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Roasted Chicken Breasts with Green Pearl Couscous

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on January 6, 2020

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Roasted Chicken Breasts with Green Pearl Couscous

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth, divided2 cups fresh parsley leaves 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided¾ teaspoon pepper, divided4 (10- to 12-ounce) bone-in split chicken breast, trimmed4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided1 ½ cups pearl couscous 1 onion, chopped fine3 garlic cloves, minced¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Before You Begin

We recommend using a rasp-style grater to grate the lemon zest. Pearl couscous is sometimes labeled Israeli couscous.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Process 1 cup broth, parsley, lemon zest, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in blender until smooth, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
  2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to rimmed baking sheet. Roast until chicken registers 160 degrees, 18 to 20 minutes.
  3. While chicken roasts, melt 1 tablespoon butter in now-empty pot over medium heat. Add couscous, onion, and garlic and cook until onion is softened and couscous is lightly toasted, about 4 minutes. Stir in parsley mixture and remaining 3 cups broth and bring to simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring often, until nearly all liquid has been absorbed, about 14 minutes. Off heat, stir in basil, lemon juice, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Serve chicken with couscous.
Roasted Chicken Breasts with Green Pearl Couscous
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Chantal Lambeth.

Roasted Chicken Breasts with Green Pearl Couscous

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth, divided
2 cups fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper, divided
4 (10- to 12-ounce) bone-in split chicken breast, trimmed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 ½ cups pearl couscous
1 onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth, divided
2 cups fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper, divided
4 (10- to 12-ounce) bone-in split chicken breast, trimmed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 ½ cups pearl couscous
1 onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth, divided
2 cups fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper, divided
4 (10- to 12-ounce) bone-in split chicken breast, trimmed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 ½ cups pearl couscous
1 onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Why This Recipe Works

Blending the parsley and broth at the beginning created a bright-green, herbaceous sauce for cooking the couscous.

Before You Begin

We recommend using a rasp-style grater to grate the lemon zest. Pearl couscous is sometimes labeled Israeli couscous.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Process 1 cup broth, parsley, lemon zest, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in blender until smooth, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
  2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to rimmed baking sheet. Roast until chicken registers 160 degrees, 18 to 20 minutes.
  3. While chicken roasts, melt 1 tablespoon butter in now-empty pot over medium heat. Add couscous, onion, and garlic and cook until onion is softened and couscous is lightly toasted, about 4 minutes. Stir in parsley mixture and remaining 3 cups broth and bring to simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring often, until nearly all liquid has been absorbed, about 14 minutes. Off heat, stir in basil, lemon juice, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Serve chicken with couscous.

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