This chicken couscous soup is a comforting, flavorful twist on classic chicken noodle soup, made with Israeli couscous, warm spices, and tender chicken. Itโs brothy but hearty, simple enough for weeknights, and perfect for soup season when you want something nourishing without a long cooking time. Serve it with crusty bread for a cozy, complete meal.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- A cozy, brothy soup that feels like comfort food but still light.
- Made with Israeli couscous for a heartier texture than traditional noodles.
- Simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
- Ready in about 35 minutes, making it great for busy nights or meal prep.
- A flavorful alternative to classic chicken noodle soup. Try another chicken noodle soup alternative with our Greek lemon orzo soup with chicken.
- Perfect for chilly days, when you're under the weather, or anytime you want a warm bowl of soup.
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Lean and tender; chicken thighs work well if you prefer richer flavor.
- Pearl (Israeli) couscous: Larger than regular couscous and adds body to this couscous chicken soup.
- Curry powder & turmeric: Provide warmth and depth without overpowering; swap for Italian seasoning for a more classic flavor. You could also try our homemade chicken noodle soup recipe.
- Chicken broth: Use low-sodium broth if preferred so you can better control salt levels.
- Frozen peas: Optional, but add color and sweetness at the end.
- Lemon juice: A squeeze at the end brightens the soup, similar to lemon chicken soup.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements for this lemon chicken couscous soup.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Sear the chicken first for extra flavor, even though it finishes cooking in the broth.
- Keep the soup at medium-high heat only until boiling, then reduce to avoid overcooking the couscous.
- Add a pinch of hot pepper flakes if you want gentle heat.
- Stir in fresh herbs like fresh dill or parsley just before serving for brightness.
- For a thicker, more hearty stew-like texture, add an extra ยผ cup couscous. If you like stew, try our turmeric ginger chicken stew too!
- This soup works well as part of your regular soup recipes rotation.
How to Make Chicken Couscous Soup
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Sear chicken on both sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the pot and set aside, it doesnโt need to be fully cooked yet.
Step 2: In the same large pot, add a bit more oil if needed. Sautรฉ onion, celery, and carrots for 5โ7 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
Step 3: Stir in the garlic, curry powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Add the chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Add the cous cous and partially cooked chicken breasts to the pot. Stir well, reduce the heat to medium, and let the mixture simmer for 8-12 minutes.
Step 5: Once the chicken breast is fully cooked and reaches 165 degrees, remove the chicken from the pot and dice into cubes or shred with two forks. Let the cous cous continue to simmer until tender.
Step 6: Add the chicken back into the pot as well as the peas and add lemon juice and additional salt to taste.
Chicken Couscous Soup FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
The couscous will absorb some broth as it sits; add extra broth or water when reheating as needed.
Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.
This recipe is dairy-free, it is not gluten-free.
Other Cozy Soup Recipes
If you make this chicken couscous soup recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Curry Chicken Couscous Soup With Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 ยฝ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Salt and pepper, to taste (for seasoning the chicken)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- ยฝ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ยผ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
- Squeeze of lemon for serving, optional
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Sear chicken on both sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the pot and set aside, it doesnโt need to be fully cooked yet.
- In the same pot, add a bit more oil if needed. Sautรฉ onion, celery, and carrots for 5โ7 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Stir in the garlic, curry powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper.
- Add the chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Add the couscous and partially cooked chicken breasts to the pot. Stir well, reduce the heat to medium, and let the mixture simmer for 8-12 minutes.
- Once the chicken breast is fully cooked and reaches 165 degrees, remove the chicken from the pot and dice into cubes or shred with two forks. Let the cous cous continue to simmer until tender. Add the chicken back into the pot as well as the peas and add lemon juice and additional salt to taste.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Chop the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic cloves up to 2 days ahead and store in the fridge.
- Cook and shred the chicken in advance to shorten the active cooking time.
- This soup is great for meal prep and tastes even better after the flavors meld.
- This recipe is dairy-free, it is not gluten-free.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Chicken Couscous Soup." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.ย
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