Stuffed Chicken Parmesan - PCOS-Friendly Recipe
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
- 24 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fat free egg product
- 1/2 cup tomato & basil past sauce with no sugar added
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 oz low fat neufchatel cream cheese
- 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
- 1/2 tbsp black pepper
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1/2 cup stone-ground wheat crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Spray 13x9" (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4" thick.
- In medium bowl, mix spinach, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon basil and the garlic until blended.
- Spread about 1 tablespoon spinach mixture over each chicken breast; roll up tightly. If necessary, secure with toothpicks.
- In small shallow bowl, place egg product. In another small shallow bowl, mix cracker crumbs, 1 teaspoon basil and the pepper.
- Dip each chicken breast into egg product; coat with crumb mixture. Place seam side down in baking dish.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Pour pasta sauce over chicken; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until thermometer inserted in center of chicken reads 165 °F (75 °C). Remove toothpicks from chicken before eating.
How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management
Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Stuffed Chicken Parmesan contribute to your health goals:
- Chicken: Protein-rich meals help manage insulin resistance common in PCOS
- Egg: Contain choline which supports liver function and hormone metabolism
- Spinach: Magnesium may help improve insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS
- Garlic: May help reduce cholesterol levels often elevated in PCOS
- Tomato: Antioxidants help combat oxidative stress elevated in PCOS
PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe
The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing protein-rich ingredients that help regulate appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin), and anti-inflammatory spices that target the chronic inflammation underlying PCOS. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.
Meal Prep Tip: This Stuffed Chicken Parmesan can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Chicken Breast, Spinach, Basil.
Skinless chicken breast, often heralded for its lean nutritional profile, is undeniably a powerhouse when it comes to protein content. With an impressive 21 grams of protein packed into every 100 grams of the breast, it emerges as a preferred choice for those conscious about their protein intake. Delving deeper into the nutritional matrix of chicken, one can't overlook the copious amounts of vitamin B6 it houses. This particular vitamin plays an indispensable role in our body, especially when di...
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