Healthy Couscous Recipes

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

Staff Picks

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

Rating: 5 stars
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

Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables

Rating: 5 stars
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

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.

BBQ Shrimp with Garlicky Kale & Parmesan-Herb Couscous

Rating: 5 stars
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

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

Honey-Mustard Chicken Tenders with Couscous & Carrots

Rating: 5 stars
1
Thanks to the quick-cooking power of chicken tenders, this honey-mustard chicken dinner comes together fast and easily for a family-friendly weeknight meal. The baby carrots are cooked in a simple orange juice and butter sauce which is lovely drizzled over the chicken and couscous.
By Katie Webster

Salmon with Toasted Israeli Couscous

Rating: 4.13 stars
4
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.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

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

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Mediterranean Couscous

Rating: 5 stars
2
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

Chicken Thighs with Couscous & Kale

Rating: 4.45 stars
7
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

Whole-Wheat Couscous with Parmesan & Peas

Rating: 4.45 stars
8
Couscous, which is actually a type of tiny pasta, makes an almost-instant side dish. Happily, the whole-wheat variety is just as fast to prepare as regular couscous. Lemon zest is a delicious accent to nutty Parmesan in this Italian-inspired couscous.
By Patsy Jamieson

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
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Inspiration and Ideas

Slow-Cooker Moroccan Chicken, Vegetables & Couscous

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.
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.
Seafood Couscous Paella

Seafood Couscous Paella
Rating: Unrated
7
Couscous & Chickpea Salad

Couscous & Chickpea Salad
Moroccan Skirt Steak with Roasted Pepper Couscous

Moroccan Skirt Steak with Roasted Pepper Couscous
Rating: Unrated
4
Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Moroccan Lamb Tagine
Rating: Unrated
1

Caribbean Couscous Salad

Rating: 5 stars
1

Mango, bell peppers, and black beans combine with whole-wheat couscous in this Caribbean-inspired grain salad. The ginger-lime dressing has a touch of cayenne pepper and provides just the right amount of zing!

All Healthy Couscous Recipes

Buffalo Chicken Grain Bowl

Rating: 5 stars
1
Get the flavors of spicy Buffalo chicken wings, without frying, in this nutritious couscous bowl loaded with protein and crisp veggies.
By Katie Webster

Cashew Salmon with Apricot Couscous

Rating: 4.93 stars
10
Yogurt sauce flavored with lemon, cumin and cilantro tops this Indian-inspired grilled salmon.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Tandoori Chicken Thighs with Lemon Couscous

Rating: 4 stars
1
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

Feta & Spinach Couscous Patties

Rating: 3.6 stars
2
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

Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous & Almonds

Rating: 5 stars
1
Smoky almonds, meaty eggplant and whole-grain couscous with herbs make this meal plenty satisfying. Harissa gives the creamy sauce a little kick.
By Carolyn Malcoun

Herbed Lamb Chops with Greek Couscous Salad

Rating: 4 stars
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: 3.43 stars
3
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

Fish Couscous with Onion T'faya

Rating: 4.8 stars
3
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

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

Green Couscous & Shrimp

Rating: 3.67 stars
1
This quick dinner recipe of couscous, white beans and shrimp is flavored with a potent parsley-and-basil dressing.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

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

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 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

Couscous, Lentil & Arugula Salad with Garlic-Dijon Vinaigrette

Rating: 4.33 stars
2
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

Couscous Paella Soup

Rating: 4 stars
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

Cauliflower & Couscous Pilaf

Rating: 5 stars
2
Pilaf is usually made with rice plus nuts, fruit, vegetables or even meat. In this version we use couscous instead of rice, so it's nearly instant, and add a sweet accent of orange and currants.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

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

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

Greens and Couscous

Whole-wheat couscous is a simple side dish, yet by adding garlic and peppery mustard greens to the cooking liquid, it feels much more sophisticated.
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

Stuffed Onions with Balsamic Drizzle

Tender baked onions make the perfect edible container for whole-wheat couscous pilaf in this hearty side dish. The balsamic drizle is a real treat--try it for a party or holiday dinner.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Couscous with Mushrooms & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Rating: 4.33 stars
2
Simple couscous gets an upgrade with sautéed mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. Make it a meal: Simple Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Wilted Spinach with Garlic make nice accompaniments.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Slow-Cooker Edamame Succotash

Vegetables and edamame (soybeans) crown a bed of whole-wheat couscous for a hearty, healthy meal. You can use fresh-shelled edamame and fresh corn, but using the frozen varieties saves time and produces the same delicious results.
By Cooking Light

Quick Herbed Couscous & Peas

By all means use fresh peas if you have them. And remember, the smaller they are, the less cooking time they'll need. (Frozen peas work fine if that's all you have.) To make this a little more substantial, you can--if you like--add a cupful of drained and rinsed canned chickpeas. Don't skimp on the herbs; the dish really shines with them.
By Ken Haedrich
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