Greek Chicken and Barley Salad - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Servings: 8

Lunch

This Greek Chicken and Barley Salad is a PCOS-friendly recipe.

Nutrition per Serving

0 Calories

0g Protein

0g Carbs

0g Fat

Recipe by Suzanne Rumsey, Fort Wayne, Indiana Dress up a Greek salad by adding barley to the cucumber, tomato, feta and kalamata olives. The addition of chicken makes this a one-dish meal that’s high in fiber and also a source of vitamins A and C.

Ingredients

2 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 cup uncooked pearl barley
2 cups cubed seeded cucumber
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup cubed yellow bell pepper
1/3 cup reduced-fat feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives

Instructions

To prepare salad, sprinkle chicken with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Add 1 cup broth; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until done. Cool; shred chicken. Discard broth.
Bring 3 cups broth to a boil in a large saucepan; add barley. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Cool. Combine chicken, barley, cucumber, and next 4 ingredients (through olives) in a large bowl.
To prepare dressing, combine 3 tablespoons oil, rind, and remaining ingredients; stir well. Add to barley mixture; toss well. Cover and chill.

PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe

This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Barley, Chicken Breast.

Barley is about the best grain a woman with PCOS can eat. It is low in calories and has the lowest GI of all grains. Low-GI grains such as barley take much longer to digest and create a slow, steady rise in blood glucose and insulin levels. As mentioned before on Fertility Chef, low-GI foods reduce cravings. If possible, try and find hulled barley as it is the most nutrient dense of all types of barley. Skinless chicken breast, often heralded for its lean nutritional profile, is undeniably a pow...

You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?

One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.

Take the 60-Second Quiz Tell us your PCOS type, preferences, and goals

Get Your 7-Day Meal Plan Personalized meals, grocery list, and prep schedule

Stop Guessing Every Day Know exactly what to eat, with recipes like this one built in

Build My Meal Plan

Free. Personalized. No signup required to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greek Chicken and Barley Salad good for PCOS?

Yes, this Greek Chicken and Barley Salad recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly., it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health.

Can I eat this for Lunch with PCOS?

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Lunch. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

How do I fit this recipe into a PCOS meal plan?

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 8 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

Comments

Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Lunch

Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.

Blood Sugar Balance: Nori Wrapped Protein Bowl for PCOS Blood Sugar Balance: Turnip Greens and Protein Bowl PCOS Metabolic Support: Tallow-Roasted Inositol-Rich Foods PCOS Hormone Balance: Tallow-Roasted B-Vitamin Rich Foods PCOS Gut Health Bowl: Tallow-Roasted Vegetables and Proteins PCOS Hormone Support: Tallow-Roasted Zinc-Rich Proteins

Browse All Lunch Recipes