This Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash with Chicken is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 350 calories, 30g protein, and 20g carbs per serving. Ready in 50 minutes. High in fiber (5g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 400F. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds.
-
Place spaghetti squash cut side down on a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes.
-
While squash is roasting, season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook in a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until fully cooked.
-
In the same pan, add garlic and cherry tomatoes and cook until tomatoes are soft.
-
Once squash is done, use a fork to scrape out the 'spaghetti' strands.
-
Toss spaghetti squash, chicken, tomatoes, and fresh basil together. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Why this Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash with Chicken works for PCOS
With 30g of protein per serving (about 34% of calories), this Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash with Chicken 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.
The 20g of carbohydrates here come paired with 5g of fibre, which slows glucose absorption and produces a flatter post-meal blood sugar curve. Fibre is one of the most under-rated tools for PCOS: it feeds gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids linked to improved insulin sensitivity, and it modestly lowers circulating androgens by binding bile acids in the gut.
Fat makes up about 39% of calories in this dish. Dietary fat plays a load-bearing role in PCOS because sex hormones are synthesised from cholesterol, and very-low-fat eating can suppress hormone production over time. The 2023 PCOS guideline does not specify a strict fat target, but most clinicians recommend at least 25-35% of calories from a mix of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated sources.
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.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Basil.
Basil is an excellent stress reliever, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
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 Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash with Chicken recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 350 calories per serving with 30g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 5g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 50 minutes total. Prep time is 10 minutes and cook time is 40 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 350 calories, 30g protein (34%), 20g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 5g 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