One-pot Couscous and Beef
This one-pot couscous and beef is my ideal weeknight dinner. It’s hearty and cozy, and packed with warm flavors. It’s the meal I turn to when I want something nourishing yet simple with minimal clean up.
Ground beef gets browned in a pot with onions, then tossed in a simple blend of spices with tomato paste, chickpeas and pearled couscous. Everything gets cooked together until tender and fluffy. It’s the perfect all in one meal to serve your family.
Why you’ll love it
- One pot, big flavor- browning the beef first builds a rich base, and a hearty protein
- Balanced and filling- you get protein from the beef and chickpeas, carbs from the couscous, and veggies from the onion and carrots
- Great for leftovers- this is one of those meals that’s even better the next day. Prep it at the beginning of the week and enjoy it for lunch or dinner throughout the week
If you’re new here and haven’t checked out my other one-pan meals, I’ll link some below for you to try. They’re easily customizable and can be made with your favorite veggies or spice mixes.
One-pan meals to simplify dinner time:
- Creamy Coconut Orzo and Salmon
- One-pan Chicken and Couscous
- Spinach & Artichoke Orzo and Salmon
- Honey Mustard Salmon Bites and Veggies
Ingredients you’ll need for one-pan couscous and beef
This recipe is made with a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need-
- Pearl couscous, aka Israeli couscous
- Ground beef
- Canned chickpeas
- Grated carrots
- Diced onion
- Tomato paste
- Olive oil
- Spices– paprika, cumin, turmeric, salt & pepper
- Start by sauteeing the onion in the olive oil for 5-7 minutes on medium heat
- Add the ground beef to the pan, breaking it up gently. Brown the meat for another 7-10 minutes
- Add the spices, chickpeas, tomato paste, chopped parsley and couscous. Mix well
- Pour in the water and cover the pot with a lid. Bring to a boil, then reduce the flame to low and simmer for 20 minutes
- Garnish with extra parsley when serving
I used my 3.5 qt enameled cast iron pan for this recipe. It’s one of my favorites for recipe like this, and such a pretty pan to serve out of if you’re having guests over.
This recipe is simple, yet flavorful, and truly elevates your weeknight dinner. It’s an all-in-one meal that packs in protein, carb and veggies, and is a new staple in our house that requires minimal dishes.
I can’t wait for you guys to try it!
Other one-pan recipes to try
One-pan Chicken and Quinoa
Creamy Coconut Orzo and Salmon
Lemon Herb Chicken Sheet Pan
One-pot Couscous and Beef with Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups pearled couscous
- 2 cups water
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 carrots peeled and grated
- 1 can chickpeas 15 oz, drained
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
Directions
- Heat a pot on medium heat with the oil. Once hot, add the diced onion and saute for 5 minutes, until soft.
- Add the ground beef, breaking it apart in the pan. Cook the beef with the onions for 7-10 minutes to brown, stirring every couple of minutes.
- Add the spices to the beef with the tomato paste, chickpeas, grated carrots, couscous and parsley. Mix well.
- Pour in two cups of water, stir well and cover the pot. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the flame to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, fluff with a fork and garnish with extra chopped parsley.
Great weekend night dinner if you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. Added some zucchini for extra veggies and it turned out great!
Great one-pan dish! I used 80/20 ground beef & drained the grease before adding the rest of the ingredients (unclear if I was supposed to, but worked well).
So glad you tried it!
Having now made this almost once a week over the last month, I wanted to share how much I enjoyed this recipe! It’s so easy to follow and so so delicious.
I’m so glad you tried it!
Sorry I just added it to step 3!