Description
Lemon Herb Couscous Chicken is a bright, flavorful, and easy weeknight dinner made with juicy lemon-marinated chicken breasts served over fluffy herb couscous. It’s fresh, family-friendly, and ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Couscous:
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
For Garnish & Serving:
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken:
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add chicken breasts and coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours). - Cook the Couscous:
Bring chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in couscous, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside. - Cook the Chicken:
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken 5–7 minutes per side, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. - Rest and Slice:
Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into strips. - Combine and Serve:
Mix couscous with any remaining marinade (optional). Stir in parsley. Serve sliced chicken over couscous and garnish with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Pound chicken breasts evenly for quicker, more even cooking.
- Add a splash of broth when reheating to keep couscous moist.
- Swap chicken breasts for thighs for extra juiciness.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg