Dry whole-wheat couscous has been partially cooked, making it a quick-cooking (5 minutes!) whole-grain weeknight dinner champ. And when you buy peeled shrimp, plus a bag of prechopped kale and bottled barbecue sauce, the savings in prep time helps to get this healthy dinner done in a jiff.

BBQ Shrimp with Garlicky Kale & Parmesan-Herb Couscous

Serves 4

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

2/3 cup whole-wheat couscous

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon butter

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

8 cups chopped kale

1/4 cup water

1 large clove garlic, smashed

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 pound peeled and deveined raw shrimp (26-30 per pound)

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

1. Combine broth and poultry seasoning in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, then stir in Parmesan and butter. Cover to keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add kale and cook, stirring, until bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Add water, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is tender, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Make a well in the center of the kale and add 1 tablespoon oil, the garlic and crushed red pepper; cook, undisturbed, for 15 seconds, then stir the garlic oil into the kale and season with salt. Transfer to a bowl and cover to keep warm.

3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and shrimp to the pan. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp are pink and curled, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in barbecue sauce. Serve the shrimp with the kale and couscous.

Tasty tip: A classic or “original” variety of barbecue sauce pairs best with the Parmesan couscous. Look for one that doesn’t list an added sweetener as the first ingredient.

Recipe nutrition per serving: 414 Calories, Total Fat: 17 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 196 mg, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Fiber: 5 g, Total Sugars: 7 g, Added Sugars: 6 g, Protein: 32 g, Sodium: 606 mg, Potassium: 567 mg, Iron: 2 mg, Folate: 46 mcg, Calcium: 203 mg, Vitamin A: 3438 IU, Vitamin C: 39 mg.

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(EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com.)

©2025 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.