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!
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
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.
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.
It’s ready to serve!
Serve topped with shredded cheese and sour cream if desired. Serve with our tender and moist cornbread muffins.
Enjoy!
For more delicious chili recipes be sure to try our:
Chicken and Couscous Chili
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
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet April 21, 2015
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector) says
I love the idea of putting couscous in it!! Looks nice and hearty!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Jaren! :)
Meg @ With Salt and Wit says
I could eat chili all day along…and so wishing I had this right now to devour!
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy says
This is what I call delicious comfort food! Chili is one of my favorite meals to eat during those cold fall & winter months. I must try your variation, looks very appetizing! :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Neli! I know, I particularly love snuggling up to a hot bowl of chili when it’s cold outside :)
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Perfection in a bowl!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Gerry! :)
Tonia from TheGunnySack says
As soon as the weather cools off, I start craving soup and chili!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Oh, me too, Tonia! Here in WA it’s already soup and chili weather and I’m lovin’ it! :)
Cookin Canuck says
Your creation looks wonderful! This is definitely something I know my family would enjoy.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you! Even our little ones chowed down on it :)
Kristen says
You totally stepped up to the challenge! That chili looks delicious and healthy!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Kristen! :)
Laura says
Now this is a fun way to sponsor a post! Such a cool idea, and what a great dish you made!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Isn’t it, Laura?? I’d love to have more posts like this!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
What a fun challenge! And you totally rocked it adding the couscous to chili! Love this!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
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!
Serene @ House of Yumm says
What a great idea for the ingredients given! Looks perfect for the cooler days coming.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Definitely, Serene, I love the Autumn because it means lots of tummy-warming soups and stews!
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
How fun to take on a Chopped style challenge, your resulting chicken and couscous chili sounds wonderful!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Joy, it was fun! :)
Matt @ Plating Pixels says
I recently found out about recipe contest and am always on the lookout after being a current semi-finalist in one. I’ll have to check this out!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
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!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Shelley! :) I love couscous too and this was a fun challenge. Thanks so much for pinning!
Melissa @ Bless this Mess says
Coucous is my favorite! What a great way to use it!
Kristin says
This looks and sounds deeeelicious!! Well done!!