Cheddar and Bacon BBQ Meatballs - PCOS-Friendly Recipe
Nutrition per Serving
Key PCOS-Friendly Ingredients: Beef is a source of iron and zinc — two minerals often low in women with PCOS. Egg is provide complete protein with all essential amino acids. Garlic is supports cardiovascular health and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Adequate protein intake is crucial for PCOS management as it helps stabilize blood sugar levels and reduces cravings.
This recipe pairs well with a side of leafy greens or a simple mixed salad to add extra fiber and micronutrients to your lunch.
Ingredients
- CHEDDAR AND BACON MEAT BALLS
- 1.5 lbs. Ground Beef (93/7 lean/fat)
- 3/4 Cup Cheddar Cheese
- 3/4 Cup Crushed Pork Rinds (BBQ Flavor if you have it)
- 4 Slices Bacon
- 1 Large Egg
- 3/4 tsp. Salt
- 3/4 tsp. Pepper
- 3/4 tsp. Cumin
- 3/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
- BBQ SAUCE
- You can get the recipe for the BBQ sauce in my post for Spicy and Tangy BBQ Sauce.
Instructions
- CHEDDAR AND BACON MEAT BALLS
- Grab your pork rinds. Mine are BBQ flavor which works perfectly for this recipe.
- Put the pork rinds into a ziploc bag and crush them until they are relatively fine. I don’t mind leaving a few bigger pieces in there for texture.
- In a mixing bowl, put your ground beef, egg, salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic powder.
- Add your pork rind crumbs.
- Mix together well.
- Make a small hole in the meat and add your cheese.
- Mix these all together well.
- Cut your 4 slices of bacon into thin strips. Easiest way is to use a pair of scissors. If you plan to use a knife, put your bacon in the freezer for 20 minutes previously to cutting it.
- Add your bacon to a hot pan and let it fry up.
- Keep cooking your bacon until it reaches a crisp point.
- Remove your bacon and place on a paper towel to dry and crisp up. Keep the pan with the bacon fat in it – we will be using it to cook the meatballs!
- Once your bacon has cooled off a bit, add it to the meat mixture and mix well.
- I used my eye to measure the meatballs, but usually you will get 20-25 meat balls of a decent size. Roll them out and keep them to the side of your stove.
- Once all the meatballs are rolled out, add about half to the pan to start cooking. I don’t like cooking them all at once because they don’t turn out as well.
- Let them brown on one side and then flip them over
- Allow them to keep cooking, turning them on their other sides as needed.
- Remove them from the pan when they are rare (still semi-raw in the middle).
- Cook the rest of your meatballs. Once they are to a rare state, add all the meatballs to the pan.
- Turn down the heat to low, and cover the pan with a lid. Let these cook until they are to desired wellness. I usually let them cook while I am making the BBQ sauce. By the time I’m done, they’re also done.
- For the BBQ sauce recipe you can head over to my post on Spicy and Tangy BBQ Sauce. The BBQ sauce comes out to 6 Calories, 0g Fats, 1.3g Net Carbs, and 0g Protein per tablespoon!
- THE MARRIAGE
- Remove the meatballs from the pan and let them rest for about 5 minutes.
- Serve them out, usually 4-5 meatballs per person.
- Apply your BBQ sauce on the top. This is to preference. I have about half of the BBQ sauce left when I am done with 20 meatballs, but I know some people really like their sauces!
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 Cheddar and Bacon BBQ Meatballs contribute to your health goals:
- Beef: Zinc supports hormone production and immune function
- Egg: Contain choline which supports liver function and hormone metabolism
- Garlic: May help reduce cholesterol levels often 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 Cheddar and Bacon BBQ Meatballs 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.
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