Chicken & couscous one-pot

Chicken & couscous one-pot

This one-pot meal is perfect for fuss-free midweek entertaining

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr

Method

  1. Toss the chicken thighs in half the spices and a pinch of salt until completely coated. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large sauté pan with a lid. Fry chicken, skin-side down, for 10 mins until golden brown, turn over, then cook for 2 mins before removing from the pan. Pour the rest of the oil into the pan, then fry the onions and garlic for 8 mins until golden. Stir in the rest of the spices, then cook for 1 min longer. Pour over the chicken stock and scatter in the olives. Bring everything to the boil, turn down the heat, then sit the chicken, skinside up, in the stock.
  2. Cover the pan with a lid, then simmer gently for 35-40 mins until the chicken is tender. Put the kettle on, then lift the chicken onto a plate and keep warm. Take the pan off the heat. Stir the lemon juice and couscous into the saucy onions in the pan and top up with enough boiling water just to cover the couscous if you need to. Place the lid back on the pan, then leave to stand for 5 mins until the couscous is cooked through. Fluff through half the parsley and the lemon zest, then sit the chicken on top. Scatter with the rest of the parsley and zest before serving.
Try

TIP

Whole stone-in olives have a better flavour than pitted ones, so will improve the finished dish. For a punchier flavour add 1 finely chopped preserved Moroccan lemon and stir it into the stock before adding the couscous.

PER SERVING

900 kcalories, protein 60g, carbohydrate 42g, fat 56 g, saturated fat 15g, fibre 2g, sugar 5g, salt 1.75 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, June 2009.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • Binder photo CloClo

    24 May 2009

    CloClo commented on this recipe

    This looks a really good meal. Hopefully will try soon and report back!

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  • Binder photo Viv1945

    27 May 2009

    Viv1945 commented on this recipe

    This would be nice with lamb chops cooked in the same way I would think.

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  • Binder photo Diana

    27 May 2009

    Diana commented on this recipe

    I cooked this and it was lovely. The chicken was tender and beautifully tasty with the flavours soaking through. Really easy and is what it says on the pot - a one pot meal.

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  • Binder photo DrMukti

    27 May 2009

    DrMukti commented on this recipe

    It looks delicious but why are the calories so high?!

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  • Binder photo Alix

    27 May 2009

    Alix commented on this recipe

    I think it's because the chicken still has skin on.

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  • Binder photo CatCooks

    27 May 2009

    CatCooks commented on this recipe

    900 calories and 56 gr fat - must be for all of it as the ingredients and cooking can not make a chicken leg so ridiculously high fat. Divide by 4 gives you a much more reasonable 225 calories / 14 gr fat per person. To reduce it by another 20 or so calories and another couple of grams of fat then remove the skin!

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  • Binder photo CFL recipes

    27 May 2009

    CFL recipes rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This was really delicious and my kids had it the next day reheated and it was equally good. I missed out lemon zest as I had no lemons, and I skipped the olives as I knew the kids wouldn't eat them. Just served with some veg and it was truly delicious.

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  • Binder photo Irmgard

    28 May 2009

    Irmgard rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a lovely dish which I made with chicken drumsticks as my supermarket was sold out of thighs. I did half of the drumsticks with the skin on and half with the skin removed. This did not affect the taste in the least. Next time I would not add any extra water at the end as there was more than enough chicken stock left in the pan to cook the couscous sufficiently, so it was a little soupy.

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  • Binder photo cookingforgirls

    29 May 2009

    cookingforgirls rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I loved this recipe, but I think I ended up making a type of nursery version. Used chicken breasts cut into two - because eldest daughter doesn't like chicken pieces. Added big chunks of courgette and then cooked it in the oven for 1 hour, whilst attending said daughters dance class. Cooked up couscous with preserved lemons upon return - finished and on the table within 10 mins. The chicken was so tender - everyone loved it. Lovely warm, exotic flavours without being too spicy. Served it with mango chutney.

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  • Binder photo Winks

    02 June 2009

    Winks rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Another delicious recipe from Barney. I only used one tablespoon of oil as I'm always calorie/fat conscious. Great easy meal.

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  • Binder photo QueenoftheSouth

    04 June 2009

    QueenoftheSouth commented on this recipe

    Delicious meal will definitely make it again!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Binder photo HelenHarrison

    06 June 2009

    HelenHarrison rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Tried this with skinless boneless chicken thighs, as hubby doesn't like bones. Delicious! My 3 year old ate it all too, he normally would leave his chicken. Agree that there was no need for additional water.

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  • Binder photo Barney

    10 June 2009

    Barney commented on this recipe

    Winks you're too kind! So glad you all liked it, you can't go wrong with one pots. Bx

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  • Binder photo Frantic Flapjack

    11 June 2009

    Frantic Flapjack rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This was a simple recipe with a good result. I used chicken breasts with skin on as couldn't get hold of thighs.

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  • Binder photo Natalie

    14 June 2009

    Natalie rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Simple and tasty. I wouldn't add any extra water next time.

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  • Binder photo becci

    16 June 2009

    becci rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Brilliant recipe, made it last night but used madras powder as I was out of garam masala and added some raisins and flaked almonds at the end and it was amazing. Cheap to make but tastes expensive!

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  • Binder photo MurrayJack

    21 June 2009

    MurrayJack rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo Jill Higham

    28 June 2009

    Jill Higham rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I have made this a few times now; it never disappoint's and is so satisfying. ALL the family love it. I also add fresh chopped chilli as we like a little kick.

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  • Binder photo abbiefh

    02 July 2009

    abbiefh rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    i love this recipe it so easy but it tastes and looks so good, i think next time i may try doing it with some sort of italian seasonings and maybe put sun dried tomato in the cous cous instead of olives. i let u know what its like.

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  • Binder photo Jenny

    07 July 2009

    Jenny commented on this recipe

    Another of your recipes cooked by my novice cook of a daughter. It was so easy, very tasty and very filling. We don't like olives so I suggested we throw in what was left of a jar of roasted red and yellow peppers into the couscous and it worked a treat. Might try the sundried tomato suggestion next time.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr

Ingredients

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PER SERVING

900 kcalories, protein 60g, carbohydrate 42g, fat 56 g, saturated fat 15g, fibre 2g, sugar 5g, salt 1.75 g

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