25 Healthy Couscous Recipe Ideas

Christine Johnson

By Christine Johnson

Updated

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5 from 3 votes

Ignite your senses with this list of healthy couscous recipes.

If you’re looking for a light meal or a nutrient-packed side, you can’t go wrong with couscous.

The hearty grain is packed with protein and fiber, so you can stay full and fueled to tackle any task at hand. 

Plus, the subtle earthy flavor makes it a great accompaniment to fresh veggies, herbs, and sauces. 

Couscous with fried mushrooms, onions, green peas, and parsley in a plate on a grey background top view.
Svetlana Monyakova/Shutterstock

Whether you’re looking for that perfect summer salad to serve at your barbecue or need a quick side for tonight’s dinner, you’ll definitely find it on this list of healthy couscous recipes.

1. Israeli Couscous Salad

If there’s one recipe to ring in spring, it has to be this Israeli couscous salad.

Every bite will entertain your palate with delightful textures and flavors. Expect a combination of crunchy cukes, juicy tomatoes, and creamy feta cheese.

The real star of the show is the Israeli couscous, which is slightly larger than the version you commonly find in stores.

You’ll also appreciate that there’s a whopping 6 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein in each serving.

2. Warm Pearl Couscous Salad

Be prepared to be swept away by the mouthwatering flavors of this warm pearl couscous salad.

If you’ve never tried pearl couscous, your palate is in for a treat. You’ll appreciate the unique nutty flavor and chewy texture in every bite.

This recipe creates one unforgettable mouthful with fresh herbs, a bright dressing, and juicy cherry tomatoes.

3. Couscous Salad

This tasty salad is so easy, you’ll be adding it to your regular rotation of dinners.

It comes together in under 25 minutes, making it perfect for those hectic weeknights. 

Every forkful of this salad delights your taste buds with bright, lemony flavors. 

If the taste of vibrant citrus isn’t enough to win you over, you’ll appreciate the mixture of crunchy and soft textures in every bite.

4. Moroccan Couscous with Roasted Vegetables Chick Peas and Almonds

This Moroccan couscous is practically made for balmy nights on the deck. How can you beat the classic summer flavors of fresh herbs, zingy lemon, and roasted veggies?

This dish is spiced to perfection, creating a sensory explosion on your palate. You won’t know which flavor is better, the warming bite of cinnamon or the aromatic hint of cumin.

5. Moroccan Chicken Couscous Salad

If you want to make eating healthy simple, this salad is the way to go.

You can easily meal-prep this dish for easy work lunches throughout the week.

In under 40 minutes, you can have this recipe ready for serving or storing. 

The juicy, rich Moroccan chicken accentuates the light airiness of the couscous. Together, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more delicious duo.

6. Roasted Vegetable Couscous

Next time you need a healthy side dish to accompany the main course, give this recipe a shot.

You won’t believe how easy it is to whip up this impressive couscous. You can have this recipe ready on the table in under an hour.

The best part about this roasted vegetable couscous is the simple yet tasty flavor. You season the delicious medley using salt, pepper, and parsley, allowing the natural veggie taste to shine through.

7. Mushroom Couscous

If you’re looking for a protein-packed meal to power you through your day, then this recipe is calling your name. 

It’s light enough to be served as a side but hearty enough to shine as the main course, thanks to the Baby Bella mushrooms.

Every bite combines fresh dill, lemon zest, and sharp garlic to create a sensational sensory experience for your palate.

8. Vegan Couscous Salad Recipe

Can you believe this impressive salad comes together in just 5 minutes?

Whether you’re a busy mom on the go or a broke college student looking for a healthy fix, this recipe will come in handy.

Plus, you don’t even need access to a stovetop to whip up this recipe. Just boil some water in a kettle or microwave to create perfectly fluffy couscous.

9. Mediterranean Couscous Salad

This recipe creates what I refer to as “summer in a bowl.”

How can you beat the combination of crunchy veggies, creamy feta, and tangy olives bathed in a zingy lemon herb dressing? 

This salad isn’t too hard on the eyes either, with brilliant colors to brighten your dinner table. 
If look at this picture makes your mouth water, I encourage you to try this fantastic recipe.

10. Israeli Couscous Greek Salad Recipe

If someone in your life is on the fence about couscous, this recipe will turn them into a believer. 

Every forkful delights your palate with garden-fresh flavors like juicy tomato, zesty mint, and tangy balsamic vinegar.

This dish also provides a great way to obtain your daily dose of spinach without choking back the bitter green. 

Next time you’re looking for a tasty way to increase your nutrition, check out this recipe.

11. Spiced Vegetable Couscous

Do you have young ones in your life who are veggie-adverse? This spiced vegetable couscous makes it easy to help the kiddos get their daily dose of nutrients. 

You can trace the secret to this recipe’s success to its delicious blend of flavors. 

You season this recipe using green chili sauce, crushed red pepper, lemon juice, sugar, and cumin to create an unforgettable taste in every bite. 

12. Quick Shrimp Couscous

This shrimp couscous tastes so divine you’ll think it took hours to make. In reality, you can have this tasty meal ready in just 15 minutes!

You season this recipe using the basics: garlic, butter, lemon juice, and parsley. When you combine these ingredients with fluffy couscous and juicy shrimp, you create something magical.

It’s delicious enough to be date-night worthy but easy enough for a quick weeknight dinner.

13. Salmon With Lemon Couscous

Who can resist the combination of salty salmon and fresh dill? If you couldn’t agree more, you’ll appreciate this summery dish.

The soft bed of lemony couscous almost steals the focus of the salmon, providing the perfect citrusy pairing to the savory fish.

You can’t beat this easy recipe if you’re yearning for a nutritious, protein-packed meal for dinner tonight.

14. Whole Wheat Couscous Salad With Feta

Next time you’re meal prepping for the week, be sure to add this salad to your menu. You can serve it warm or cold, and it makes the most delicious leftovers. 

The secret is cooking your couscous in chicken broth, which infuses extra savory flavors into every morsel.

You’ll love the soft couscous blends with the juicy cherry tomatoes and crunchy cucumbers.

15. Lemon Couscous Recipe

This 10-minute recipe is such a lifesaver. Next time you need a last-minute addition to your dinner party, give this dish a shot.

The flavors are incredibly versatile and pair perfectly with chicken, fish, veggies, and more. 

You need 5 simple ingredients and 10 minutes to create this refreshing side dish, guaranteed to make your palate swoon.

16. Parmesan & Peas Pearl Couscous

Move over risotto, there’s a new sheriff in town.

If you’re too intimidated to try making the comforting Italian staple, here’s a more accessible version that only takes 20 minutes.

You might find it tastes even better than risotto. That’s because you use pearl couscous, a slightly larger version of the grain, which has a unique, round texture. 

Coupled with the pops of peas and melted cheese, this is one wholesome dish perfect for cozy winter nights.

17. Instant Pot Couscous

If you’ve never tried making couscous in an Instant Pot, you’re missing out.

You might be wondering how cooking couscous could get any easier. On a traditional stove top, the deed takes under 5 minutes.

If you use an Instant Pot, you can achieve perfectly cooked couscous in zero minutes. You might think I’m kidding, but you actually set the Instant Pot timer to zero minutes.

After the machine works its magic, you have tender, flavorful couscous ready for chowing down.

18. Roasted Garlic Italian Couscous Salad

This recipe creates one of those rare salads that work for any season.

The bright, juicy tomatoes evoke feelings of balmy summer days, while the roasted garlic and stick-to-your-bones couscous bring a cozy quality to the dish.

No matter the time of year, you’ll love whipping up a batch of this healthy salad. It’s a tasty way to obtain your daily veggies without compromising flavor.

19. Indian Spiced Couscous Salad

You’re going to appreciate the medley of spices in this couscous salad.

If you’re wondering why this couscous tastes so delish, you can thank the secret ingredient: orange juice.

It creates a tasty sweetness to the zingy dressing that accentuates the cinnamon, lemon, and cayenne perfectly. 

Every bite is full of warming spices, making you immediately crave more.

20. Roasted Chickpea Couscous Bowls

If you’re a big fan of Buddha bowls, you’ll love this tasty rendition. It’s a great meatless meal that’s filling, nourishing, and scrumptious. 

First, you bake the chickpeas in a mixture of olive oil, fresh thyme, and smoked paprika.

Then you combine the legumes with roasted veggies and pearl couscous that are both perfectly seasoned. 

You might think this recipe stops there, but you add a garnish of lemon wedges, crumbled goat cheese, and sliced green onions to create a flavor-packed bowl.

21. Spiced Fish With Couscous

Here’s another 30-minute meal that will make your life so much easier.

In just 5 simple steps, you can have this gourmet meal ready on the table. You won’t know which flavor is better, the smoky paprika, sharp garlic, or spicy cayenne. 

Next time the weather feels balmy, cool off with this light, uber-refreshing meal.

22. Creamy Couscous Salad

If you’ve got a stockpile of summer veggies in your fridge, put them to good use with this creamy couscous salad.

Between the bright tomatoes, sharp feta, and fresh mint, your taste buds will be in for a real treat.

The best part about this salad has to be the unique creamy texture, thanks to the plain yogurt.

23. Couscous with Spiced Zucchini

If you associate couscous with bland flavors, allow this recipe to change your mind.

You add a healthy dose of chili powder, cumin, black pepper, and coriander to achieve an irresistible taste to every bite.

After a forkful of the flavorful, fluffy grain, you’ll never look at couscous the same way.

While the couscous steals the spotlight in this dish, let’s not forget about the sauteed zucchini. It’s perfectly charred and infused with just as many flavors as the couscous.

24. 15 Minute Ground Turkey Couscous

Here’s a protein-packed recipe that needs to become a staple in your home.

Your taste buds will be taken on a vacation to the Greek isles with every bite, thanks to the combination of kalamata olives, herbs, and feta.

Plus, this recipe takes just 15 minutes to whip up. How can it get any easier than that? If you need an easy meal for tonight’s dinner, look no further than this ground turkey couscous.

25. Cheesy California Couscous

If you ask me, it’s hard to beat the combination of pimentos and pepper jack cheese. It has a perfect balance of spicy, creamy, and tangy flavors that always makes my mouth water.

If you couldn’t agree more, check out this amazing couscous recipe. You’ll love how the thick creamy texture compliments the subtle bite of spice.

This rendition tastes more like cheesy rice than couscous, making it perfect for picky eaters.

Couscous with fried mushrooms, onions, green peas, and parsley in a plate on a grey background top view.

25 Healthy Couscous Recipes

Whether you’re looking for that perfect summer salad to serve at your barbecue or need a quick side for tonight’s dinner, you’ll definitely find it on this list of healthy couscous recipes.

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