If you’re wondering what to serve with your couscous, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 42 of the most popular side dishes for couscous.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes to serve with couscous are honey garlic glazed salmon, Moroccan chickpea stew, falafels, beef souvlaki kebabs, and ratatouille. A chicken and apricot tagine is also a classic. For something quick and easy, try sauteed mushrooms. And for brunch, serve a lamb meatball shakshuka.
Ready? Let’s get started!
Moroccan chickpea stew
Whether you’re a seasoned vegetarian or you’re just dipping your toes in eating meat-free, this chickpea stew is a must-try.
It’s a satisfying, rich stew with a fiery kick, thanks to a mix of warming spices and harissa.
Scoop a hefty serving over your freshly cooked couscous for a delicious, comforting meal.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a healthy, budget-friendly option.
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Moroccan chickpea stew
Make it French-style
Mushroom bourguignon
Make it Indian-inspired
Tofu tikka masala
Roasted vegetables with tahini sauce
Roasting your veggies takes them to another level.
They become delightfully crisp-tender, and their natural sugars are drawn out caramelizing them around the edges.
They’ll be delicious with just a crack of salt and pepper, but drizzling the vegetables with a bright and nutty homemade tahini sauce makes them even better.
Why we love this recipe: the oven does most of the cooking for you.
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Roasted vegetables with tahini sauce
Make it interesting
Whole-roasted cauliflower with tahini
Fire up the grill
Grilled vegetables with chimichurri sauce
Chicken and apricot tagine
For those days when you really want to impress, a Moroccan tagine is the way to go.
The apricots in the stew give it a lovely sweet flavor that will appeal to everyone, even children.
This is one of the few ‘grown up’ recipes that I’ve never seen my nieces turn down.
Why we love this recipe: it’s comfort food heaven.
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Sheet pan sesame chicken dinner
Go classic
Lamb tagine
Make it easy
Moroccan sheet pan chicken
Ratatouille
The idea of vegetable stews didn’t excite me until I tried this French classic, ratatouille!
It features tender summer veggies drenched in a simple but robust tomato sauce.
The key to perfecting this dish is to saute your vegetables separately – it’s tempting to throw everything in one pot, but unless you like a dull mush, don’t go this!
Why we love this recipe: each serving only has 158 calories.
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Ratatouille
Make it Italian-inspired
Eggplant caponata
Keep it simple
Peperonata
Beef souvlaki kebabs
Take some tasty inspiration from Greek cuisine and whip up these beef souvlaki kebabs to go with a lemon-y couscous.
Don’t skip marinating the beef, it tenderizes the meat and infuses it with so much yummy flavor.
Pro tip: an hour of marinating would be enough, but 8 hours is much better.
Why we love this recipe: it includes a cooling tzatziki dip.
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Beef souvlaki kebabs
Make it healthier
Chicken souvlaki
Make it plant-based
Vegan souvlaki skewers
Best chicken soup
Couscous is often a starchy side for your proteins, but did you know it’s fabulous in soups too?
Aside from veggies and chicken, this soup is loaded with pearl couscous, which soaks up the savory goodness from the broth.
Not only does the couscous make the soup super satisfying, it also helps thicken the soup.
Why we love this recipe: it has a 4.94 rating from 896 votes.
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Best chicken soup
Make it creamy
Mushroom and pearl couscous soup
Make it Moroccan-inspired
20-minute Moroccan chickpea soup
Butternut squash and kale
This side dish of butternut squash and kale is loaded with the flavors of fall.
It’s simple, but the squash’s sweet, nutty flavors perfectly complement the bitterness of your kale.
Sprinkle some chili and garlic powder for a savory note, mix in some couscous, and you’re in for a treat.
Why we love this recipe: the leftovers are great mixed with eggs the next day.
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Butternut squash and kale
Make a salad
Easy kale salad
Make it hearty
Sausage and kale skillet
Grilled pork chops with chimichurri
Pork is an underrated meat in my opinion, and it often loses out to chicken or beef.
But it really shines in this dish.
The pork chops are rubbed with a slightly spicy Mexican spice seasoning and grilled to add a smokey touch.
Then they’re covered in a zippy chimichurri dressing to keep them bright.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a unique and interesting dish.
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Chili-rubbed grilled pork chops
Make it different
Lemon pepper pork chops
Make it saucy
Pork in creamy mustard sauce
Lamb meatball shakshuka
Serve up the best brunch you’ve ever had with a lamb meatball shakshuka and couscous.
Once you break open the runny eggs and watch the yolks mix into the sauce, you won’t be able to resist digging in.
Psst… the dish will still be amazing even if you decide to skip the meatballs.
Why we love this recipe: you can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Lamb meatball shakshuka
Make it spicy
Eggs in purgatory
Skip the tomatoes
Green shakshuka
Falafel
If you want to go the meat-free route without the usual tofu, give falafel a try!
They’re made with ground chickpeas and loaded with fresh herbs and earthy spices, making each piece super flavorful.
They can be stuffed in pita bread, but I love pairing them with couscous for a hearty meal.
Why we love this recipe: it shares two methods for cooking these falafels – frying and baking.
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Falafels
Make it fun
Beetroot falafels
Go meaty
Moroccan-spiced chicken meatballs
Honey garlic glazed salmon
You can’t go wrong with this glazed salmon if you want a healthy and delicious protein to pair with your couscous.
This popular fish is rich in omega 3’s and is big on flavor, thanks to the honey garlic sauce that’s brushed over the filets as they cook.
The results? Flakey salmon filets with a sticky, sweet flavor.
Why we love this recipe: it’s perfect for those busy weeknights.
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Honey garlic glazed salmon
Make it saucy
Saffron salmon tagine
Swap the fish
Garlic butter lemon baked cod
Sauteed mushrooms
If you need a quick but flavorful side, these sauteed mushrooms have your back.
The juicy mushrooms are packed with natural umami flavors, that’s enhanced with butter and a splash of tart balsamic.
Mix them with some garlic parmesan couscous for a deliciously easy dinner.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze
Make it indulgent
Creamy garlic mushrooms
Make it healthier
Garlic mushrooms cauliflower skillet
Couscous tabbouleh
This isn’t technically a side, but one way of making the most of your couscous is to turn it into a salad.
This classic Middle Eastern salad is made with tomatoes, red onions, and tons of chopped fresh herbs – plus bulgur wheat.
But you can easily swap the bulgur wheat for couscous.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a medley of fun textures.
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Couscous tabbouleh
Make it Tex-Mex inspired
Black bean and couscous salad
Make it Mediterranean style
Mediterranean couscous salad
Seared scallops with basil pesto
The most important trick when cooking scallops is not leaving them unattended because they cook SO quickly.
A topping of creamy basil pesto adds a splash color and a herby flavor that your guests are sure to be impressed by.
And a bed of couscous is great for not overwhelming these tasty morsels.
Why we love this recipe: it looks and tastes like it came from a professional kitchen.
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Seared scallops with basil pesto
Change the flavor
Creamy Tuscan scallops
Skip the stovetop
Bacon-wrapped scallops baked with cream sauce
What vegetarian dishes go well with couscous?
Moroccan chicken stew and falafels are both fabulous with couscous. For something simpler, try sauteed mushrooms, roasted vegetables with tahini, or Moroccan cauliflower. An eggplant shakshuka is a little different, but will also be delicious.
Best vegetarian sides to serve with couscous
- Moroccan chickpea stew
- Falafel
- Sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze
- Roasted carrots with tahini pomegranate sauce
- Moroccan cauliflower
- Eggplant shakshuka
What To Serve With Couscous
Ingredients
- 1 portion cousocus
Instructions
- Prepare your couscous according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: Moroccan chickpea stew, roasted vegetables with tahini sauce, chicken and apricot tagine, ratatouille, beef souvlaki kebabs, best chicken soup, butternut squash and kale, grilled pork chops with chimichurri, lamb meatball shakshuka, falafels, honey garlic glazed salmon, sauteed mushrooms, couscous tabbouleh, and seared scallops with basil pesto.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
