Eastern Meatballs with Raita

This meal features dense and tender lamb meatballs, creamy and refreshing cucumber raita--a traditional Indian sauce made with yogurt and vegetables--and whole-wheat couscous, a grain-like pasta that can be found at most supermarkets. Garnish these slow-cooker meatballs with fresh dill sprigs, and serve with lightly toasted pita, if desired.
By Cooking Light

Shrimp, Ham & Pepper Couscous

Reminiscent of paella, this one-pan shrimp couscous recipe is flavored with smoky paprika, fennel and garlic. This healthy meal is easy enough for a weeknight but impressive enough for a dinner party. Diced chicken, scallops or pork could be substituted for the shrimp.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Vegetable Israeli Couscous

Israeli couscous is beadier and larger than regular couscous, so it takes a little longer to cook, but it's a perfect choice in this grain salad with vegetables, feta cheese, mint and citrus dressing.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Hearty Breakfast Salad with Roasted Cabbage & Baked Feta

A breakfast salad is a fresh, delicious way to start your day with ample veggies. This recipe gets a hearty twist with additions like cabbage and feta. For brunch guests, put the components out buffet-style so they can build their own bowls.
By Caroline Fennessy Campion

Lemon-Almond Couscous

In a hurry? Just a bit of lemon peel, slivered almonds, and fresh chives are all that's needed to season this fresh-tasting 15-minute couscous side dish, which pairs well with any meat or fish.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Couscous Tabbouleh

Packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals, whole-wheat couscous is ready to eat in minutes. Make it a meal: Fill pita bread with this salad for a tasty sandwich.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Couscous with Rutabaga & Beef Stew

Rating: Unrated
4
In this riff on North African tradition, couscous is served as the base for a beef and rutabaga stew that's made with an intoxicating blend of cinnamon, turmeric, coriander and cayenne (optional if you don't like it spicy). Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and serve with sliced cucumber.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Fish Couscous with Onion T'faya

Rating: Unrated
5
T'fayas, special-occasion dishes served all along Morocco's Atlantic coast, are known for their thick, sweet and heavily spiced sauces. This one gets a pleasant layer of sweetness from raisins and a touch of sugar, which marries perfectly with halibut.
By Kitty Morse

Couscous Paella Soup

Rating: Unrated
1
This soup is inspired by the flavors and ingredients of paella, but unlike paella it's simple enough for a speedy weeknight dinner. If you can't find Spanish chorizo, use pepperoni (add a pinch of smoked paprika if you have it). Serve with warm whole-grain garlic bread.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Couscous, Lentil & Arugula Salad with Garlic-Dijon Vinaigrette

Rating: Unrated
3
This hearty combination of whole-wheat couscous and lentils perched atop a lightly dressed bed of arugula makes a tasty vegetarian main-course salad. The lemony vinaigrette is especially good for bringing out the spicy notes of the arugula.
By Ellen Ecker Ogden

Pork Tenderloin with Sweet-Spiced Onions

A cinnamon-allspice rub adds intriguing flavor to the pork tenderloin in this one-dish meal. Served alongside an easy couscous, pea, and sliced almond mixture, the pork is topped with an orange-onion sauce that your family will love.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Ginger-Marinated Leg of Lamb with Israeli Couscous & Kale

Rating: Unrated
3
A stunning main course for the holidays, this ginger-flavored leg of lamb, served with kale and red pepper flecked couscous, will win you accolades, even though it's easy to put together. The festive-looking couscous could be served on its own as a side with roast chicken.
By Raghavan Iyer

Couscous with Orange

Because this couscous recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare, you can rely on it any time you need a sensational side dish. Mild tasting couscous is cooked in chicken broth and flavored with mild green onions and a chopped orange--it's versatile enough to go with just about any entree.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Turkey and Couscous

Turkey and couscous come together beautifully when paired with a vegetable medley. To give this recipe an Indian twist, season the turkey breast with curry powder or an Indian Spice Rub before grilling or roasting, and toss pine nuts into the cooked couscous.
By Diabetic Living Magazine
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