Instant Pot Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper and Lemon, Pearl Couscous, and Spinach

Name: Instant Pot Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper and Lemon, Pearl Couscous, and Spinach
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 cup yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 1 cup roasted red pepper; 1 cup dry pearl couscous; 2 cups chicken broth; 3 cups fresh spinach; 2 tsp lemon zest; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/2 cup feta cheese; 1/4 cup fresh parsley

An original Instant Pot dish with juicy chicken thighs, roasted red pepper, lemon, pearl couscous, and spinach in a light, flavorful sauce, perfect for a complete weeknight meal.

15 minPrep

20 minCook

35 minTotal

4Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
15 ml olive oil
150 g yellow onion (chopped diced small)
12 g garlic (chopped)
180 g roasted red pepper (in strips)
180 g dry pearl couscous
480 ml chicken broth
90 g fresh spinach
4 g lemon zest
30 ml lemon juice
2 g dried oregano
2 g sweet paprika
6 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
80 g feta cheese (desmenuzado)
10 g fresh parsley (chopped)

Nutrition facts

per serving

468 kcal

Calories

32 g

Protein

28 g

Carbs

24 g

Fat

3 g

Fiber

25 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

GlutenDairy

Instructions

1
1. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once hot, add the olive oil, chicken thighs, salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, and dried oregano. Brown the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring to sear several sides.
2
2. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, making sure it does not burn.
3
3. Add the roasted red pepper, dry pearl couscous, and chicken broth. Scrape the bottom of the pot well with a spoon to release any browned bits.
4
4. Cancel Sauté mode. Lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes. The internal pressure in the pot reaches approximately 239°F/115°C during cooking.
5
5. When the time is up, let it rest for 5 minutes, then carefully perform a quick pressure release.
6
6. Open the lid and add the fresh spinach, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes until the spinach wilts and the couscous absorbs some of the liquid.
7
7. Serve hot and finish with crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley on top.

Chef tips

If you prefer a slightly brothier texture, add an extra 60 ml broth (1/4 cup) before cooking. For deeper flavor, use homemade roasted red peppers.

Substitutions

You can substitute the chicken thighs with cubed chicken breast, slightly reducing the browning time. Feta can be replaced with crumbled goat cheese. If you do not have parsley, use fresh dill.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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