This Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken with Zucchini Noodles is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 350 calories, 40g protein, and 20g carbs per serving. Ready in 55 minutes. High in fiber (2g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Preheat grill to medium heat.
-
In a bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
-
Marinate chicken in the mixture for at least 30 minutes.
-
Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side until cooked through.
-
While chicken is grilling, spiralize the zucchinis into noodles.
-
Sauté zucchini noodles in a pan with a bit of olive oil for 2-3 minutes until tender.
-
Serve grilled chicken on top of zucchini noodles.
Why this Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken with Zucchini Noodles works for PCOS
With 40g of protein per serving (about 46% of calories), this Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken with Zucchini Noodles sits at the top end of the 25-35g per-meal range that the 2023 International PCOS Guideline recommends for managing insulin resistance and supporting lean mass. Higher-protein meals also blunt the glucose response when carbohydrates are included, which matters for women with PCOS because chronic insulin elevation drives androgen excess and irregular cycles.
At 20g of carbohydrates per serving, this Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken with Zucchini Noodles is on the lower-carb end, which suits women with PCOS who have confirmed insulin resistance or who notice strong post-meal energy crashes. Pair lower-carb meals like this with a generous portion of non-starchy vegetables to keep fibre intake up.
Evening meals affect overnight insulin and morning blood sugar more than most women realise. Keeping dinner protein-forward and finishing eating at least 2-3 hours before bed gives your body time to clear glucose before the overnight fast, which improves morning fasting insulin readings.
At 150mg of sodium per serving, this Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken with Zucchini Noodles fits comfortably within the 1500-2300mg daily target most cardiology and PCOS guidance agrees on. Lower-sodium meals are useful for women with PCOS who also experience bloating or who are managing blood pressure alongside metabolic concerns.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Lemon.
Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.
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.
Free. Personalized. No signup required to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken with Zucchini Noodles recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 350 calories per serving with 40g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 2g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 55 minutes total. Prep time is 40 minutes and cook time is 15 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 350 calories, 40g protein (46%), 20g carbs, 12g fat. Plus 2g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.
Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Dinner. At 350 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Dinner. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.
This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 2 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.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Dinner
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
Comments
Register or log in to add a comment