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Chicken and Couscous Chili

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This chili features tender chicken breast, a combination of black beans and kidney beans, corn, salsa, and couscous.  The result is a deliciously flavorful chili with a terrific texture!  This Chicken and Couscous Chili recipe is destined to become part of your chili recipes rotation!

chicken and couscous chili recipe

This chili goes back to 2015 when I was issued a recipe challenge to create a dish using a specific set of ingredients:  Chicken, cheese, couscous, and salsa.  Fortunately these were very reasonable ingredients to work with and nothing off-the-wall like some of those episodes from Chopped where they’re given things like spaghetti, enchilada sauce, caviar, and bean sprouts.  Or how about mahi-mahi, Nacho Doritos, and blue raspberry twizzlers?  Ready, set, go!

No, this was going to be easy and I ended up creating this Chicken and Couscous Chili that is rich in flavor and has a terrific texture with the addition of the couscous.  It’s fast and easy to make and deliciously satisfying.  Serve it with some cornbread muffins and you’re all set!

chicken and couscous chili recipe

Chicken and Couscous Chili Recipe

Let’s get started!

Heat the oil in a medium stock pot and saute the onions until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers and cook for another minute.

Add the chicken and cook until most of the pink is gone. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper and cook for another minute.

cooking onions, peppers and chicken with spices

Add all remaining ingredients except for the couscous, cilantro and cheese. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the couscous and return to a simmer for another 10 minutes or until the couscous is done.

adding broth, beans and remaining ingredients

Stir in the cilantro.

It’s ready to serve!

chicken and couscous chili recipe

Serve topped with shredded cheese and sour cream if desired.  Serve with our tender and moist cornbread muffins.

Enjoy!

chicken and couscous chili recipe

For more delicious chili recipes be sure to try our:

chicken and couscous chili recipe

Chicken and Couscous Chili

This delicious twist on traditional chili is packed with flavor!
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6
Calories 493 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1 yellow onion , chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper , seeded and diced (remove membranes if you don't want the chili to be hot)
  • 1 pound boneless chicken breast or boneless chicken thighs , cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 14.5 ounce can kidney beans , rinsed and drained
  • 14.5 ounce can black beans , rinsed and drained
  • 14.5 ounce can corn , drained
  • 4 cups quality chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 1 chipotle en adobo sauce , diced plus 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/3 cup uncooked couscous
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 6 ounces shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, queso quesadilla cheese, or combination , for serving
  • sour cream , for serving

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a medium or large stock pot and saute the onions until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers and cook for another minute. Add the chicken and cook until most of the pink is gone. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper and cook for another minute.
    Add all remaining ingredients except for the couscous, cilantro and cheese. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the couscous and return to a simmer for another 10 minutes or until the couscous is done. Stir in the cilantro.
    Serve topped with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 493kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 38gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 1530mgPotassium: 1151mgFiber: 12gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1466IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 290mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Chicken and Couscous Chili
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet April 21, 2015

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!

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Recipe Rating




5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

29 Comments

    1. Thanks, Neli! I know, I particularly love snuggling up to a hot bowl of chili when it’s cold outside :)

    1. Oh, me too, Tonia! Here in WA it’s already soup and chili weather and I’m lovin’ it! :)

    1. Thanks, Lauren! :) It was a fun challenge and without it I probably never would have thought to add couscous to the chili – it’s an awesome addition, great texture!

    1. Definitely, Serene, I love the Autumn because it means lots of tummy-warming soups and stews!

  1. What a fun challenge, and what a delicious way to use the ingredients they gave you! I adore couscous and love the twist of using it in chili! Brilliant! This dish is so easy, so quick – definitely the kind of dish people will actually make – which is why I’m totally pinning this to share! Yum! Perfect fall comfort food!

    1. Thanks so much, Shelley! :) I love couscous too and this was a fun challenge. Thanks so much for pinning!