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The Best Chicken Couscous Soup with Vegetables

A quick and easy dish with simple ingredients will always win, and this Chicken Couscous Soup with vegetables recipe is just that. It’s a simple, delicious, and healthy recipe.

chicken soup with couscous and vegetables in a white soup bowl and silver spoon with bread on the side.

Instead of making this in an instant pot, I like to make this cozy recipe on the stovetop. It has a lot of flavors, and you can have it with homemade crusty bread. Chicken couscous soup with vegetables has simple ingredients and makes a perfect soup to keep in regular rotation during the cold season.

Chicken soup recipes are the perfect comfort food that’s healthy and tastes good. Whether you’re looking for the classic chicken noodle soup, tangy chicken meatball soup, or a healing chicken soup because of the dreaded flu season that comes with the cold winter days, soup is always a great idea. 

Key Ingredients 

carrots celery stalk water garlic yellow onion dill spinach bay leaves salt and pepper boneless chicken thighs lemon onion couscous soup ingredients.

Couscous: If you are unfamiliar with couscous, it’s primarily found in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. It is a type of pasta made from wheat flour and semolina, with the size and looks of small pearls. I like to use Israeli couscous, which you can find at Trader Joe’s, online or a larger grocery store. However, if the original small type is the only one you can find, it will also work in this soup.

Greens: Always buy fresh when possible, but frozen spinach can also be used in this recipe. 

Boneless and Skinless Chicken thighs: Bone-in chicken thighs can be used and deboned when adding chicken to couscous. 

Onion: Only use white or yellow onion, not red or sweet. 

Celery Stalk: An excellent addition for flu and cold season, but it can be left out if you don’t like the taste of it. 

Carrots: If you buy organic carrots, there is no need to peel them; just wash and dice. 

Garlic: Don’t leave this antioxidant out, and make sure to use fresh garlic.  

Along with those ingredients, you will need water, salt, pepper, basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh dill.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make Chicken Couscous Soup with Vegetables

Step 1: Prepare chicken broth

Add 6 cups of water, chicken thighs, basil leaves, and salt to a large pot. Boil for 30-40 minutes over medium heat. 

Step 2: Saute vegetables and couscous

At the same time, heat a separate soup pot with 4 Tablespoons of olive oil, chopped onion, and couscous, occasionally stirring for 5 minutes. 

boiling boneless and skinless chicken thighs in a pot with water and separate large pot of couscous and onion.

Step 3: Add the rest of the vegetables 

Add celery, carrot, garlic, and a tablespoon of lemon juice to the pot. 

Step 4: Cook the couscous 

Strain water from the chicken into the pot with vegetables and two cups of water. Bring to a boil, boil the heat, and let simmer until the couscous is cooked; it will take about 10 minutes.

large stainless steel pot with couscous chopped onion celery and carrots and a another pot with water and celery.

Steps 5 and 6: Shred the chicken 

Debone the chicken (if there are bones), and shred it into the simmering soup pot with vegetables and couscous. 

shredded cooked chicken thighs on cutting board with a wooden cutting knife and a pot of soup with couscous and vegetables.

Step 7: Add the greens

Chop fresh spinach and dill, then add to the soup along with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 8: Finish up

Bring the soup to a boil and remove from the heat to enjoy. 

large soup pot with chicken couscous with vegetables and fresh chopped spinach and dill in chicken broth.

Expert Tips

  • Make sure to add the additional 2 cups of water to the soup, so the soup doesn’t turn out mushy.
  •  Pearl couscous sometimes comes with flavors; grab the one without any add-ons.
  •  I recommend preparing chicken couscous soup in a Dutch 6qt cast iron pot for best results.

How to Store Soup

  •  For leftovers, keep soup in the refrigerator in the soup pot with the lid on for up to 4 days. 
  •  If making soup for later or the next day, wait until it is completely cooled down to place it in the refrigerator. 

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, you can make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free couscous.

Is couscous good in soup?

Couscous makes the chicken soup thicker, which gives it that chewy bite. While couscous can be a side dish to a meal like this delicious seared salmon, it can be a great addition to your soup.

Are there any benefits to pearl couscous?

Yes, of course! That’s the best part. According to webmed, couscous has health benefits that can’t be missed. It is rich in selenium, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also a great source of fiber, B vitamins, and minerals, and it can boost your immune system.

white bowl of chicken couscous soup with onion carrots fresh spinach and dill on a wooden board and bread on the side.

More Tasty Chicken Soup Recipes

This Chicken couscous soup recipe is not only an easy recipe but is the perfect soup for a rainy day or cold winter night. This satisfying bowl is yummy and definitely good for the soul. Another delicious soup recipe made with chicken is a braised chicken and potatoes dish that is made in one pot. Also, a chicken meatball soup with rice and vegetables is an easy weeknight dinner for the family.

Other Soup Recipes to Try

If you tried this Chicken Couscous Soup with Vegetables or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

chicken soup with couscous and vegetables in a white soup bowl and silver spoon with bread on the side.

Chicken Couscous Soup with Vegetables

Couscous chicken soup is an easy, cozy and comforting dish for the whole family to enjoy.
5 from 2 votes
Rate Print Save Pin
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Soup
Allergy: Dairy Free, Nut Free
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings6
Calories: 352kcal
Author: Marina Rizhkov

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 6 cups water, & 2 cups
  • 1 lb chicken thighs, boneless & skinless
  • 2 basil leaves, dried
  • 3 tsp salt
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup pearl couscous
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 small carrots chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ cup spinach, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Into a large pot add 6 cups of water, chicken thighs, basil leaves, and salt. Boil for 30 minutes over medium heat.
    6 cups water,, 1 lb chicken thighs,, 2 basil leaves,, 3 tsp salt
    chicken boiled with water in a large soup pot.
  • In a separate large pot, heat up 4 Tablespoons of olive oil.
    3 Tbsp olive oil
  • Add in onion and couscous and saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    1 yellow onion,, 1 cup pearl couscous
    saute couscous with onion and olive oil in large soup pot.
  • Add in celery, carrot, garlic, and 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice into the pot with vegetables. Continue sautéing for another minute.
    2 small carrots, 1 stalk celery,, 1 clove garlic,, 1 Tbsp lemon juice
    sauteed couscous with chopped celery stalk and chopped carrot and onion in a large stainless steel pot.
  • Strain water from the chicken into the pot with vegetables.
    soup pot filled with chicken broth, celery, carrots, couscous and onion.
  • Shred or chop cooked chicken, then also add to the large pot.
    chopped cooked boneless and skinless chicken thighs on grey cutting board with wooden knife.
  • Add in 2 cups of water, and bring water to a boil, then let simmer until couscous is cooked (10 minutes).
    6 cups water,
    shredded chicken added to couscous soup with vegetables in a large pot.
  • Add chopped spinach and fresh dill, then add salt and pepper to taste.
    ½ cup spinach,, 1 Tbsp fresh dill,, salt and pepper,
    fresh chopped green spinach and chopped fresh dill added to couscous and chicken soup in large soup pot.
  • Bring to a boil, remove from heat, then serve.
    large soup pot filled with broth carrots chicken onion spinach and dill and couscous.

Video

Notes

  • Use fresh spinach and dill whenever possible, however frozen will also be good. 
  • If pearl couscous is not available, use original couscous.
  • Make sure to add the additional two cups of water to the soup.
  • Store couscous soup in the fridge with the lid on after it has cooled down. 

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 1255mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3120IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
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