For quite some time my mom has complained that the one problem with my site is that not everybody wants to spend two hours making dinner or baking bread from scratch. People ain’t got time for that! And for some time, I just shrugged her off and kept doing what I have been doing, making recipes I want to make.
But, like with most things in life and even though it pains me to admit this, I have come to discover my mom was right. I ain’t got time for two hour dinners or baking bread or pizza dough from scratch right now.
I hope this phase with Mr. Ticking Time Bomb every time around dinner won’t last forever. I will say that it has made me become a craftier home cook. The other day, in a matter of ten minutes while Andy was sleeping, I threw together these killer enchiladas made out of this pork. The only bad thing about that dinner was I didn’t have time (the little time bomb was ticking) to let the enchiladas cool so I burned the crap out of my tongue trying to shovel them down.
I am now in search of quick and easy meals that also require little clean up. So get ready for more recipes like this one. Because like I said earlier, ain’t nobody got time for that.
One Pot Spicy Spanish Chicken and Cous Cous
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts/Thighs cut into pieces
- 1 Carrot peeled and diced
- 1 Celery Stalk diced
- ¼ Cup Diced Onion
- ½ Cup Diced Jarred Roasted Red Peppers
- 1 ½ Cups Israeli Cous Cous
- 2 Cloves Garlic grated
- 1, 15 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles
- 1 Cup Low Sodium Chicken Stock
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 Teaspoon Oregano
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Chopped Cilantro
- ½ Cup Sliced Black Olives
Instructions
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Add olive oil to a large heavy-bottomed skillet and heat over medium/high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden on each side, approximately six minutes. Remove chicken and add to a plate off to the side. Turn the heat down to medium.
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Add onion, carrot, and celery to the pan. Sautee for four minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute.
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Turn the heat to low and add the cous cous. Stir continuously to evenly toast the cous cous.
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Pour in the tomatoes and the chicken stock. Add the chicken back into the pot along with the spices. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Cover with a lid and cook for 12-14 minutes. Make sure to stir the cous cous every now and again to prevent sticking.
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Turn the heat off. Add the cilantro and olives. Stir to combine and then serve.
Nicole
July 1, 2014 at 1:12 pmI made this last night and it was delicious! One comment on the recipe… I’m not sure if when you were editing previously you removed these details, but it doesn’t say when to add the red pepper or the spices. Not a big deal for some, but helpful for cooking novices like myself 🙂 Still turned out amazing though!
Spanish Chicken and Cous Cous – Yummy! | Books & Blouses
May 21, 2014 at 7:49 am[…] (Original recipe found at: https://www.sarcasticcooking.com/2014/02/17/one-pot-spicy-spanish-chicken-and-cous-cous/) […]
Laura B
March 5, 2014 at 1:46 pmI am probably totally missing something, but when do you add the chicken back in? While the cous cous is cooking to absorb the flavors or when you put in the olives at the end? Thank you! This looks so good- can’t wait to try. 🙂
Stefanie
March 5, 2014 at 3:19 pmOh duh! I am so sorry I forgot to mention that in the recipe! You add the chicken back in when you add the tomatoes. I added that step into the recipe.
Rose
September 14, 2014 at 4:09 pmWhat about the red pepper and spices?
Stefanie
September 14, 2014 at 4:20 pmIt gets tossed in when you add the chicken back to the pot.
Ashley - baker by nature
February 24, 2014 at 7:50 pmNow this is a one pot meal I will actually make. Like, tomorrow!!! So much yum!
Stefanie
February 24, 2014 at 9:18 pmOh yay! Thanks Ashley!
Francesca
February 23, 2014 at 1:34 pmWhy do I feel guilty for one-pot things when they don’t have to be mac and cheese?! I got time for this!!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
February 22, 2014 at 1:47 pmThis looks just like a sort-of Spanish style chicken rice dish I made last week, which was really easy as well. Love that you used Israeli couscous. I’ve been trying to find some here where I live (Greece) but not having much luck as yet!
Jennie @themessybakerblog
February 21, 2014 at 10:34 amI all for easy meals during the week. Your mom is right, “I aint got time for that.” Love this simple, yet flavorful dish.
Stefanie
February 22, 2014 at 8:15 amThanks Jennie.
julia
February 19, 2014 at 11:32 amI am all about the one pot meals 🙂 This looks so wonderful. I love the spicy-Spanish flavors! Reminds me of my time in Barcelona and the pallela I ate there. Yum!
Stefanie
February 19, 2014 at 10:20 pmOh yum, you gave me an idea to maybe add in some shrimp next time!
Susan
February 18, 2014 at 6:49 pmQuick and easy dinners for the win! Sometimes that ticking time bomb is my belly!
Sadye
February 18, 2014 at 1:21 pmOh, parents and their “always being right!” This looks quite tasty. Hope to make it soon!
Kathleen
February 18, 2014 at 9:15 amI LOVE olives! (Just had to even the numbers a bit!) And also, with a 22 month old & 6 week old at home myself, am *very* excited to see some quick/easy meals on the way. Great timing!
Stefanie
February 18, 2014 at 12:41 pmOlive lovers unite!!!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
February 18, 2014 at 8:49 amI love cooking complicated recipes on the weekends, but I’m always on the lookout for quick stuff like this for weeknights! Yay for one pot meals!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
February 17, 2014 at 10:52 pmI’m alllll about the quick and easy dinners. Anything to get the food in my belly quicker. Especially when it looks this delicious.
Sarah
February 17, 2014 at 6:45 pmBesides the fact I have the opinion olives are a food of the actual devil himself, this looks delicious! “Easy cleanup” has been my middle name since I started a job with an hour’s worth of commute home.
Stefanie
February 17, 2014 at 7:11 pmHahaha! My husband feels exactly the same way. I made him eat two olives just to appease me.
Stephie @ EYHO
February 17, 2014 at 10:14 pmOk. I’m also and olive hater. But aside from that…I am loving this. I also think it just looks so pretty all in its skillet together!