One-Pot Spiced Beef and Tomato Couscous with Fresh Mint

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-20 · Updated 2026-05-20

A fragrant one-pot dish combining spiced ground beef with tomatoes and fluffy couscous, topped with fresh mint for a refreshing finish. This middle eastern-inspired beef ready in about 35 minutes pairs olive oil, (450 g) ground beef, medium yellow onion, finely chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 can diced tomatoes (canned, 14.5 oz)
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup couscous
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Remove excess fat if necessary.
2. Step 2: Add 1 finely chopped yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the beef. Sauté for 4 minutes until onion softens and becomes translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Pour in 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with their juices and 1 1/2 cups beef broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 cup couscous, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Remove from heat, cover the pot with a lid, and let stand for 5 minutes until couscous absorbs the liquid and becomes fluffy.
6. Step 6: Fluff the couscous mixture with a fork. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves. Serve warm with 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt on the side for a creamy contrast if desired.