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    MJ & Hungryman » Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    One Pot Curried Chicken and Carrot Couscous

    By Min On March 2, 2015, Updated March 25, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    This easy one pot curried chicken and carrot couscous is the perfect baby and kid-friendly 30 minute meal that continues to taste better with time. Serve on its own or as a healthy side dish to just about anything! It's the perfect busy weeknight meal made with simple pantry staples.

    cooked couscous with fresh cilantro in a large oven Dutch oven
    Contents
    • What is Couscous?
    • Ingredients
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • Other One Pot Baby/Toddler Meals

    What is Couscous?

    While it looks like a grain, it's actually a pasta! It is made from coarsely-ground durum wheat semolina.

    If this is not one of your pantry staples, I hope this post convinces you to grab some on your next grocery run. Couscous cooks up so fast that it's a great alternative to rice, barley, and other types of grains and pasta.

    It has a neutral, slightly nutty taste so it lends itself very well to a wide variety of dishes. Texture wise, it's light and fluffy, making it great for babies!

    There are many varieties. What you will most commonly find is the Moroccan or Israeli (pearl) couscous. The latter is much larger in size compared to the others.

    Whatever variety you find, try to look for a whole wheat version. Extra fiber, protein, and micronutrients like iron, are great for our kids as well as adults.

    Related: Pizza Casserole with Couscous

    Ingredients

    all the ingredients laid down on a grey background
    • Poultry will work better than red meat. Dice the chicken into small pieces so it will cook up fast and make it easy for your baby or toddler to manage. You can also use ground chicken or turkey.
    • No meat? If you want to make it vegetarian, chickpeas or white beans would work well! Add it along with the liquids.
    • Lemon - This is a MUST ingredient. If you don’t have it, wait until you can get your hands on it. It really brightens the whole dish and adds that je ne sais quoi factor. If you'd like an extra zing, add some grated lemon zest too!
    • Broth: feel free to use whatever broth you wish.
    • Tomatoes: Help aid in the absorption of iron, which is super important for babies! 
    • Optional toppings suggestions:
      • Cheese - feta or parmesan pairs best!
      • Nuts - almonds or walnuts (finely chopped or ground for babies as they're a choking hazard)
      • Dried fruits - raisins, cranberries, dates (finely chopped for babies)

    Step By Step Instructions

    cooking shots showing carrots cooking on the left and chicken added on the right
    cooking process showing liquids added to the pot on the left and couscous added on the right
    1. Cook onion and carrots. Then add garlic and seasonings.
    2. Add chicken and cook until browned.
    3. Add tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil.
    4. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat and let it stand, covered, for 8-10 minutes.
    5. Fluff with a fork and squeeze in fresh lemon juice and add zest (optional). Serve with fresh herbs and any of the suggested toppings.

    Serving Suggestions

    a close up shot of the cooked dish scooped with a large spoon

    While it’s delicious when enjoyed on the same day, the flavors really start to deepen and enhance over time. So if able, plan ahead and make this at least several hours prior to eating.

    You can enjoy this warm or cold.

    As mentioned earlier, lemon juice is everything! You can also grate in some lemon zest for that extra punch of brightness.

    And as another reminder, if adding nuts and/or fruits, be sure to chop finely for babies as they are choking hazards.

    an adult portion of couscous on a white plate laid on top of blue and white folded kitchen towel

    Storage Suggestions

    Fridge: transfer to a closed container for 3-5 days.

    Freezer: Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Will keep for up to 3 months.

    Here’s everything you need to know to safely store leftovers!

    Other One Pot Baby/Toddler Meals

    • Healthy Family Pantry Meals
    • Homemade Hamburger Helper
    • Korean beef and broccoli quinoa
    • Instant Pot Korean chicken and potatoes
    • Cheesy Vegetarian Orzo Primavera

    Did you make this baby and toddler-friendly One Pot Curried Chicken and Carrot Couscous? Follow me on Instagram post a photo and tag me, post a photo on my Facebook page, or save it to Pinterest. I love to see what you’re making! 

    a close up shot of the cooked curried chicken couscous scooped with a large spoon

    One Pot Curried Chicken and Carrot Couscous

    This easy one pot curried chicken and carrot couscous is the perfect baby and kid-friendly 30 minute meal. Made with simple pantry staples, enjoy as a main or side dish.
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil , divided
    • ½ medium yellow or red onion , small diced
    • 2 medium carrots , small diced
    • 2 garlic cloves , minced (can use 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
    • 1 tablespoon curry powder
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast, diced
    • 1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
    • 1 ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
    • 1 cup (170g) whole wheat couscous
    • Juice of 1 lemon (see note)
    • Fresh cilantro or parsley
    • Optional toppings: cheese (feta or parmesan are especially great), chopped almonds and dried fruits (e.g. cranberries, raisins, dates)

    Instructions

    • Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots. Cook for 3-5 minutes. 
    • Add garlic and seasonings and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds or so.
    • Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until browned.
    • Add tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat and let it stand , covered, for 8-10 minutes.
    • Fluff with a fork and squeeze in lemon and zest. Add cilantro/parsley and any other toppings you wish.

    Notes

    • Poultry will work better than red meat. Dice the chicken into small pieces so it will cook up fast and make it easy for your baby or toddler to manage. You can also use ground chicken or turkey.
    • If you want to make it vegetarian, chickpeas or white beans would work well! Add it along with the liquids.
    • Lemon - This is a MUST ingredient. If you don’t have it, wait until you can get your hands on it
    • Broth: feel free to use whatever broth you wish. 
    • Optional toppings suggestions:
      • Cheese - feta or parmesan pairs best!
      • Nuts - almonds or walnuts (finely chopped or ground for babies as they're a choking hazard)
      • Dried fruits - raisins, cranberries, dates (finely chopped for babies)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 164mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3407IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Indian
    Diet Low Salt
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

    More Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    • Fluffy Vegetable Rice
    • How to Freeze Yogurt
    • Creamy Chicken Orzo
    • Custard Yogurt Toast (Sweet and Savory)

    Share or Save It for Later!

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lily says

      August 04, 2022 at 10:54 pm

      5 stars
      This is my daughter's favorite meal. It is easy to make and quick. Thank you for all of your amazing recipes and hard work!

      Reply
      • Min says

        August 05, 2022 at 1:35 pm

        So happy to hear this! Thank you for trying out my recipes!

        Reply
    2. Cecelia says

      July 07, 2022 at 8:29 pm

      Love this recipe! I have made it in the past for my toddler and he enjoyed it as well as me! One quick question I had is how much lemon zest do you usually put in? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Min says

        July 08, 2022 at 5:11 pm

        I'm so glad! I usually do 1/2 of lemon but you can add more or less to taste 😉

        Reply
    3. ellie | fit for the soul says

      March 04, 2015 at 7:43 pm

      This looks so yummay! The flavors sound explosively beautiful, Unnie ^_^v And I really truly love dishes that get more flavorful with time because hey, if you're gonna have leftovers then might as well have them as fresh as possible, right?

      Reply
    4. Arman @ thebigmansworld says

      March 03, 2015 at 4:03 am

      I've been obsessed with couscous lately because it's been so hot here and perfect to eat cold- Off to check it out now!

      Reply
    5. Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily says

      March 02, 2015 at 6:10 pm

      Now this is one, one pot meal I could fall in love with! Thanks for sharing! Saving and sharing (from fb RR page 😉

      Reply
    6. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      March 02, 2015 at 2:30 pm

      That looks delicious!

      Reply
    7. Sonali- The Foodie Physician says

      March 02, 2015 at 11:29 am

      This looks gorgeous and I love the ease of it! Heading over to HA now to check it out some more!

      Reply
    8. Anne|Craving Something Healthy says

      March 02, 2015 at 10:12 am

      Fabulous flavors and nothing better than a one pot dinner! Pinned 🙂

      Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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