Creamy Greek Chicken Pearl Couscous (Printable Page)

Comforting one-pan Greek chicken with pearl couscous, spinach, and creamy feta baked to golden perfection.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
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 or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs for 2-3 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 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 chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the couscous mixture. Sprinkle crumbled feta over the top.
10 - Transfer skillet to oven and bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and 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 one pan, which means less cleanup and more time actually enjoying your dinner.
  • The chicken comes out impossibly tender while the couscous soaks up all that lemony, herby goodness.
  • Feta and yogurt create this luxurious sauce that tastes restaurant-quality but takes zero fancy technique.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step, even though it feels like an extra thing, those golden bits on the chicken create flavor that makes people think you went to culinary school.
  • Pearl couscous needs the full amount of liquid to cook properly, so don't try to reduce the broth or it'll turn out dry and disappointing.
03 -
  • Taste the sauce before adding the feta because you'll want to adjust the salt, the feta brings its own saltiness to the party.
  • If your skillet isn't oven-safe, sear the chicken in one pan and transfer everything to a baking dish before popping it in the oven.
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