Are you ready for my most favorite stew EVER?! Good, because this Moroccan-spiced chicken stew is exactly what we need for the remaining chilly winter days.
I first made this warming stew years ago when Tony was traveling and I had the house to myself. I can hardly remember a life before kiddos, but I remember how I used to always bake or cook something cozy for myself. These days, I do it not only for myself, but for my big family — to show them I love and appreciate them each and every day.
So today, I’m re-sharing this life-changing Moroccan chicken stew with you. I encourage you to spend a little time making this as the perfect recipe to say I love you with — whether that’s for you and you only, or for the ones you love.
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Ingredients in this Moroccan-spiced chicken stew
This super cozy Moroccan-inspired stew is packed with over 20g of protein, almost 7g of fiber, and is filled with warming spices. You’ll also get bites of sweetness from the mix-ins that make it absolutely incredible. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Chicken: I prefer to cube up boneless skinless chicken thighs in this recipe because they hold more juiciness and are still lean. You can also use bone-in chicken thighs and then simply discard the bones and shred the chicken instead.
- Pearl couscous: I love the creamy texture that pearl couscous adds when it cooks up in the stew. Barley would also be delicious and add a similar texture!
- Veggies: this Moroccan chicken stew recipe uses sweet potato, cauliflower, carrot, and onion for a delicious boost of veggies.
- Chicken broth: all of my recipes usually call for low-sodium chicken broth, so that you can control the amount of salt you want in the recipe. Bone broth would also be a great option in here.
- Cozy spices: this recipe calls for ground cinnamon, ground turmeric, cumin, salt, and black pepper. These spices are very common when it comes to Moroccan-inspired cooking.
- For the mix-ins: we’re adding fresh parsley for brightness, pistachios for crunch, and dried cherries for plump, juicy sweetness.
Easy ways to customize this recipe
You can easily make this Moroccan-inspired chicken stew your own! Here’s what I can recommend for ingredient swaps:
- Go vegetarian: feel free to omit the chicken and stir in a can of rinsed, drained chickpeas or 1 block of cooked, cubed tofu!
- For the sweet potato: I think cubed butternut squash or pumpkin would also be delicious.
- Have fun with mix-ins & toppings: feel free to swap the dried cherries for dried cranberries, chopped Medjool dates, or golden raisins. You can omit the pistachios to keep it nut-free, or swap them for toasted almonds. A drizzle of hot sauce and a dollop of yogurt on top would also be perfect!
Looking for a gluten-free option?
Feel free to swap the couscous for white basmati rice or quinoa!
Moroccan-spiced chicken stew made in one pot
- Brown your chicken. Start by browning your cubed chicken thighs in a large pot with salt and pepper, then transfer to a plate. No need to cook completely.
- Cook your veggies. In the same pot, cook down the garlic, onion, carrot, cauliflower, and sweet potato for a few minutes.
- Add spices. Stir in all of those warming spices so they become nice and fragrant, then add the chicken back to the pot.
- Stir the stew together. Slowly stir in the broth, couscous, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the stew. Bring everything to a gentle boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the lid, stir, and simmer until the veggies are tender.
- Garnish & serve. Fold in the dried cherries and parsley, taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed, then top with more herbs and pistachios!
How to store, freeze & reheat this stew
- To store: store this healthy Moroccan chicken stew in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- To freeze: let the stew completely cool and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container (or multiple containers for meal prep purposes). Freeze for up to 2 months.
- To reheat: first, let the stew thaw in the refrigerator, then heat the soup in the microwave or on the stovetop.
More one pot and one pan meals
- Sheet Pan Moroccan-Spiced Chicken with Sweet Potatoes & Cauliflower
- Cheesy Tuna Orzo Skillet
- One Pot Butternut Squash Yellow Curry
- Mama’s Puerto Rican Chicken and Rice (Arroz con Pollo)
- Roasted Butternut Squash Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Couscous
Get all of my one pan meals here!
I hope you love this Moroccan-spiced chicken stew! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
One Pot Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Stew
Ingredients
- For the stew
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 large carrot, sliced
- 3 ½ cups small cauliflower florets (from 1 small head of cauliflower)
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced into ½ inch cubes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- Lots of freshly ground black pepper
- Mix-ins and garnish
- ½ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus more to garnish
- ½ cup dried cherries
- ⅓ cup chopped shelled roasted pistachios
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: Add oil to a large dutch oven or pot over medium high heat. Once oil is hot, add in cubed chicken and generously season with salt and pepper. Brown chicken thighs for about 5 to 7 minutes until slightly golden. Remove chicken and transfer to a plate.
- Cook the veggies: Add in another tablepsoon of oil, then stir in the onion, carrot, cauliflower florets and diced sweet potato. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion begins to soften.
- Add the spices: Stir in the garlic, ground turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon and allow spices to cook for 1 minute to enhance flavors, then add in the chicken thighs back into the pot. Slowly add in chicken broth, then stir in the couscous and salt and pepper. Stir to combine and make sure the chicken is well coated with the broth. Bring to to a slight gentle boil, then cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes remove the lid, stir and allow to simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 more minutes or until veggies are fork tender.
- Next, gently stir in the dried cherries and parsley. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary, adding more salt and pepper if desired. Serve with extra parsley + a sprinkle of crushed pistachios on top. Serves 6. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on February 21st, 2019, and updated and republished on February 9th, 2026.
I wonder how/if I could make this in my new tagine?
I haven’t tried it, let us know if you do!
Can you do with chicken breast?
Sure!
This looks delicious!! Loveeeee me some cous cous. Thoughts on replacing sweet potato? The man child is crazy and won’t touch them
I used more carrots! Sister cant stand sweet potatoes 🙁
So good!! Feel free to swap with another veggie or add more of the veggies listed 🙂
This recipe looks amazing!! Any suggestions for cook time if making this in the Instant Pot?
I actually don’t use an Instant Pot so I’m not sure! Let me know if you try it 🙂
I used my instapot and it worked great! Cannot remember the cooking time? but I looked at the ingredients and figured out a time that seemed to fit with everything! I used millet instead of rice and the cauliflower did not fit as I doubled the amounts! Going to try my crockpot today!
I made it this evening … and it was PHENOMENAL! Don’t wait… make this if you’re even remotely thinking about it. Only mods I made were adding a small shallot because we like the flavor … and topping with some avocado and a side green salad. I’m pretty sure this is my favorite recipe I’ve ever made … and was rather quick to make
Amazing! So happy to hear that. Shallot + avocado sound delicious 🙂
I don’t have a dutch oven so I used a giant soup pot and I used chicken breast instead of thighs because that’s what I had. This recipe is delicious, but I used more of each spice than recommended in the recipe. Next time I’d probably add a second medium sweet potato and carrot too.
Perfect!
SOOO good!!! With the cherries and pistaschios, every bite was different 🙂
Aren’t the flavors amazing?? Love the bites of cherries + pistachios too!
Could this recipe be made vegetarian by using vegetable broth and replacing chicken with chickpeas? Sounds so delicious and I’d love to try but am vegetarian!
That’s what I did.. And it is amazing!
Hi Meg! I saw that a reader did this and loved it 🙂 Sounds great to me!
Yeah, I’m replacing the chicken with shiitake mushrooms 🙂
Made this vegetarian with chickpeas and veggie broth instead… It is SO good! This one is making it to the recipe box 🗃
Perfect!! <3
Really enjoyed this! Even my husband couldn’t fault it!!
For a first attempt it was easy and turned out really well. When I make it again I might add a sprinkle of chilli flakes for a little heat.
So happy to hear that! It would be delicious with a kick of heat too 🙂
This was so delicious! Even my 18 month old gobbled it up! Thank you for bringing amazing recipes!!
Amazing!! I’m so glad 🙂
This turned out amazing! I used chicken breast and added cayenne for some heat – will definitely be making this again and so obsessed with the pearl couscous!!
Perfect! Isn’t the couscous amazing? New fav.
I really wanted to love this. I was so excited to make it and thought it would be the perfect cozy weekend meal. However, it came out incredibly bland and underwhelming. Maybe like someone else suggested, it needs double the spice? Im not quite sure but I’m super disappointed in this one
Hi Emily – so sorry to hear that. I’ve found this recipe to be perfectly spiced, but everyone’s taste preferences are different. This one is easy for adjusting, too, to your preferences.
Looks good but You need to update your post for GF replacements for couscous. Barely is not gluten free…
You’re right! I had included it as a regular alternative, but see how that could be confusing. Updated!
This recipe is fantastic! So delicious and flavorful. This will definitely be a new staple for us. 🙂 Thank you!
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
This is one of my new favourite dishes! I can’t stop eating it! Used quinoa and cranberries instead of couscous and cherries. My picky family members even loved it! This is going to the top of my weekly list!!
Perfect! So happy to hear that.
I love love love this recipe!!! I usually judge how my dinner turns out by how many helpings my husband has. He had 3 servings of this stew!!! Totally fabulous! Thank you!
Amazing!! So happy to hear that 🙂
Just made this exactly as the recipe instructs, except I found I had to double the spices. Soo good!
Noted on the spices – glad you enjoyed!
This was so good and one of those dishes you just want to keep eating! I used golden raisins in place of dried cherries, just for preference, but all the flavors were spot on.
Absolutely! And golden raisins sound perfect in here.
That can happen with sweet potato & cauliflower! Next time I would just cook them down for less time 🙂
AMAZING and husband approved 👍🏻 The only swap I made was using dried apricots instead of cherries because I had them on hand. Thank you!
Perfect! So glad you both loved it (and apricots sound delicious!)
Any Suggestions on how you could cook this in a slow cooker???
Cook everything but the couscous on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. You may need to use about 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup less chicken broth. During the last 20 minutes of cooking, add the couscous and replace the lid. Let cook for 20 minutes or until couscous is fully cooked.
Delicious!
Such a great dinner!
Hi Monique! I am obsessed with your recipes and have been making them for 3 months now. Finally leaving a comment. This dish is amazing and I am eating it right now, wanting seconds! After losing some extra weight I’ve gained over the past 2 years, I needed recipes that were going to keep me healthy, full and on track to maintain my current weight. I’m not sure how many of your recipes I’ve made, but I would say at least 30! Thanks to you and exercise of course, I’ve maintained my weight for 3 months. Thank you and please don’t stop making your beautiful creations!
Hi Kat! Thank you so much for your comment. I’m glad you’re finding tons of healthy, delicious recipes here, and I promise to keep them coming 🙂 Enjoy!
Delicious! I used chicken breast instead of thigh, added zucchini for extra veg and used saltanas instead of cherries. Such a great recipe! Thank you!
Love those add-ins! 🙂
Could I sub lentils (brown or red) for the couscous, do you think?
Sure, that sounds delicious! You might also like this stew: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/butternut-squash-chickpea-lentil-moroccan-stew/
This is delicious! used dried cranberries instead and it was so good. Made the portion for meal prep so I kept out the nuts and the berries until I warm it up and it’s seriously satisfying.
Perfect! Love this one for meal prep 🙂 Glad you enjoyed!
Delicious! I adapted it a bit for our preferences, so instead of sweet potato and cauliflower I did mirepoix, chickpeas, and chicken. I also used dried cranberries instead of cherries. The pistachios and cranberries made the dish! Mine was really brothy even once the couscous was ready, so I just drained off some of the liquid. I froze the extras and just defrosted some for lunch- it holds up really well!
Glad those swaps worked out well! The sweet potato & cauliflower add a bit more substance with the couscous, which might be why yours ended up brothy. Great idea to freeze this for later – YUM!
This was DELICIOUS! I love all of your recipes 🙂
So glad you liked it! Thanks Noémie 🙂
This looks delicious! I plan to make it tonight with regular potatoes and raisins. (I don’t have sweet potatoes or dried cherries, and my daughter is allergic to nuts) Looking forward to it!
Let me know how you liked it! Such a great weeknight dinner.
Hi – have you ever tried this recipe with quinoa! We have celiac in the family and can’t eat coucous anymore. I am so sad – but am trying to be creative. Thoughts?
Hi! Yes, quinoa or white basmati rice should work. Let me know if you try it!
This stew was delish! I don’t own a dutch oven, but it cooked really well in just a regular large pot. Like a few others, I did end up doubling on the spices to add a more rich flavor. We made the recipe and had plenty of leftovers that were just as tasty the next day! Thanks again!
Perfect! So glad you liked this one. Great for weeknight dinners!
So good! My fiance and I loved it! Going to make again next week!
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
This was so, so good! The kitchen smelled amazing as this stew was simmering- love that. Made the recipe exactly as written though I subbed roasted, salted almonds for the pistachios since pistachios were like one million dollars at my local store. Anyway, I’ll be making this again and again this fall and winter. <3
Aren’t those flavors incredible? So glad you enjoyed! Great idea to swap with some almonds, too.
Amazing dish! The flavors were so unique and my family loved it. Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfect. My only mistake was chopping The sweet potatoes too small because they were a little musher than I wanted. Freezing the left overs!
So happy to hear that! Easy fix to keep the sweet potatoes a little bit larger next time 🙂
One of my new favorite recipes! I meal prepped and ate it for 5 straight days and wanted it the next week again!
Love that! I do it all the time with this recipe 😉
Really good. Added more salt and crushed red pepper for some heat.
Love the kick of heat – glad you enjoyed!
I made this meal tonight and it was a huge hit! I have made a couple of other recipes of yours and each time we have loved them. Keep up the great work!
So happy to hear that, Maria! I hope you keep finding recipes you love here 🙂
This was absolutely fantastic. Made it in advance and re-heated it with a bit of water a few days later. Rave reviews.
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed.
Hi! I love your blog and recipes, we cook your recipes at least once a week! I tried making this yesterday as a meal prep for the week and the couscous turned all clumpy and mushed together once it was done cooking. It was so hard to stir! Any suggestions on how to fix this for next time?
Hi Danielle! Sounds like you may have overcooked the couscous or had it over too high of heat. I would try again and make sure you follow the amounts as indicated, including the right amount of liquid (should be fairly saucy when you add the couscous) and then make sure your heat isn’t too high!
Is it possible to freeze the leftovers, or does that ruin the texture?
I think it would work just fine! 🙂
This was one of my favorite recipes this year!! So good and easy to make. I secretly think the leftovers are better the next day!
Love that! And yes this makes the best leftovers.
Really good recipe. Didn’t have coconut oil so I used olive oil. Didn’t have tumeric so I used grounded ginger. Great blend of veggies and great taste. Keep them coming!
Perfect! I’m so glad you enjoyed. The perfect weeknight dinner 🙂
I haven’t tried making this yet, but what, in terms of a salad or the like, what would you recommend serving with?
It’s deliciously filling as-is but this broccoli salad would be delicious to pair with it: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/vegan-curried-broccoli-chickpea-salad/, or this simple arugula & sweet potato salad: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/roasted-sweet-potato-arugula-salad/
Perfectly cozy! We make this regularly!
Amazing! One of my favs for winter 🙂
This is such a good dish to make and have all week! Amazing flavors.
Absolutely – one of my all time favorites!
Would this freeze well? Wondering if I could make for meal prep
I think it would freeze beautifully!
This was absolutely delicious!! I used chicken breast tenders and substituted dried cranberries for the cherries and it came out so well! Whole family loved it and the kitchen smelled so wonderful with all the spices wafting through the air. I increased the recipe by 50 percent and probably could have doubled it because it was such a hit. Will definitely make this again!!
Perfect! So glad everyone loved this one 🙂 it makes great leftovers, too!
Looks delicious – just a note, in the section with tips to make gluten free, barley is not gluten free!
Yes, thank you for the catch! I’ve updated to make this more clear 🙂
I made it today for lunch and everybody loved it!
Amazing! So happy to hear that.
Excited to make this tonight! Would regular couscous work in place of pearl? Thanks in advance 🙂
Yes but I might suggest quinoa or rice instead!
This is of my all time favorite recipes!!!!
One of mine, too!!
This is hands down one of my husband and I’d ultimate favorite dishes! It’s so easy to prepare and it is super flavorful and delicious!!! It’s a must make for everyone!!
Loved this! Tastes amazing! I followed the recipe but next time I make it I plan to add a lot of red chilli flakes for some heat.
I absolutely can not get enough of this recipe, it is exquisite! I’ve been making it for my family over the past 7 weeks of quarantine and it has been a true highlight of our weeks. I added a few more carrots and extra cinnamon, but regardless of any modifications this recipe is a winner! Thank you for sharing!
Yummy recipe! I know my family prefers heavily spiced foods so I knew I had to double the amount of cumin and turmeric but I actually decreased the amount of cinnamon to 1/2 teaspoon because while the warmth from cinnamon is wonderful, I didn’t want the dish to be overpowered with just that flavor. I used 2 smallish sweet potatoes, another small carrot, a pinch of red pepper flakes but I think I should have added 2 pinches. If I had been able to buy a fresh hot pepper, I would have included it but with the craziness of grocery shopping during the pandemic, you never know what you will not be able to find. I had to use white quinoa because Sprouts was out of Israeli couscous and basmati rice. It was a delicious substitute but it soaked up more liquid so I just added extra chicken broth. There were no dried cherries so I used raisins and I used sliced almonds. After making a mess sautéing the chicken (oil everywhere even though I used a splatter screen), I think next time, I’ll just poach/shred it first or perhaps chop it into small pieces and sauté. Lastly, there was no cauliflower so I used broccoli. I added the small florets about 5 minutes before serving to avoid having mushy broccoli. Next time I think I’ll use 1 sweet potato and add chick peas (they make everything taste good). We are looking forward to the leftovers.
Perfect! I’m glad that all worked out well!
This was a delicious dinner! Everyone (including the 8 yr old) gobbled it and had seconds! So flavorful! So glad I found you on Pinterest 😁
So happy to hear that!!
This is a go to recipe for our household! Love that I can make this with ingredients I keep stocked. The flavors in this recipe are warm and just so good! I love adding lots of red chilli flakes to take the heat up a level.
Absolutely! Love the idea of adding red chili flakes, too 🙂
WHAT IF I ONLY HAVE REGULAR COUSCOUS AND NOT PEARL? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I WOULD NEED TO ADD? THANK YOU!
I wouldn’t recommend using regular couscous for this recipe. The pearl couscous really makes all the difference.
This recipe needs a lot more spice as it’s rather mediocre in flavor. Next time, I would add chili flakes or chili powder to give it kick. Also the coconut oil did mid work for browning the chicken. I had to dump it and start over with canola oil.
Sorry to hear that! I’ve found this recipe to be perfectly seasoned but definitely feel free to add a kick of spice if that’s what you prefer. And you can always add a bit more coconut oil!
I love this recipe. I’ve made it several times now for the family, and also brought it to a friend who was undergoing cancer treatment. She loved it and would request it each time I brought dinner over. It’s definitely a winner.
So happy this one is a favorite and brought some nourishment + comfort to your friend! Such a great, cozy dinner.
This is so good!!! I left out the chicken & added butternut squash. My husband added feta. Love the spice blend. Thx for a delicious dinner🙏
Perfect! Glad you both enjoyed 🙂
I LOVE this recipe. Made it yet again (exactly as directed in recipe) last night when we had a friend over for her belated birthday dinner, and it was a huge hit. It comes together so quickly, the ingredients can be found anywhere, and the flavors are just impeccable. It’s perfect as a cozy fall dish with a bit of interest. Thanks, Monique!
Perfect! I’m so glad you love it!
This was tasty, nourishing and quick to make, especially if you use precut vegetables. I used quite a bit of black pepper and doubled the cumin – I didn’t get the spices quite to my taste, but will experiment next time.. I would make it again.
This was so good, everyone loved it! I used butternut squash because I didn’t have a sweet potato, I would try potato next time as it maybe wasn’t as sweet. I also just made the stew and then put it over brown rice. Super delicious, easy and versatile. Loved using chicken thighs and the flavors are awesome!
Perfect! Such a great dinner.
Loved this! I was looking for a cozy fall dish that was… different. This was easy to make, relatively heathy, and the kids ate it too. Made exactly as directed, only doubled for a big family.
One more thing, cause it’s super important to me, but the next day leftovers were probably just a tad bit better than dinner last night.
Amazing! Glad it was a hit with the kiddos!
Looking forward to trying this recipe. My pearl couscous only takes 14 minutes to cook. I am thinking of adding it over the last 15 minutes to avoid overcooking. Would that work?
Yes, though the longer the couscous cooks, the nice and starchier the stew will get, but it’s up to you!
So so delicious! I’m a vegetarian so just replaced the chicken with tempeh and chickpeas following the same instructions. Love all ambitious kitchen recipes honestly!
Perfect! So glad you’re loving the recipes!
left out the chicken for my vegetarian family, and I loved it! also left out the mix ins at the end, but it still had loads of flavor!! such an easy complete and filling meal.
Perfect! Such a great dinner 🙂
This was delicious! It was a hit at our house. It was my first time making couscous, and loved it. I used chicken breasts, cut up in bite-sized pieces, and added extra tumeric, cumin and coriander and red pepper flakes for added flavor. The dried cranberries (didn’t have cherries) and pistachios gave it a good twist. Thanks for a great recipe!
A favorite for when I have more than 30 min to make dinner. I’m surprised by other comments that said it wasn’t bland because o found it to be perfectly spiced. If you can, make sure you add the toppings because they make this dish perfectly balanced and ohhhh soooo delicious.
Absolutely! Glad you loved this one!
This stew is in my family’s regular rotation. I also make just the couscous with spices/veggies/mix ins as a side dish for other proteins–it goes nicely with ras el hanout-spiced salmon. Definitely don’t skip the cherries, parsley, and pistachios!
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
Definitely one of my favorite dishes of all time. The pearled couscous always wins.
Mine, too! Glad you love it 🙂
We have made this recipe so many times! An easy weeknight favorite. We rarely have pistachios and dried cherries on hand, so usually sub the cherries with dried cranberries – still really good! Also works well with chicken breasts instead of thighs. The spices are perfect, and it makes for even better leftovers!
Perfect! Great for customizing 🙂 glad you love this one!
Thank you for a wonderful recipe! I made it exactly as written, except that I added some leftover canned, diced tomatoes I had in the fridge. Delicious!! will definitely make this again!
Another great recipe! We didn’t have any of the mix ins and it was still delicous. The kids were skeptical but they ended eating it all up.
Full of flavor and easy to make! I have this on repeat all winter. Don’t forget the parsley and dried cherries, worth it!
Hi! I want to make this but couldn’t find pearled couscous. Could I sub with orzo or smaller couscous?
Orzo would be perfect!
LOVED this dish! Subbed broccoli for cauliflower and used white Nishiki rice instead of couscous to accommodate allergies….chef’s kiss!
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
I had never made anything like this before – initially it was quiet intimindating, but after the firth go thorugh I can confidently say anyone could make this!
It’s easier than you think! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
I cooked this recipe today and can say that it turned out really really well. I put in some dried corriander leaves and pomegranate seeds to garnish. Also I put 2 chicken stock pots in 500ml of warm water per the 1 cup of couscous. Also I fried the chicken for a long time as I like my chicken brown. All in all it turned out really well and I will be making this again 🙂
I’m SO happy you loved it, Ellane. Those are great additions–sounds delish!
Made this vegetarian by subbing in veggie broth and chickpeas. Delicious! Next time I would bump up the spices just a bit to make them more assertive – they are subtle. Don’t skip the cherries, nuts, and parsley, they really are an integral part to the taste of this dish.
Absolutely amazing! The only swap I made was water instead of chicken stock – and it was phenomenal. There’s no hot spice – just perfectly warming and absolutely delicious. This is going to become a staple in our household!
I’m so glad to hear you’re loving this one! The spices are so cozy, right?!
This recipe is terrible! So bad I couldn’t even eat it. Don’t waste your time with it.
I wonder if maybe you didn’t follow the recipe correctly and messed up on the spices? My partner and I thought this dish was wonderful.
Oh my goodness this was delicious!!! I added a little fresh ginger and used dried sour cherries, I might try another dried fruit next time like apricot as the cherries carried a bit too much of a punch for me. I also put a dry rub on the chicken of cinnamon, cayenne and turmeric. This dish was fantastic and I’m saving it. Thank youuuu!!!.
Yum this was absolutely delish. I used leftover chicken, which cut down on the time. I also didn’t have cauliflower, so I used frozen green beans, which I threw in for a couple of minutes after sauteing the other veggies, but before adding the spices. DIdn’t have the dried cherries (although I will try this next time), but had dried cranberries. We like a little spicier, so I added some cayenne pepper and smoked paprika. But I love the combination of flavors, it was sooo easy, and I will definitely be making this again, maybe with fresh chicken the next time. Thank you!
This recipe was spot on! I added sliced white mushrooms and half a red bell pepper to it just because I had some on hand! And instead of the turmeric, cinnamon and cumin, I used a couple of tablespoons of ras el hanout spice blend because it’s what i had in the pantry (and is basically a blend of those spices anyway). Turned out just wonderful. The addition of the dried cherries are a must – really gives it an extra pizazz! Don’t skip em! Thanks for the recipe. Will make it again very soon!
That all sounds fabulous! I’m so glad you loved it!
Oh my goodness this was delicious! Followed the recipe exactly (minus the pistachios-I’m allergic) and wouldn’t change a thing. Perfect dinner for a cold winter night!
Definitely a hit! I cooked the chicken thighs separately as I eat plant based but the rest of the family does not. Will definitely be making this again
Good idea, so glad you enjoyed this one!
Looks delicious! Do you have instructions for using quinoa instead of couscous?
Thank you.
Hi, there! I don’t know exactly how much liquid you’d need for quinoa but you’ll want to use a bit less broth. Check the quinoa packaging to see what ratio of quinoa:liquid they recommend. You can always add more if it needs it 🙂
Great flavorful stew. I added a little ground cloves as well to the spices to sweeten it up a bit. Making it again this week since winter weather is heading my way.
Love that idea! So happy you enjoyed it, Vicki 🙂
This is a family favorite recipe for sure, and my toddler absolutely LOVES this meal! It’s warm, comforting, and so delicious! Honestly, I think it’s even better reheated after the broth and spices get to soak into the couscous and chicken a bit more! For an extra dose of veggies, I add greenbeans and broccoli to the carrot, cauliflower, and onion combo. Cannot recommend this more highly!
Perfect! SO glad this recipe is a hit!
This was absolutely delicious! I pretty much followed your recipe to the T and my husband and I loved it. Will definitely add this to our weekly rotation. Monique, you have the best recipes as I have made quite a few of them, all of them delicious I may add, Thank you so much for sharing them all with us!
This was absolutely delicious! I pretty much followed your recipe to the T and my husband and I loved it. Will definitely add this to our weekly rotation. Monique, you have the best recipes as I have made quite a few of them, all of them delicious I may add, Thank you so much for sharing them all with us!
This was so good, I doubled the seasoning based on reviews. I left out the couscous for lower carbs. I will definitely make this again.
Yay! So glad you are enjoying this recipe! 🙂
I adore this recipe, Don’t change a thing! So tasty. Husband loves it. Everyone is happy!
Ahh this is great! So glad you and your husband are loving this recipe! 🙂
AK does it again!!!
I have been looking for recipes using pearl couscous and this did not disappoint. I took a bit of a risk and did everything using the Instant-Pot. I sautéed veggies until tender then added broth and couscous and cooked for 5 minutes, 5 natural minute release then quick release. The veggies were a bit mushy so I would probably cut down cooking time. I had some leftover shredded chicken that I added at the end. For the adults I added raisins, whole pistachios, and some hot sauce. It was a hit ALL around!
PS – I bet this will also be delicious COLD!
I made it and love it. Thank you. I listened to those who said to increase the seasonings, and am glad I did. I added chickpeas bc I love them in a Moroccan stew. I used the 10-minute farro instead of couscous bc I avoid refined starches. And altho I did end up with a very mushy stew, I don’t mind. It does seem excessive to simmer soft vegetables like cauliflower and sweet potatoes for over 30 min…or it could be due to my stove burners which don’t go low enough, so my simmer is more like a boil. Either way I will add those vegetables in to the stew a bit later next time, which I think is a fairly common practice when cooking different types of veg together in one pot.
Ah this sounds incredible! I am so glad you’re loving this recipe and increasing the spices was a good move for you. Thanks for much for you’re review ❤️
If using white basmati rice, should you use the same amount as couscous, 1 cup?
Yes!
Can regular couscous be used in place of pearl couscous,?
Sure! That should work fine, enjoy!
My husband and I LOVE this recipe and have it on repeat! It’s so easy to make, warm and hearty for the colder months, and very healthy. The only change I’ve made is using half the amount of cinnamon so it’s not quite as sweet. Five stars for sure!
Ah this is so great, Erin. Glad you both loved this recipe 🙂
Delicious!! I pretty much followed the recipe, except I used quinoa and added dates. Very flavourful and I will make again and again!
YUM! Love this so much, glad it turned out great for you and you loved it, Laura 🙂
I just came across this recipe. Do you think farro would work instead of couscous?
Sure! I haven’t tested this recipe with farro though. You’ll just want to rinse them first and I am not sure if the cooking time will change at all.
This is very good. I subbed regular potato for the sweet potato and add the cherries/pistachios to our bowls instead of the pot. Have made this many times and love it.
Perfect for a cold evening! Made vegetarian-ish and subbed chicken for a can of chickpeas.
Love that!
De-lish-us!
I made this in my InstaPot today because it’s 15 degrees. I had to sub in Crasins m.
This is the perfect ratio of Smokey to sweet.
Yummy
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
Made this for 1st time tonight. Amazing! I made it gf with basmati and added Madeira and some ginger for a savory broth. Was terrific! Thank you!!
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed!
This was a great recipe to make. I had everything on hand and was able to use up many ingredients before going bad! I always cut back on turmeric and especially cumin as they are strong. End result was delicious! Pistachios made it really nice . I didn’t have dried cherries but not sure how that would have tasted. I just keep trying another one of your recipes. Will be hard to decide which one I go back to first! LOL
Perfect! So glad you loved it!
This is an incredible recipe! Turned out perfect for me, easy and so delicious. The only modification I made was to omit the dried cherries.
So happy to hear that! One of my favorite dinners 🙂
I made this recipe for a sort of potluck and got compliments for days afterwards. It’s easy and healthy. I used whole wheat cous cous (added later because it cooks faster). It tasted fine but wasn’t as attractive. Made it almost without salt and it was still good. Loved all the veggies.
So good and great for sharing! Glad it’s a favorite 🙂
This recipe is delicious! I always love Monique’s recipes but decided to try this one to make for my in-laws. I had never cooked for them before, and they’re not very adventurous, so I started to get nervous while making this (what if cinnamon is weird for them, what if the liquid doesn’t absorb?), but it was a huge hit! They both loved that it was delicious and still packed with veggies. I can always count on Monique for the best ideas!
Amazing! I’m so glad you gave this one a try and that they loved it 🙂
I made this and it was good but a little bland. Not sure where I went wrong
Sorry to hear that! Feel free to add more salt to taste to bring out all of the flavors (everyone’s salt preferences are different, which is why I specify to add more to taste).
Sounds delicious! Can I sub cauliflower rice to make it gf?
The stew may come out a bit thinner (because the couscous absorbs liquid) but I think that may work! Let me know if you give it a try 🙂
Made this multiple times and absolutely love it. I Made it for my family members on a recent trip out of town, and Made it ahead of time, just left it in the pot brought it up there, it was a hit. Everybody loved the flavors , and the ingredients as they are so healthy, and I’m glad I made it a day ahead because they had time to really blend. I suggest doing that if you have the time. we served with little mini pitas and it’s a full meal. Definitely a five star.
Amazing! So glad it was a hit!
I didn’t have any cous cous so subbed with quinoa and i made a pot of coconut jasmine rice to go with it. Absolutely delicious!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
Every single one of Monique’s recipes is amazing and this is no exception. Such delicious flavors! I make AK recipes weekly – truly the best of the best.
I’m so glad you love them!!
So delicious!! It was the perfect blizzard meal. My entire family from my 93 year old great grandmother to my 2 year old loved it. My 2 year old cried when his bowl was empty!
We love this one during the winter, too! Glad it was a hit with everyone!
Love this recipe, have made it so many times. As a vegetarian family I don’t add chicken and use veggie broth. I’ve added other vegetables as well. Easy and delicious!
A lovely weeknight meal!
The one pot Moroccan chicken stew was warming and delicious on a cold Chicago night! Can’t wait to have the leftovers for the week. We used the dried cherries in the dish and loved it .
Absolutely! Glad it was a hit!
Delicious!!!! I did double the spices per some of the other review recommendations and I added an extra carrot and an extra sweet potato as I was trying to use things up. I live the addition of the fresh parsley the pistachios and the dried cherries. Amazing mix of flavors. Will make again.
Perfect! One of my fav dinners, too 🙂
Delicious and full of flavor! Swapped the couscous for quinoa due to gluten allergy.
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed 🙂