Sesame Ginger Chicken Couscous (Printable)

Tender chicken with pearl couscous in sesame-ginger dressing and fresh vegetables

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
03 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
04 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 garlic clove, minced
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Couscous

07 - 1 1/2 cups pearl couscous
08 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Sesame-Ginger Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
11 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
12 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
13 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - 2 teaspoons Sriracha or chili sauce (optional)
18 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Vegetables & Garnishes

19 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
20 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
21 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
22 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
23 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
24 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds for garnish

# Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine chicken breasts with soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and black pepper. Marinate for at least 10 minutes while preparing remaining ingredients.
02 - In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth and salt to a boil. Add pearl couscous, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until tender. Fluff with a fork and let cool slightly.
03 - Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, Sriracha if using, and lime juice until well combined.
05 - In a large bowl, toss cooked couscous with half of the sesame-ginger dressing. Divide couscous among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with sliced chicken, cucumber, carrots, red bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro. Drizzle remaining dressing over the top and sprinkle with extra sesame seeds.
06 - Serve immediately, warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes, which means weeknight dinners suddenly feel like you actually tried.
  • The sesame-ginger dressing is so addictive you'll find yourself drizzling it on salads and roasted vegetables for weeks.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble right before eating, making it perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting period for the chicken—those 5 minutes let the juices redistribute, and sliced chicken is always more tender than chicken that goes straight from pan to bowl.
  • The dressing needs to taste aggressive on its own before it meets the couscous; if it seems mild, add more soy sauce or lime juice now rather than wishing it had more flavor later.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes until they smell nutty and golden—it completely transforms them from background flavor to the main event.
  • If you have a microplane, use it to grate the ginger; you'll get more juice and aroma than with a box grater, and the texture will be silkier.
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