What can I use instead of Couscous?

Orzo: 1 cup, cooked. Quinoa: 1 cup, cooked.

Substitute for Couscous

What it does in a recipe: Tiny pasta granules that steam fluffy in 5 minutes.

2 substitutes, ranked by what's already in your pantry. Amounts are dataset values — US and metric where a ratio exists.

Quinoa

per 1 cup cooked couscous

US1 cup, cooked

Metric185 g

CommonBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeFish-freeGluten-freeNut-freePeanut-freeShellfish-freeSoy-freeVegan

The only gluten-free option here; similar size.

What changes: Nutty pop

Best for: Gluten-free cooking

Orzo

per 1 cup couscous

US1 cup, cooked

Metric180 g

Pantry stapleBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeFish-freeNut-freePeanut-freeShellfish-freeSoy-freeVeganContains gluten

Same size, pasta chew.

What changes: Pasta chew

Related swaps

Common questions

What can I use instead of Couscous?: Orzo: 1 cup, cooked. Quinoa: 1 cup, cooked.
What is the exact ratio to substitute Couscous?: Orzo (per 1 cup couscous) — US: 1 cup, cooked. Metric: 180 g.
What changes when you substitute Couscous?: Nutty pop. Pasta chew.

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Pine nuts