Creamy Greek Chicken Pearl Couscous (Printable Version)

One-pan Mediterranean bake with tender lemon chicken, pearl couscous, spinach, and feta.

# Components:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
04 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Couscous & Vegetables

08 - 1 cup pearl couscous
09 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 3 cups fresh baby spinach
11 - 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
12 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
14 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
15 - 1/4 cup heavy cream

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or parsley
17 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - In a large bowl, combine chicken thighs with olive oil, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat well.
03 - Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs for 2 to 3 minutes per side until lightly golden but not cooked through. Remove and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add a splash of olive oil if needed. Sauté the chopped onion for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
05 - Stir in pearl couscous and toast for 2 minutes until lightly golden.
06 - Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a simmer.
07 - Add spinach and stir until just wilted.
08 - Stir in Greek yogurt and heavy cream until combined.
09 - Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the couscous mixture. Sprinkle crumbled feta over the top.
10 - Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the couscous is tender.
11 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in a single pan, which means fewer dishes and more time enjoying dinner with people you care about.
  • The creamy Greek yogurt and feta create a sauce so good you'll find yourself scraping the bottom of the skillet.
  • Pearl couscous absorbs all those Mediterranean flavors while staying perfectly tender, never mushy.
  • You can have this on the table in under an hour, making weeknight cooking feel less like a chore and more like self-care.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step even though it feels like an extra task, because those browned bits on the bottom of the pan are flavor compounds that make everything taste deeper and richer.
  • Pearl couscous releases starch as it cooks, so the sauce will thicken more than you expect during baking, which is exactly what you want but might surprise you the first time.
  • Greek yogurt can break if the heat gets too aggressive, so keep your oven at exactly 375°F and resist the urge to crank it higher.
03 -
  • If your skillet isn't oven-safe, sear the chicken in a regular pan then transfer everything to a baking dish, because this step is worth the extra cleanup.
  • Taste the couscous mixture before it goes in the oven so you can adjust seasonings now rather than at the table, the flavors mellow slightly during baking.
  • Make this on Sunday night and you'll have beautiful leftovers that reheat perfectly, just add a splash of broth when warming so the couscous doesn't dry out.
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